 |
| Krampus, 2015 |
There are a number of alternative names for Krampus, including Klaubauf, Bartl, Pelzebock, Gumphinckel, Schmutzli, Tuifl, and Ganggerl among numerous local variations. The feminine form of Krampus is said to be Krampa.
On Krampusnacht (December 5), Krampus visits each household to punish bad children by lashing them with a whip or rute, while for the Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6), Saint Nicholas rewards good children with treats.
Krampus also carries a sack or basket to carry off disobedient children to administer more serious consequences.
 |
| Greetings from Krampus! |
Various theories on the roots of the Krampus myth propose a pagan origin. Some stories claim he is the son of Hel (a modern confabulation?), while others hypothesize he is derived from Cernunnos, Vidadus, or Silvanus.
Stephen Winick in a post at the Library of Congress Blog, dismisses these claims of pagan origin, and suggests Krampus legends come from medieval morality or miracle plays.
 |
| British Library Add MS 47682 |
Rituals involving the Krampus are said to have developed from pagan winter rites like Klaubaufgehen or Rauhnächten which involved masked figures dressed in furs boisterously making a clammor with bells and chains to disperse evil spirits or usher out winter and the previous year.
These evolved into celebrations where figures costumed as St. Nicholas and one or more Krampusse parade through town to visit homes and businesses. A good article on this tradition can be found at earthstoriez.
In modern days, people engage in Krampuslauf and Krampus Balls. The former involves a procession of Krampusse running through the streets in Krampus costumes while the later appears to be some sort of modern Krampusnacht celebration.
From what I understand,these celebrations can get quite rowdy in Europe, with onlookers being swatted with whips and ruten. I imagine that the Krampuslauf in the U.S. is commercialized and much more tame, but I couldn't say for sure.
Regardless, Dark Alliance has released Modern Krampus sets in 1/72 scale, and I was able to order Set 2.
The set consists of four sprues of figures in ten poses. They appear as the type of Krampus one might find at a Krampuslauf, but are armed with ill-kept medieval-style weapons.
Unlike the traditional Krampus that serves as a deterrent to bad behavior, these Krampusse appear to be on a crusade to eliminate anyone who commits apostasy against the spirit of Christmas.
The figures are actually rather reminescent of the old Heritage Lord of the Rings orcs, or maybe could be used as bugbears for those who don't have a use for an army of Krampusse.
A Modern Krampus Set 1 that includes a figure of Saint Nicholas is also supposed to exist, but I have yet to see it being sold anywhere.
It would have been nice if there was a figure that looked like the Krampus from the 2015 film.
