Christmas Day and gift-giving are over, but the Christmas Season is not. It does not end until January 6 on the Feast of the Three Kings, or Epiphany. The days between now and Epiphany keep reminding us of the unending story of the gift of Jesus. That is good. I appreciate the many churches and homes that continue to display creches and other decorations that fit the holiday. Sadly, however, our focus is on cleaning up and enjoying the gifts we received.

It has not always been like that. In much of Europe for centuries simple gift-giving has taken place not on Christmas Eve but much sooner, usually on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas.  The traditions is based on the life of St. Nicholas, a Greek bishop from the third century, who sold all he had to give to the poor.  Through the centuries, many stories and legends of St. Nicholas’ life and deeds help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration.  On the eve of December 6, children leave shoes or boots outside their doors hoping to get small gifts from him like candies or chocolate  letters. Such simple gift-giving in early December helps preserve the focus of Christmas Day on the Christ Child.

However, St. Nick’s story is not complete without KRAMPUS, the incarnation of evil.  Around the 1600s, Krampus became a companion to St. Nick and his role was to take care of naughty children.  To this day, while St. Nicholas rewards the good children with gifts and sweets, Krampus dispenses punishment to the wicked children who have strayed from the path of good. I remember him from my own childhood in Austria. He was a fearsome, awful character dressed in black, face covered with coal dust, horns on his head, a long tail, a sack of coal slung around his waist, and dragging a heavy chain. The sound of the chain filled our hearts with dread but alerted us that St. Nick and he were close by  and that we children needed to step outside our doors and greet them. St. Nick smiled, patted us on our heads, and gave us gifts. Krampus handed out lumps of coal, and sometimes he picked up a little boy, put him under his arm, and walked off. The child screamed with fright until Krampus put him down and let him run back to his parents.

Krampus is being resurrected these days especially through a recently released movie that depicts this gruesome character. While the theme is one of good versus evil, the emphasis on evil is too graphic. It makes me think of the recent Star Wars movie which I saw over the weekend. The only aspect that I liked about it is that THE FORCE OF GOOD overcomes the Force of Evil, but there is too much destruction in the process. While both good and evil exist, I prefer to put greater emphasis on the many acts of kindness and generosity that touch my heart and show me that evil does not outweigh the good.

I tell the story of Krampus in my memoir Like A Haystack.

KRAMPUS