Comments on: The many faces of Krampus.

By: Bunny

Bunny — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:25:29 +0000

“Generally speaking Pagans don’t referrer to themselves as Pagans. High school kids who want to rebel against there parents call themselves Pagans. Pagan really just means non-christian.”

As a 24 year old worshipper of the the triple moon Goddess and the Green/Horned Man I do think you may be mistaken. Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, atheists, Hindus and Jews are all “non-Christian” but certainly not Pagan. Dianists, Alexandrians, Wiccans, Druids, Shamans and good old “kitchen witches” like myself are, however. Are you sure you aren’t thinking of “Satanists” there?

I’m just not sure what, exactly, about my home-made herbal remedies for mild ailments (such as ginger root tea for easing nausea), recognition of all living things as aspects of the divine and belief in reincarnation and a law of doing no harm makes me a rebel…

I am, however, fascinated by this Krampus! I read somewhere that both Krampus and Santa Claus are in many ways drawn from the old Pan-based Gods, who of course had a light and dark side that was both a separate entity and the same creature.

By: Nilus

Nilus — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:31:08 +0000

Generally speaking Pagans don’t referrer to themselves as Pagans. High school kids who want to rebel against there parents call themselves Pagans. Pagan really just means non-christian.

As far as what Pagan ritual or symbol the Krampus is. Some say that its an altered version of the norse god Loki, which makes sense since Santa Claus’s image is often said to resemble Odin or Thor. The other obvious choice is the Krampus is a satyr. Which have there roots in a lot of pre-christian nature worshiping religions.

By: Chris Troy

Chris Troy — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:09:30 +0000

Hello I would love to get a copy of the above mentioned movies. Can anyone help?

Chris sndtech1@hotmail.com

By: BUCK HAWES

BUCK HAWES — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 01:45:10 +0000

I FULLY ENJOYED THE KRUMPAS MARCH WHILE VISITING AUSTRIA SOME YEARS AGO. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FUN!!!! HOPE TO RETURN SOMETIME SOON. LOVED BAVARIA!!!

By: rich

rich — Tue, 01 May 2007 15:37:07 +0000

I did not know about the Krampus until I was a ski guide in Austria/Germany. I met some of the German instructors, likkered-up on the bus and they tried to whip me, they were whipping everyone, especially young women, so I was spared their serious attention. It was funny, but they looked scarier than hell. In the big cities they are devils, by my observation, but in the rural villages, they are more furry, looking like neolithic demons, with cowbells, so you can hear them a mile/kilometer off. Great stuff for kids- we need about a million krampus in the USA around Christmas!! They really stress the naughty and nice. But just like the signs at euro ski areas, no more than “danger” in five languages, and then a 1000 meter cliff -in the USA litigation would end the krampus in seconds. Maybe some German-Americans keep the tradition.

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:22:15 +0000

I was in Salzburg years ago as a college student. I’d been warned about Krampus, but still found the whole thing rather overwhelming. I recall seeing one man with his small boy flung over his shoulder, rushing down the sidewalk, trying to stay one step ahead of the many folks out roving the streets, dressed in frightening costumes – some with eyes glowing red. And every one seemed to carry around a large bundle of sticks with which they would not just threaten, but actually beat the legs of anyone foolish enough to get within reach.

Interesting that they don’t celebrate Halloween like we do here in the US, with kids getting dressed up and older kids/adults sometimes trying to be as scary as possible. However there are large number of folks that get dressed up as Krampus and rove the streets that night, preying on young and old alike. I witnessed one Krampus beating a rather old woman with his bundle of sticks – and I went up to him and kicked HIM in the shins – then ran like mad so I wouldn’t be the recipient of his wrath.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:35:04 +0000

Pardon the term “throwback”; I merely meant that Krampus seems to have pre-Christian roots. I’m no Krampus expert, but from what I’ve gleaned online, it appears it’s syncretic, blending Christian iconography with regional folklore and, yes, pagan rituals–which makes it more difficult to trace back. Anyone out there know if there’s a specific pagan mythology Krampus is connected to? (It’s related to, if not the same as, the Knecht Ruprecht tradition.)

By: Kemi

Kemi — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 11:22:51 +0000

“Some say the Krampus is the evil alter-ego of Santa Claus, others that Santa and the Krampus are one in the same, but one thing is clear, the creature is a throwback to the pagan rituals of the pre-Christian era.”

Being a pagan, I would like to know what pagan mythology you think this “throwback” is from?