The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil

by Al Ridenour, Sean Tejaratchi (Design)

The Krampus, a folkloric devil associated with St. Nicholas in Alpine Austria and Germany, has been embraced by the American counterculture and is lately skewing mainstream. The new Christmas he seems to embody is ironically closer to an ancient understanding of the holiday as a perilous, haunted season. In the Krampus' world, witches rule Christmas, and saints can sometimes kill.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christmas, History, Folklore, Horror, Mythology, Holiday

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2016

About the author

Ridenour's academic background includes BAs with honors in German and English, interests recently combined in the 2016 publication of his second nonfiction book, The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas. My previous book Offbeat Food, Adventures in an Omnivorous World was written in 2000 for Santa Monica Press, after articles contributed to the LA Times, LA Weekly, and New Times Los Angeles caught the attention of the publisher.

Prior to working as a writer, he had pursued work toward an MFA in animation at UCLA, but was hired out of school before completion of that degree after a screening of his school project attracted attention at a 1989 animation (SIGGRAPH) convention.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re expecting a novel or a quick read, you’re out of luck since this book goes further depth into the Christmas devil Krampus. I simply enjoyed this book since I’m so fascinated with Krampus ever since I saw the 2015 film and oh boy, this book explains and tells a lot about Where Krampus came from and it’s traditions in Austria and Germany. There’s even other folktales about other Krampus like devils which I found very interesting. I wanted to give this book five stars but didn’t since the only thing I wish the the author could’ve done to help readers were to add some footnotes to help us out on German and Austrian pronunciations since I was a little frustrated pronouncing the names of certain nicknames they had for Krampuses. Plus there are certain chapters in the book that the author rambles and I got lost which were the perfect place to add the footnotes to help readers on what’s going on. Other than that I enjoyed this book. A perfect read for Christmas to discover the whole meaning and celebration they have for Krampus.

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang where do I begin. This book is totally awesome. It tells you everything about the Krampus and then then some. Being the first time that someone puts out an information book about Krampus and on that does not get caught up in any Neo _Pagan craziness or New Agey stuff just makes m want to jump up and down for joy. I am going to apologize in advance because there is so much information and so many details that any summary I give will not do this justice. There are many German names that I will not get straight and I have to hand it to Al he did a bang em up job going to all the towns in the Alpine area which is Krampus’ home and doing the research and reporting on the various Krampus events.
Krampus is not that old. Having ben put on posts cards in the 1850”s his existence is perhaps one to two hundred years. Yet his roots stretch back been further. The Krampuslauf or Krampus run seems to have started perhaps around the turn of the century. In different towns like Gastein there are Krampuspasses or Krampus clubs. They require permits now days. But in the past performers wore wood carved masks that resemble in some cases African masks. Making the masques is an art and there is frowning down upon innovations that alter the Krampus outfit. Now according to lore the Krampus helps Saint Nicholas by punishing bad kids while he gives out the gifts. The book traces th evolution of Church plays and Saint Nicholasmarches into how they evolved into the Krampus run. The book also covers a variety of Krampus like creatures.
The Krampus and by the ay that is not a character name but rather the name of his species sem to have origins that go back to the German Goddess Perchta. She I a goddess who would lead a procession during select days of the Christmas season. In her train are various creatues called Perchten, and they come in light and dark varieties. Perchta or Frau Holle had a dual role. Mostly associated with the spindle and house cleaning chores she would reward those who left food out for her and kept the house clean. Those who kept a messy house she would punish by eating, burning and what not. The wild Hunt with Odin leading a menagerie of people who dies early or whatever provides another source for he Krampus run.
The Perchten also had their runs but the traditions which in many ways are similar. Oten borrow from each other.Borth developed separately on to tracks but ten t seems like they are looking for each other. What has been rendered in this review is a partial summary. Read the book for more details’ strongly advise it.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first met Krampus quite accidentally one night while I was living in Graz, Austria and stumbled unexpectedly across a procession of strange devilish creatures that chased people, especially young women, with switches. This created a fascination that has not weakened over the decades.

There's something fascinating about the darker Christmas traditions that we mostly miss here in the US, where our holiday traditions seldom get any darker than A Christmas Carol or, more recently, The Nightmare Before Christmas. We don't have those dark traditions that seem so perfect for the winter months.

Although this book sometimes feels like it could be better organized, I really like that it goes beyond the Krampus tradition to explore similar characters that roam (mainly) the German-speaking countries around the alps from early December through mid-January. It's richly illustrated and enjoyable to read.

[Jason Pyrz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a TON of information. If you need to know anything about the subject of German/Austrian krampus traditions around Christmastime, then you can save yourself a ton of research and just pick up this book. In addition to the wealth of information, the book is loaded with both historical and contemporary pictures.

Why only two stars then? Because this book reads like a 300-page encyclopedia entry. It is beyond dry and, while informative, is not entertaining in the least. I knew I was in trouble when, only 38% through, I pulled up the table of contents hoping to see that the last 1/3 of the book was made up of index, notes, bibliography, etc (spoiler alert - it isn't).

