The mythical Krampus is horned half-goat, half-demon who is meant to whip children into being nice at Christmas – and he’s more than a little terrifying to the uninitiated.
Bearing horns, long dark hair (fur), and fangs, the anti-St. Nicholas comes with a chain and bells that he lashes about, along with a bundle of birch sticks meant to swat naughty children. He then hauls the bad kids down to the underworld. Or so the story goes. In the Austrian Alps, a parade of Krampus takes over the streets, their chains rattling as they walk through the snow-covered streets, carrying torches of fire and whipping unsuspecting passersby. Go prepared.. I didn’t sleep so well after attending this festival!