Merry Christmas!

[Gazeeboh]

Not so fast though!

This year you should have more than lumps of coal appearing in your stockings if you were bad. You now have to fear the Krampus!

"Krampus is a mythical creature who accompanies Saint Nicholas in various regions of the world during the Christmas season. The word Krampus originates from the Old High German word for claw (Krampen). In the Alpine regions, Krampus is represented by a demon-like accompanying Saint Nicholas. Krampus acts in conjunction with Saint Nicholas; the latter gives gifts to good children, while the Krampus gives warnings and punishments to the bad children. Traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December, particularly in the evening of December 5, and roam the streets frightening children and women with rusty chains and bells. In some rural areas the tradition also includes birching by Krampus, especially of young females."

Krampus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus)

Did you know that Saint Nicolas has demon friends that will kick your ass for being naughty?

Check out some of the pictures of the costumes and imagine them running at you with birch trees swinging full force! Thankfully they wear cowbells so you can hear them coming and get away.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Krampus19.jpg.
.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Krampus-7.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/400px-Krampus_Morzger_Pass_Salzburg_2008_09.jpg

So Merry Christmas!

[Belphebe]

Cool! He looks like my Dad when he gets mad.

[ZeldaFitz]

I always knew Santa was more than just a chubby man who liked the color red.

[Gazeeboh]

Belphebe, your dad is metal.

ZeldaFitz, you were totally right. Actually, Santa Claus is just some goofy CocaCola thing now. He used to be Saint Nicolas, a real saint, that would give kids some candy or sick his demons on you if you were bad. Also, we shouldn't confuse these guys with Father Christmas or Old man Winter/Grandfather Frost.

In Old Slavic traditions, Grandfather Frost was actually an evil wizard that would freeze people to death for giggles. Now, we have the weakling Jack Frost, who gently nips at your nose. Things used to be so manly!

[ZeldaFitz]

Or full of Estrogen, either way your post rocks. The real power is Mrs. Claus.

[Tanemis]

I know December 25th was actually a Pagan holiday far before it was the birth of Christ and was just adopted by Christianity to help Pagans become Christians easier so what is December 25th actually a celebration of?

[ZeldaFitz]

It is the celebration of Yule, the death of all and the darkness of winter. It is a time for reflection to let the death of all come and to rest till the new birth of spring. I celebrate Yule and Christmas as my love is a Lutheran bless his little heart.

[Tanemis]

never mind found it in a link off gazeeboh's post

[Tanemis]

I know the feeling Zelda, my wife is a Baptist.

[ZeldaFitz]

Ah then I do not need to go on. You understand.