When Christmas is a little too bright … look to Krampus : NPR

When Edgar Loesch was growing up, his Christmases were filled with family, friends and St. Nicholas. But his German parents had another terrifying addition: a hairy monster called Krampus, who they said would carry him away if he didn't behave.

With goat horns, gnashing teeth and a long tongue that allows you to taste your sins, Krampus is simply terrifying.

To prevent the threat, Lesh’s parents climbed out of the window and rattled their chains.

“You go to bed, and then suddenly at some point you hear someone shuffling outside the bedroom door and scratching on the door,” Lesh recalls.

Despite this early horror, Lesh, like many others, accepted Krampus. He's the owner Fressenian artisan bakery in Portland, Oregon, and on Saturday it was filled with families eating pfeffernusse (German spiced cookies) and stollen (yeast Christmas cake with marzipan filling) and lining up to take photos.

Entire families with children and dogs were photographed during the holidays – not with a playful Santa, but with a snarling Krampus standing against the backdrop of an alpine forest. Some pose in mock horror, while others high-five the beast. And, of course, the occasional child cries.

But it turns out that Christmas and monsters have long gone hand in hand.

Sarah Clegg – folklorist and author Dead of Winter: Beware of Krampus and Other Evil Christmas Creatures.

In medieval Europe, the end of the year was a chaotic and spooky season—it even included something like an early version of trick-or-treating. Clegg says costumed processions took place through cities, inspired by pre-Christian Saturnalia celebrations.

“They put on antlers, go door to door and ask for treats. I mean, they demand money and alcohol,” Clegg laughs.

In the 1500s, the figure of a child eater appeared – with straight, greasy hair and torn clothes, stuffing children into his mouth. Over time, the monster returned to the calendar for the feast of St. Nicholas in early December, Clegg said. These monsters didn't just eat children for fun, but became St. Nick's dark, vile assistants; stick to Santa's carrot.

Clegg says that by the late 1800s, Krampus had become the most visible and recognized version of these monsters. And she says it's because he came with the best goods: chocolates, pepper mills and, most importantly, Krampus cards, which are made in places like Salzburg, Austria, and can be shipped cheaply and easily around the world.

Some of these cards are scary, some are stupid, and some… something else.

“There are sexy Krampus cards. There's a grown-up Lady Krampus with a very large whip… and a sort of bubbly, beautiful topless Krampus,” Clegg laughs.

Krampus has recently returned to popular culture, even in the United States. children's booksA horror film and Krampus events from San Antonio, Texas To Des Moines, Iowa.

And last weekend, about 150 Krampus and fans gathered in Portland, Oregon, for fifteenth annual Krampuslauf parade – the night before the Krampus photo shoot at Fressen Bakery.

At first glance, it looks like a cheerful company of carolers. But if you look closely, you can see antlers, antlers, bloody doll parts and a lot of homemade birch brooms, although no children were actually harmed. In fact, some Krampus actually handed out candy from their bags instead of stuffing naughty children into them.

Arun Joseph Ragan started the parade. He said he never felt particularly connected to all the fun and brightness of the Christmas season and preferred to wallow in the darkness of winter. For him, Krampus teaches a valuable lesson: “Make peace with winter and the spirit of winter by inviting it to your party – without it sneaking up on you from behind because you failed to acknowledge it.”

And when the sun sets at 4:30, some people think it's right to embrace the darkness and become it. And have a little fun. And maybe scare a few kids along the way.