Ancient beliefs - Krampuslauf
Centuries ago in pagan times and, in the beginning, had nothing to do with Christmas. Krampus is derived from the word ‘krampen’, meaning claw, and the terrifying beast is said to be the son of the Norse god of the underworld, Hel. Traditionally the Krampus run — costumed men parading with cowbells, sticks and torches — was intended to disperse the ghosts of winter. But sometime throughout the ages Krampus became an anti-Santa symbol. While St Nicholas, the patron saint of children, came bearing sweets that were left in the shoes of good kids, Krampus would arrive with sticks, beating the bad ones and snatching them away in his sack. There’s nothing like scare tactics to transform naughty kids into nice.
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