Krampus

Krampus is a christmas demon of the German folklore that is the evil version of Santa Claus.

Origin
In German-speaking Austro-Bavarian Alpine folklore, the Krampus is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved, in contrast to Saint Nicolas, who gives gifts to children. good children. Figures from Austria show similar figures and, more broadly, the Krampus is one of Saint Nicholas' companions in some regions of Europe. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated a pre-Christian origin.

In traditional parades and events such as the  Krampuslauf  (Spanish: Krampus race), young participants dressed as Krampus; events occur annually in most alpine towns. ment ,The Krampus is featured on the  Krampuskarten  greeting cards.

Origin
It has been theorized that the history of the Krampus figure dates back to pre-Christian Alpine traditions. Maurice Bruce wrote, in a short article discussing the figure, published in 1958: