Krampus is probably the Santa who gives sweaters to six-year olds...

[felis_ultharus]

The Evil Santa Claus

So, I've been exploring the origins of Santa Claus.

I knew his earliest origins were in the god Odin, who'd pass over the world on the Solstice and reward children with candy if they left out carrots and things for Odin's horse Sleipner.

But today I stumbled across the story of a horrific, bestial demon who accompanies Father Christmas on his rounds and sometimes delivers the presents in German folklore.

There are many slightly different versions of the myth from place to place. The most astonishing version is Krampus, a demon who descended chimneys to dismember little children in their sleep. He fought a battle with the Turkish Saint Nicholas, who bound him with holy shackles that belonged either to Christ or to some imprisoned martyr.

Krampus in some tellings repents, and in some tellings is simply enslaved. Either way, he's forced to give presents to make amends. 'Course, who knows what he'd do if he ever broke his shackles.

...and that's the version that should be told to children planning to stay up late to see Santa ^_^

School

My grades for my last course of my master's has come in. So of my 9 courses, I received 8 A's and one A-.

Now I just have that test in March and I can leave academia behind.

Comments

[jenjoou.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember the whole Santa thing being less cuddly in Germany... not quite so bad but there's was always Santa and his dark little helper who beat the bad children with a stick.

I didn't realise the link to Odin though. That's neat. ^_^

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

That's another version. I came across about a dozen versions, not counting one comic strip's claims that Krampus had a giant tongue and hurtled small children into hell. I think I'll wait for a more reliable source on those two.

And I tend to think of Santa as Odin in a big red coat :p

[seal7.livejournal.com]

Krampus here is widely what Jen said.
In primary school, they usually have a Santa walking around from classroom to classroom around the sixth of December handing out candy, and there's usually a Krampus with him running around the room all wild and menacing and threatening to beat the children that didn't behave with a rod.

Also, straight As. I hate you :< (not really).

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

It's probably flattening out as a myth -- mass culture tends to do that to folklore.

Like how vampire and werewolf stories used to vary from region to region, and now there's a set of near-universal rules with hardly any variation.

[em-fish.livejournal.com]

Yay good grades!

It's over in March? Wow, that seems soon to me (but it probably can't come fast enough for you, am I right?)

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

It was supposed to be over this December. March is a delay as a result of my September disaster :/

[infinitecomplex.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the grades, and good luck getting through the very last test!

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Though right now I'm more worried about you guys trying to sail here in a gale :/

[infinitecomplex.livejournal.com]

The wind has died down slightly here, though it's still pouring with rain. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

I just ought to check -- did Jen mention that I don't want to let my parents know I keep a blog...? I'm trying to keep it public, and I'd rather my mother didn't read it.

I've been telling her we all communicate by email. I told her I got an email tonight, confirming that you were on your way (your last post) because she was worried.

[montrealais.livejournal.com]

Hey, how was Christmas? Did Krampus eat you?

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Sadly, no -- that would've been more action than I've had in quite some time.

It was pretty good. I spent much time with jc2004 and snowdaemon.