We were among decently sized–and correctly socially distanced–crowd in Willamsport tonight for the first ever Krampus ..
News organization NORTH CENTRAL PA was also there to capture the event, writing,
Krampus is a horned figured often described as a half-goat, half-demon. Krampus runs counter to Saint Nicholas, who rewards well-behaved children with presents. That’s not so much Krampus’ style: he punishes poorly behaved kids.
That in essence is Krampus.. But the historical lure is much deeper that that. What was celebrated in Europe for centuries has only recently come to America. Despite a small number of people admiring Krampus for years, the idea of Krampusnacht is quite novel for many on this continent (if you are reading this in the United States or Canada).. But Krampusnacht has been around since the 17 century, and was traditionally a nice ushering in of the Feast of St. Nicholas a day later on December 6..
Tonight’s Williamsport event quickly attracted attention on social media. The event was organized with safety in mind as event organizers were first to tell attendees of COVID-19 safety masking requirements and distancing. And those dressed as the Christmas demon were already safe–masked and mostly people staying away in fear!
A similar event took place in Jim Thrope in 2019. Just one year ago, and after 2020, that seems like ages!
The Williamsport event’s success may present a location for future ‘running of the Krampi’ … We can only hope and pray that Christmas 2021 sees some form of victory over the coronavirus, at least enough to be able to return to a decent semblance of normal.
And maybe Krampus will become the ‘normal’ in America, just as it has in Europe.
The Krampus that stole Christmases
After posting links and video tonight on our Facebook page, we were surprised to see that many did not know who Krampus was and learned it for the first time after seeing the images from Williamsport.
After all, we have been fondly paying homage to Krampusnacht since this website’s inception. For personal context, this notion of the Christmas demon has been around since childhood.
As a young boy, I attended Holy Spirit Elementary School in Mt. Carmel.. during those formative years, we celebrated St. Nicholas day with style: Kids would put their shoes in the hallway until they heard bells, knowing that St. Nick stopped by and gave candy.. If we were to receive coal, that means we were going to have a less than splendid holiday season. It was not until I grew up a bit that I realized the old nuns were giving us a dose of European fear: Krampus, after all, was the bearer of bad gifts.
St. Nick does not travel alone.
This is in essence where the old German custom began.. St. Nicholas, in all his glory and bountiful gift giving spirit, needed an alter ego. Someone or something to be able to tell the ‘good kids’ from the bad.. those who deserved gifts.. and those who deserved coal.. Or in the old days of the story, punishments and beatings!
Krampus, the belief would state, accompanied jolly old St. Nick on his voyages. He was the yin to St. Nick’s yang.
It is the natural balance. The natural order. All good tidings also need to deal with those that are bad.
THE KRAMPUS CAROL
The late AND GREAT Anthony Bourdain wrote something years ago, long before his untimely death in 2018 .. Enjoy it here, with animation..
This after all, is the finally day of the year we can say Happy Krampusnacht.
2020
So many comments pondered if Krampus was specific to 2020. No.. he is not. He has been around. He was here during wars, plagues. The good years.. the bad.
And in 2020, he seems like the perfect fit.
This year … well? It plain sucked. This is a Krampus year. The same way that some years are a Heat Miser rather than a Snow Miser.
Maybe next year old Chris Kringle will be back.
Our shoes are filled with coal … after 12 months of this, we want candy.
Yin.. Yang.
Welcome to yin. Better luck in ’21.
