Krampus in popular culture facts for kids
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Krampus is sometimes called the "Christmas Devil". He comes from old stories in Austria and Bavaria. Recently, Krampus has become very popular in North America. People like Christian Jacobs say that the internet and YouTube have made Krampus well-known for Christmas.
Some people see Krampus as part of a new trend. It's a way to celebrate Christmas differently or even to push back against the usual holiday cheer. Brian Joines, who works for Image Comics, thinks Krampus wasn't popular in America before because of how we usually see Christmas. It's often seen as a big day for kids and a religious holiday. In some modern stories, Krampus is like an antihero. He tries to stop kids from becoming too spoiled by all the shopping and gifts around Christmas.
Krampus is often mentioned in Christmas-related media. But the information below focuses on times when he is a main character or a big part of the story.
Krampus: The Christmas Devil
Krampus is a creature from European folklore. He is often shown as a scary, goat-like demon. He is known for punishing children who misbehave during the Christmas season. This is a contrast to Saint Nicholas, who rewards good children.
Why Krampus is Popular Now
Krampus has gained a lot of attention in North America. This is largely thanks to the internet and social media. People are looking for new and different ways to celebrate the holidays. Krampus offers a darker, more mischievous side to Christmas. This appeals to those who enjoy unique traditions.
Celebrating Krampus
Many cities in North America now hold special events related to Krampus. These events are often called "Krampusnacht" (Krampus Night) or "Krampuslauf" (Krampus Run). They can be simple fun gatherings or even events to collect toys or raise money for charity.
Here are some places where Krampus events are held:
- Krampusnacht Washington DC
- Toronto Krampus Ball
- Chicago Krampus Fest
- LA Krampusfest
- San Francisco Krampus Krawl
- Dallas Krampus Society
- Krampuslauf Philadelphia
- Krampusnacht St. Louis, MO
What Krampus Costumes Look Like
Costumes are a very important part of all Krampus celebrations. People dress up as Krampus, Saint Nikolaus, woodsmen, angels, and old women. Since Krampus is half-goat and half-demon, his costume usually has certain main parts. These include a fur suit, horns, a demon mask, and hooves.
People often use props like bells, a birch switch (a bundle of twigs), a basket on their back, chains, a walking staff, or a whip. The most traditional Krampus costumes are made from real goat or sheep skins and animal horns. They also have masks carved by hand. More often today, costumes are made with newer and cheaper materials. These include fake fur and latex masks. You can even find videos online that show you how to make your own Krampus costume.
Krampus in Movies and TV
Krampus has appeared in many films and television shows. He is often shown as a scary creature. Sometimes, he is even a funny character.
Krampus Films You Might See
- Krampus: The Christmas Devil (2013): A horror film made for video.
- vom Krampus: zwischen Latexhaut und Schaffell (2013): A video documentary film.
- Krampus: The Reckoning (2015): Another horror film made for video.
- A Christmas Horror Story (2015): A horror film with several short stories. Krampus is played by Rob Archer.
- Krampus (2015): A horror comedy from Universal Studios. Luke Hawker plays Krampus, and Gideon Emery does his voice.
- Krampus: The Devil Returns (2016): A sequel to Krampus: The Christmas Devil.
- Krampus Unleashed (2016): A horror film made for video.
- Mother Krampus (2017): A horror film made for video.
- Mother Krampus 2 (2018): A sequel to Mother Krampus.
- Krampus origins (2018): A horror film made for video.
- Slay Belles (2018): A horror film made for video.
Some films about Krampus are still being made:
- Anti-Claus (also called Comes the Krampus), from Kevin Smith.
- Happy Krampus!, from Walden Media and The Jim Henson Company.
Krampus on Television Shows
- G4 commercial (2003): Christmas carolers sing about Krampus punishing naughty children.
- The Colbert Report (2009): A part of the show talked about Krampus and the "War on Christmas."
- "The Devil of Christmas" (2016): An episode of Inside No. 9 features the Krampus character.
Krampus in Books and Games
Krampus has also appeared in books, comics, and video games.
Books and Comics About Krampus
- Krampus: The Devil of Christmas (2004): This book by Monte Beauchamp collects old Krampus postcards from the early 1900s. Beauchamp found these postcards and published them in his magazine BLAB!. He then released two books of them.
- Chickenhare graphic novel (2006): A graphic novel where a Krampus named Banjo is a main character.
- Krampus: The Yule Lord (2012): A novel by Gerald Brom.
- Klaus: A graphic novel by Grant Morrison.
- Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas (2015): A graphic novel released with the 2015 Krampus movie.
- Of Christmas Present (2014): A short novel by Thomm Quackenbush.
Other Krampus Appearances
- CarnEvil arcade game (1998): This game has a scary "St. Nick" boss character named Krampus.
- Random Spirit Lover album (2007): This album by the band Sunset Rubdown has a picture of Krampus on the back. The band said Krampus shows the "two sides of every thing."
- "Naughty Christmas" (2016): A song by the Italian band Lacuna Coil mentions Krampus many times.
- Krampus: A Yuletide Tale: A musical that was first performed in Columbus, Ohio, in 2015.
- Doctor Who audio drama series Ravenous (2018): In two episodes, a wish makes Krampus real. Only the original Saint Nicholas can make Krampus leave.
- Overwatch: This online video game has a special Krampus costume for the character Junkrat during its "Winter Wonderland" event.
Other Naughty List Characters
Besides Krampus, there are other scary or mischievous characters linked to Christmas in North American popular culture. These are different from evil versions of good characters like Santa or Frosty. Jack Frost is usually just playful.
Here are some other scary Christmas characters:
- Bogeymen from Babes in Toyland (1934)
- The Grinch (1957)
- "Bumble," the Abominable Snow Monster from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
- Gremlins (1984)
- Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Santa Claus (1959) from Mexico: This film features a demon who tries to ruin Christmas.
Images for kids
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Jack Frost in Harper's Weekly (1861)
