My friend who grew up in Germany was telling me about a German Christmas Folklore. She told me, in germany, when kids were good, Saint Nick would visit them and give them gifts (like they do here), but they were bad a ghostly creature, all dressed in black, with no face would carry whips and chains, and would drag them off in the night. Is this true, and what is the creatures name, and where can I find information on him? (she said his name is grumpus or something like that)
2006-12-15 09:26:26 · 5 answers · asked by Dave 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
OK - Austria has a creature, Krampus, that travels with St. Nicholas. The two figures are opposites of each other. St. Nicholas is the "good guy" and Krampus is not. He is a scary devil figure, often in chains, dressed in fur with a mask. He carries a wooden stick or switches to threaten children who misbehave or do not know their lessons. St. Nicholas never lets Krampus actually harm anyone.
On Dec. 6th, St. Nicholas leaves gifts for those children whom are good. Krampus leaves sticks for those who have been bad as a way of demonstrating that if behaviors are not changed, the Christkindl will not leave anything at Christmas.
2006-12-15 17:00:51 · answer #1 · answered by ange8338 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
German Christmas Folklore
2016-11-02 00:09:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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RE:
German Christmas Folklore?
My friend who grew up in Germany was telling me about a German Christmas Folklore. She told me, in germany, when kids were good, Saint Nick would visit them and give them gifts (like they do here), but they were bad a ghostly creature, all dressed in black, with no face would carry whips and...
2015-08-19 06:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by Cybel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the one above isabsoöute right. krampus is totaly unknown in germany (i am german.. never heard) its knecht ruprecht, but he has nothing to do with christmas, like others say here before. at christmas there is NO bad person around in germany ;)
2016-03-18 08:52:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never heard of it
my grandmother was from Germany, she said something about some Peter or somebody who traveled with Santa. I don't really remember. Maybe thinking of Strubblepeter who is a kid who never cut his finger nails. Scary stories. Those Grimm ones are bad too when you think about them
2006-12-15 09:30:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
his name is Krampus, and there are actually people over there who get a license to dress up like him and scare people.
2006-12-15 09:28:09 · answer #6 · answered by polevaulter1000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats really freaking creepy.
2006-12-15 09:28:37 · answer #7 · answered by stephanie f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