Ancient Roots

Did you know that St. Nicholas has a counterpart named Krampus? I just learned that today, and this is the evening he runs about, scaring children and catching the naughty ones in his large rusty chains to give them a beating with a collection of birch rods. The especially bad ones he would toss into a large basket on his back and take them to the river to drown, or toss them into the firey maw of Hell (good kiddies get fruit and sweets).

Now there's an incentive to behave. Even better than coal or no gifts at all!

This ides is still alive and well in the Alps where young men dress up as Krampus and run around scaring children or switching young women (though not likely to hurt like the real Krampus would have). This happens on the 5th of December, the eve before St. Nicholas Day.

I love old traditions! Especially the ones that scare little childrens.