Hunter_aka_Scotty
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 147
- Location
- State of Jefferson
From the 19th century...
Krampus is the dark companion of St. Nicholas, the traditional European winter gift-bringer who rewards good children each year on December 6. The kindly old Saint leaves the task of punishing bad children to a hell-bound counterpart known by many names across the continent — Knecht Ruprecht, Certa, Perchten, Black Peter, Schmutzli, Pelznickel, Klaubauf, and Krampus. Usually seen as a classic devil with horns, cloven hooves and monstrous tongue, but can also be spotted as a sinister gentleman dressed in black or a hairy man-beast. Krampus punishes the naughty children, swatting them with switches and rusty chains before dragging them in baskets to a fiery place below.
I thought Black Peter was the name of the spy Krampus had? Parents would keep a small doll of Black Peter in the bedroom of the children and he would report the misdeeds they performed back to Krampus. But considering how far and wide the legend is spread, it probably has its variations.