Who is Krampus? The Legend of Krampus, Krampusnacht & More
America has Santa. Germany and Austria have St. Nikolaus... and right behind him, rattling chains and swinging a bundle of birch sticks, is Krampus.
Every year someone asks me, "Isn't he the German Christmas devil?" or "Wait, is he Santa's evil twin?" Not quite. So here's the real story of Krampus... where he came from, what Krampusnacht actually is, why the Church couldn't get rid of him, and how he ended up at a brewery near you.
Skip ahead:
Who is Krampus?
Where the name comes from
What Krampus looks like
Krampusnacht and St. Nikolaus Day
Krampus vs. the Church
How Krampus got famous in America
Is Krampus OK for kids?
How to celebrate Krampus
Krampus FAQ
Who is Krampus?
Krampus is the horned, half-goat, half-demon companion of St. Nikolaus in Alpine Christmas folklore. St. Nikolaus rewards the good kids. Krampus deals with the naughty ones.
He shows up in Austria, Bavaria, South Tyrol, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and the Czech Republic, and every region tells the story a little differently. In some versions he leaves bad kids a bundle of switches instead of treats. In others he swats them with birch sticks or hauls them off in a basket on his back. Festive, right?
Most historians link him to pre-Christian Alpine winter customs... masked figures, bells and noise to chase off dark spirits during the longest nights of the year. You'll also see claims online that Krampus is "the son of Hel" from Norse mythology. There's no real evidence for that one. Krampus is an Alpine creature, full stop.
Where does the name Krampus come from?
The name most likely comes from the Old High German word krampen, meaning claw. Some also connect it to the Bavarian word Krampn, meaning something dead or rotten. Either way... not a cuddly name.
What does Krampus look like?
The classic Krampus look is pretty consistent across the Alps:
- Horns: big, curling goat horns
- Fur: shaggy black or brown, head to hoof
- Hooves: cloven, like a goat
- Tongue: long, red and pointed
- Chains and bells: so you hear him coming
- Birch sticks (Ruten): for swatting naughty kids
- A basket or sack: for hauling the really bad ones away
The masks worn in Krampus parades today are hand-carved from wood, and they are serious works of art. A good one costs as much as a nice dirndl... and the people who wear them take it very seriously.
Krampusnacht and St. Nikolaus Day
Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) is December 5th, the night before St. Nikolaus Day. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday.
- December 5, Krampusnacht: Krampus roams the streets. In Austria and Bavaria, towns hold a Krampuslauf (Krampus run), where packs of costumed Krampusse parade through town ringing bells and chasing spectators.
- December 6, Nikolaustag: Kids put their polished shoes or boots outside the door the night before. In the morning, good kids find chocolate, nuts, oranges and small gifts. Naughty kids might find a Rute... a bundle of sticks.
Classic German logic... with every wonderful thing comes the possibility of something equally terrible. Honestly, I love it. If you want to see how Krampus fits next to the Christkind, Advent wreaths and Christmas markets, read my post on 10 German Christmas traditions.
Krampus vs. the Church
A horned, hairy guy who looks a lot like the devil? The Church was not a fan. Over the centuries it tried to tame him by pairing him with St. Nikolaus... the saint stays in charge and Krampus becomes his helper. Good and evil, side by side.
That didn't fully work either. In the 1930s, Austria's government banned Krampus customs outright. And yet here we are. The tradition hung on in the mountain villages, and after the war it came roaring back.
Fun side note: in the late 1800s and early 1900s, people mailed each other Krampuskarten... Krampus greeting cards that said "Gruß vom Krampus" (Greetings from Krampus). Some were cute, some were creepy, and some were surprisingly flirty. That vintage art is exactly what inspired our Gruß vom Krampus T-shirt.
How Krampus got famous in America
German and Austrian immigrants brought St. Nikolaus with them, but Krampus mostly stayed home. That changed in the early 2000s. Folklore fans, artists and the internet started passing around those vintage Krampus cards, and people who were a little tired of sugar-coated Christmas went, "Wait... there's a Christmas monster? Sign me up."
Then came the 2015 horror-comedy Krampus, starring Adam Scott and Toni Collette. It's... not exactly faithful to the legend (here's my honest review), but it put Krampus on the map for a whole lot of Americans.
Today there are Krampus parades, balls, markets and pub crawls all over the US... New Orleans, Washington DC, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Leavenworth and right here in Chicago. Here's our list of 2026 Krampus events near you.
Is Krampus OK for kids?
Depends on the kid. A real Krampuslauf, with dozens of Krampusse in carved masks charging at the crowd, can be genuinely terrifying for little ones. Plenty of Austrian grown-ups still remember hiding under the table on Krampusnacht.
For younger kids, I'd start with a story, not a parade. That's exactly why my uncle Mike Young and I wrote "Krampus Meets His Match". It's a funny, sweet Krampus story about a little girl named Susi who isn't scared of him at all. My sons always crack up when Krampus ends up at her tea party. (Here's the story behind the book.)
How to celebrate Krampus
You don't need a hand-carved mask to get in on the fun. A few ways to bring a little Krampus into your December:
- Go to a Krampuslauf. Find one near you on our Krampus events list.
- Do Nikolaustag at home. Shoes out on December 5th, treats in the morning. Maybe one stick for the sibling who earned it.
- Read a Krampus story. "Krampus Meets His Match" is our favorite (I'm biased).
- Wear him. The 2026 Krampus Scarf is our annual scarf, and this year he's black and red... only 56 made. We also have the Krampus Toile Scarf, and the Krampus Collection has shirts, pins, ornaments and more.
- Gift him. Shopping for a Krampus fan? Our Krampusnacht gift guide has you covered.
Krampus FAQ
Who is Krampus?
Krampus is a horned, goat-like creature from Alpine Christmas folklore who travels with St. Nikolaus. St. Nikolaus rewards good children and Krampus punishes the naughty ones.
When is Krampusnacht?
Krampusnacht is December 5th, the night before St. Nikolaus Day on December 6th. In 2026, Krampusnacht is on Saturday, December 5.
Is Krampus German or Austrian?
Both, plus more. Krampus comes from the Alpine region, so he's strongest in Austria, Bavaria and South Tyrol, with versions in Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Is Krampus the devil?
No. He looks devilish and is sometimes called the "Christmas devil," but in the folklore he works for St. Nikolaus. He's the enforcer, not Satan.
What is a Krampuslauf?
A Krampuslauf (Krampus run) is a parade where people dressed as Krampus march through town with bells and chains. They happen across the Alps every December and now in many US cities too. Find one near you.
What does Krampus do to bad kids?
Depending on the region, he leaves them a bundle of birch sticks, swats them, or carries them off in his basket. Today it's mostly a lot of noise and a good scare.
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