Krampus (mythology)

The Krampus was a companion and servant of St Nicholas in Austrian and German folklore. He represented the dark side of Christmas

Mythology
The Eighth Doctor conjectured that, like most horned demons in Earth folklore, the myth of the Krampus was based on some alien race that came into contact with humanity in its earliest days. (AUDIO: Better Watch Out) For instance, the Third Doctor once encountered a Dæmon in England. (TV: The Dæmons)

According to the Austrian Christian beliefs, the Krampus accompanied St Nicholas. While the latter rewarded good children, the Krampus punished bad children. One version claimed that the Krampus uses the famous list of good children that is checked twice. (AUDIO: Better Watch Out) Another version maintained that the Krampus had his own list of naughty children, written in blood. He stole the wickedest children by stuffing them into the basket on his back (PROSE: Do You Believe in the Krampus?) and dragging them to hell. (AUDIO: Better Watch Out)

Appearance
According to Austrian tradition, the Krampus of the Christmas myth was described as a humanoid figure with goat hooves and horns, covered in fur who had a demon-like face (AUDIO: Better Watch Out), red eyes and long forked red tongue. He would have black chains hanging from its wrists, and on his back he would carry a basket. (PROSE: Do You Believe in the Krampus?)

The Krampus created by a vagabond to fulfil Maria Werner's wish looked like the mythical Krampus but was as tall as the mountains. (AUDIO: Better Watch Out)

Customs
Every 5 December, on the eve of St Nicholas's Day, Salzburg organised a Krampus run, or Krampuslauf in German. During it young men dressed in furs, wore wooden masks with goat's horns and carried chains and cowbells to scare passers-by. (PROSE: Do You Believe in the Krampus?) They whipped the legs of naughty boys with birch branches. (AUDIO: Better Watch Out)

Children in schools prepared for the event by making posters to hang out outside their schools. It was also a custom both in Austria (PROSE: Do You Believe in the Krampus?) and Germany (COMIC: Relative Dimensions) to send Krampus postcards. (PROSE: Do You Believe in the Krampus?)

Personifications and imposters
The Fifth Doctor and Vislor Turlough tried to prevent an alien, who impersonated the Krampus, from eating children in Salzburg during a Krampus run. (PROSE: Do You Believe in the Krampus?)

The Eighth Doctor, Liv Chenka and Helen Sinclair encountered a gigantic version of a Krampus in Salzburg. It was brought into existence by a Vagabond in fulfilment of a wish of Maria Werner that the Krampus be real. (AUDIO: Fairytale of Salzburg)

The Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald were once attacked by a Krampus from a German Krampus card made real by the Celestial Toymaker. (COMIC: Relative Dimensions)



Behind the scenes
The Krampus was depicted on the cover of the audio story Fairytale of Salzburg.