It’s that time of year when the Krampus are let loose and run around towns and villages in mostly German-speaking parts of Europe, including ski resorts in Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
The Krampus is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December ( “Krampus Night”), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December.
In this tradition, which may date back to pre-Christian times, Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with small gifts, while Krampus punishes badly behaved ones with birch rods.
For ski resorts the tradition is fun-filled with most staging the spectacle this Saturday evening, 7 December, although some stick to the 5th or opt for the 6th.
The basics remain the same, young men from the village parade through the villages dressed as Krampus and attempt to scare the audience with their antics.
There have been moves to ban the processions over the years but most still continue and some have become major tourist attractions with resorts like Innsbruck and Seefeld staging Krampus runs and one resort throwing in a ‘Witches Dance’ to add to the spectacle. Kitzbühel even has its own Krampus Museum.
For Italy’s already open Val Senales / Schnalstal ski area there’s Krampus & Tuifl on Snow (pictured top) at 10.30 a.m on Sarturday with a further Krampus Show at 4pm in Maso Corto.
The biggest meeting of krampus takes place in Toblach, in the Pustertal valley. This year on 7th December 2024, about 600 krampus from South Tyrol, Austria, Germany and Switzerland will meet and walk around the village.
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