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

When Edgar Losh was growing up, his Christmas was filled with family, friends, and St. Nicholas. But her German parents also had something even scarier: a hairy monster named Krampus, who they said would take her away if she didn’t behave properly.

With goat horns, gnashing teeth, and a tongue long enough to taste one’s sins, Krampus is nothing short of terrifying.

To ward off danger, Loesch’s parents would climb out the window and rattle the chains.

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

Despite this initial terror, Loesch, like many, has embraced Krampus. he owns it Fresen Artisan Bakery Portland, Ore. in, and on Saturdays it was packed with families eating Pfeffernasse (German spice cookies) and Stollen (a marzipan-filled yeast Christmas cake), and standing in line to have their photos taken.

Entire families, including kids and dogs, got their holiday photos taken – not with a scheming Santa, but with a growling Krampus standing against a backdrop of an alpine forest. Some people pose in mock horror, while others give the animal a high five. And yes, sometimes the child starts crying bitterly.

But it turns out that Christmas and monsters have been going hand in hand for a long time.

Sarah Clegg is a folklorist and author The Dead of Winter: Beware of Krampus and other evil Christmas creatures,

In medieval Europe, the end of the year was a chaotic, scary season — it even involved something like an early version of trick-or-treat. Clegg says that inspired by pre-Christian Saturnalia celebrations, costumed processions passed through the towns.

Clegg laughs, “They’re honking, going door to door, demanding treats. I mean, they’re demanding money and booze.”

In the 1500s, the image of the Baby Eater emerged – with greasy hair and torn clothes, sitting with babies stuffed in his mouth. Clegg says that for centuries this monster returned to the calendar for the feast of St. Nicholas in early December. These monsters were not just eating children for fun, but had become St. Nick’s dark, gruesome helpers; Santa’s carrot stick.

Clegg says that by the late 1800s, Krampus became the most notable, recognized version of these monsters. And she says it was because it came with the best stuff: chocolate, pepper grinders and most importantly, Krampus postcards, which are made in places like Austria, Austria and can be shipped cheaply and easily around the world.

Some of these postcards are scary, some are silly and some are… just something else

Clegg laughs, “There are sexy Krampus cards. There’s an adult female Krampus with a huge whip… and a kind of cute, beautiful topless Krampus.”

Recently, Krampus has made a comeback in popular culture, even in America there are Krampus children’s booksA horror movie and Krampus incidents San Antonio, Texas To Des Moines, Iowa,

And last weekend, about 150 Krampus and fans gathered in Portland, Oregon 15th Annual Krampuslauf Parade – The night before the Krampus photo shoot at Fresen Bakery.

At first glance, it looks like a merry bunch of carolers. But look a little closer, and there are horns, antlers, bloody doll parts and lots of homemade birch switches, although no children were actually harmed. In fact, some Krampuses let naughty children out of their sacks instead of stuffing them into them.

Arun Joseph Ragan started the parade. He said that he never felt more connected to the joy and light of the Christmas season and that he preferred living in the darkness of winter. For him, Krampus offers a valuable lesson: “Make peace with winter, and with the winter spirit, by inviting it to your party – so that it may not sneak up on you because you have failed to accept it.”

And as the sun sets at 4:30 p.m., for some people, it feels right to embrace the darkness – and just be that. And have some fun with it. And maybe scare a few kids along the way.