Weihnachtsmann, Saint Nicholas and Krampus (2024)

  1. Home
  2. 'Tis the - German Holiday- Season
  3. Weihnachtsmann, Saint Nicholas and Krampus

Santa Claus - DerWeihnachtsmann

The term Weihnachtsmann is a very generic German term for Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus. The German Weihnachtsmann is a fairly recent Christmas tradition having little if any religious or folkloric background. In fact, the secular Weihnachtsmann only dates back to around the mid-19th century. As early as 1835, Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the words to “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann” — still a popular German Christmas carol. The first image depicting a bearded Weihnachtsmann in a hooded, fur mantle was a woodcut (Holzschnitt) by the Austrian painter Moritz von Schwind (1804-1871). Von Schwind’s first 1825 drawing was entitled “Herr Winter.” A second woodcut series in 1847 bore the title “Weihnachtsmann” and even showed him carrying a Christmas tree, but still had little resemblance to the modern Weihnachtsmann. Over the years, the Weihnachtsmann became a rough mixture of St. Nicholas and Knecht Ruprecht (one ofSt. Nicholas'companions). A 1932 survey found that German children were split about evenly along regional lines between believing in either the Weihnachtsmann or the Christkind. But today a similar survey would show the Weihnachtsmann winning out in almost all of Germany – except for most Catholic areas.

www.german-way.com
Weihnachtsmann, Saint Nicholas and Krampus (1)

Weihnachtsmann visiting the German Holiday Market in Mountain View in 2019

Krampus

In Central European folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure described as "half-goat, half-demon", who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved. This contrasts with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts. Krampus is one of the companions of Saint Nicholas in several regions including Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Hungary, Northern Italy including South Tyrol and the Trentino, and Slovenia. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated it as having pre-Christian origins.

In traditional parades and in such events as the Krampuslauf (English: Krampus run), young men dressed as Krampus participate. Such events occur annually in most Alpine towns.

~Wikipedia

byGreat Big Story

Weihnachtsmann, Saint Nicholas and Krampus (2)


Krampus at the German Holiday Market in Mountain View

Saint Nicholas Day (Nikolaus)

Saint Nicholas Dayis observed on December 6 or on the eve of December 5 in Western Christian countries.

Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside the front door on the night of 5 December. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets overnight, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful last year. If they were not, they would have a stick (eine Rute) in their boots instead.

Nicholas is often portrayed in Bavarian folklore as being accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht.

Sometimes a Nikolaus impersonator also visits the children at school (see videobelow) or in their homes and asks them if they have been good (sometimes ostensibly checking his golden book for their record), handing out presents on the basis of their behavior. This has become more lenient in recent decades, and this task is often taken over by the Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas/Santa Claus).

~Wikipedia

Nikolaus at the German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV)
Weihnachtsmann, Saint Nicholas and Krampus (2024)

FAQs

Does Krampus eat children? ›

Nicholas rewards nice children by leaving presents, Krampus beats those who are naughty with branches and sticks. In some cases, he is said to eat them or take them to hell. On December 6, St. Nicholas Day, children awaken to find their gifts or nurse their injuries.

Who is the Krampus with St. Nicholas? ›

The Krampus is a horned anthropomorphic goat figure with one human foot and a very long tongue who, in Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition Christianity, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), immediately before the Feast of St ...

What to leave out for Krampus? ›

According to folktales told in the Germanic area of Europe, Krampus comes to towns on the night before Saint Nicholas Day – the night of December 5th this year. Typically, children leave their shoes out on their home's front porch on this night, because on St.

What does Krampus do to adults? ›

Apparently created to strike terror in the hearts and minds of small children — and quite a few adults, too — Krampus traditionally carries a ruten bundle, or birch rod, to whip those who have misbehaved and chains to bind those who have strayed from the straight and narrow.

Does Krampus lick kids? ›

Krampus, the christmas devil

Instead, Krampus whips and licks children into shape or carries them off in his sack."

Is Krampus OK for a 12 year old? ›

Appropriate for kids who can handle a little violence! I am a christian mom with a 10, 12, and 14 year old. Trust me, some times they can get a little crazy! But my 12 and 14 year olds could handle this movie!

Is Krampus a girl? ›

Krampus is one such character who comes from folklore in Austria's Alpine region, where he's been frightening children and amusing adults for hundreds of years. Krampus, the half-man, half-goat counterpart to St. Nicholas, has been apart of folklore in Austria's Alpine region for hundreds of years.

What is Krampus' real name? ›

Through most of Germany, St. Nicholas is assisted by a character named Knecht Ruprecht, in Switzerland by Schmutzli, in France and Luxembourg by Père Fouettard, in the Netherlands by Zwarte Piet, and in Slovenia by Parkelj. In Southern Germany and Austria, St. Nicholas' counterpart is Krampus.

Is Krampus Santa's twin brother? ›

In the weeks leading up to Christmas each year, parades are held throughout many of Austria's alpine villages in honor of Krampus, a demonic creature said to be the "evil twin" of St. Nicholas.

How to honor Krampus? ›

Celebrating Krampusnacht

On Krampus Night, towns and villages come alive with elaborate processions and parades, featuring individuals dressed as Krampus. The participants don intricate costumes, complete with horns, furs, and terrifying masks, embodying the mythical creature.

Is Krampus a happy ending? ›

Full of regret, Max wishes for his family back, only to be met with cruel laughter from the holiday horror. Krampus lifts the boy and tosses him into what appears to be Hell... only for Max to wake up in his bedroom on Christmas morning. Max goes downstairs and, to his shock, his family is all there, alive and happy.

What does Krampus put in shoes? ›

Nick is on hand to put candy in the shoes of good kids and birch twigs in the shoes of the bad, Krampus' particular specialty is punishing naughty children.

What does Krampus want? ›

The mythical Krampus is meant to whip children into being nice. When listening to the radio in December, it's unlikely to hear holiday songs singing the praises of Krampus: a half-goat, half-demon, horrific beast who literally beats people into being nice and not naughty.

Does Krampus wear a mask? ›

Krampus wears a patchwork hooded robe trimmed with dirty fur grey fur, and hook chains bearing baubles with his name on each of them. He also wears a screaming Santa-like mask with long gray hair and a long gray beard.

Why does Krampus have bells? ›

Bells signal his arrival, and chains symbolically bind him to the Catholic Church. He is, after all, St. Nicolas's hellish minion.” A mother and son in their costumes, including baskets full of stand-ins for the naughty children sometimes carried off by Krampus.

Does Krampus eat his victims? ›

He carries with him a birch whip to strike at misbehaving children, chains that rattle to signal his approaching, and a large basket on his back. Krampus will kidnap very poorly behaved kids, stuffing them into his sack, and into the underworld where he'll torture... and eventually consume them.

Does Krampus abduct children? ›

Children who have been naughty for the year receive more than just a lump of coal for the holiday season from Krampus. He is known to chases bad children around with sticks or chains, hitting them and even kidnapping them as punishment, depicted in this 1910 postcard.

Did Krampus spare the family? ›

Fate. Krampus & his minions captured the entirety of the Engel family, only at the end of the film to reveal that he gave them a second chance at life and is now, in his underworld lair in the mountains of Central Europe, spying on them through a surveillance snow globe.

Is Krampus pure evil? ›

He is the only version of Krampus to be Pure Evil. His folklore counterpart does not count as Pure Evil due to being delusional and sometimes being genuinely nice to children.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 6444

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.