If you are a krampus fanatic, or looking to do some in-depth research on the subject, I would bet you could do no better than this book - it really is a fantastic wealth of information. If you have a casual interest in the subject, piqued maybe from an Anthony Bourdain holiday special from a few years ago (like me) and you are looking for an entertaining history to read - this isn't it.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review written for and published by Portland Book Review on December 16th:

For a long time the Krampus was an unknown to most Americans who typically popularize the Christmas holiday with the safe and familiar jolly, fat, white-bearded man dressed in red who sneaks down chimneys in the middle of the night bearing gifts for good girls and boys. Though thinking back on things, it’s no wonder so many children are photographed screaming while sitting on Santa’s lap. After all, a stranger sneaking down your chimney in the middle of the night – even one with good intentions – is a terrifying prospect. In that sense, it was only a matter of time before we became more acquainted with the Krampus, or as many people see him, the anti-Santa.

The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil tackles the Krampus mythology, addressing many misconceptions pushed forward by recent books and films (Brom’s Krampus the Yule Lord and the holiday film Krampus of 2015 are cited as primary examples). The book discusses origins, etymology of the word itself, connection to St. Nicholas (not the red-clad, bearded man we typically think of but the Catholic saint), and festivals and traditions around the world to scratch the surface of material contained within. This is basically your one stop shop for diving into the culture and mythos of the Krampus. The book contains plenty of half-page and full-page images, from photographs of recent festivals to copies of ink illustrations from old books. The pictures are fascinating to look at, and compliment the subject matter completely. There is also a color map in the front of the book that contains various towns and landmarks that are discussed within the book and a remarkably involved index in the back, for those looking for specific informational tidbits.

The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil is a must-have for anyone interested in the Krampus mythology.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such and informative book. Most everything you and I know about Krampus is Americanized horror confection. Take several bit and pieces of this and that and generalize it; up the horror to eleven and you have the American Krampus we've all been introduced to. Which like most things introduced to the States it gets warped and marred and made our own.

Evidently Krampus can be any of several devil-like creatures. They are usually preceded by Saint Nicholas. And depending on the region or town, can also be accompanied by an Angel and several other kinds of demon-like creatures.

Home visits and Krampus runs are popular in parts of Austria and they sound like something interesting to behold. And fun to participate in.

The book is very informative. Overwhelmingly so at times. For me, it was overload. I would really like to see this turned into a television show on say History channel.

Recommended!

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it wasn't quite what I was expecting, I loved it nonetheless. It might be too dense or deep for the light reader but I personally found it fascinating. Author, Al Ridenour not only discusses the legend and customs of Krampus but spends a lot of time going into to other dark folkloric holiday traditions of Austria and Europe. It really helps put Krampus in perspective knowing his origins and the other dark beasties and witches that come with him. There are also tons of high quality photos of masks, folk customs, vintage drawings and more that enhance the author's message. a fascinating read around the holidays and a must for anyone who ever wanted to unearth some bizarre and different customs than our own!

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot overstate how essential and enlightening this book was for me. As a lifelong Christmas and horror aficionado, I've always been fascinated by the "Christmas Evil" concept that seems to unite the two extremes- why is Christmas so (subliminally nowadays) associated with ghost stories, the supernatural, and a loosening of the laws of the universe? Al Ridenour's research on Krampus and other liminal good/evil figures associated with the Christmas season across Europe puts the whole thing in perspective, drawing up both a cosmology of these monstrous figures and asserting sociological theories for their prevalence.

[Cat Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful in depth description of the history and lore of the Krampus and other characters that appear in folklore related to Christmas and surrounding holidays. Educational, while being very entertaining with some great photos!

*5 Stars

[Matthew McAlister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fascinating information, but a bit like reading a series of interconnected Wikipedia articles.

[Bill Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I knew Krampus lore but this book is full of answers to questions I never would have thought to ask, about the origins and meanings of the seasonal scaries like the Krampus, Frau Perchta, and Santa's other weird companions. It's also a great guide to the regional variations of the Krampus custom and its numerous cousins and would make a great almanac for a Yuletide visit to Austria and Germany. Ridenour tells his stories well and navigates smoothly through divergent viewpoints about the age and ancestry of the costumes and rituals. The history is riveting and the book's numerous color illustrations beautiful and often amazing.

The story of dark Christmas leads inevitably to reflections on the evolution of culture as the village turns from local to global. Even in the 200 or so years of scant records on Krampus and his kin, the impact of publicity, ideology, and economics -- specifically tourism --is evident. With all those YouTube views, what will the old devil look like in 50 years?

[Claire Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, I am finished with this book. And I think this book is finished with me as well.

I picked this book up from the virtual library, unaware of what I had borrowed. I was coming at Krampus from a horror/Christmas season fan POV and thought a little historical background on the Krampus myth would be a fun read.

This is not the book for that. By the time I realized I was already in, so I kept reading just for the sake of finishing it. Unfortunately I can’t commit to a book I’m no longer interested in for more than 392 pages. I get it - there’s a lot about local and faraway customs, but not the rich historical lore I was searching for. I don’t think it’s the author’s fault, just the nature of things.

Anyway, this is a great book for an intense Krampus nerd-out, but for casual interest, just Google it.

[Sheri Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book to have and was thoroughly researched. I really enjoyed the photos and older historic pieces included in this text. It does read a bit dry so these images helps you to really get in the spirit and enjoy it a lot more. I’m sure I’ll pull it out and flip through it each year during this season.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a fictional book about Krampus, this isn't it.

Diving deep into the history and lore of Krampus and other creatures, this book explores the dark side of Christmas and how Krampus has been celebrated in other countries for centuries.

[Lilly Benny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just get to the point girlypop

[Susanne Doorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Full review at http://mindfunda.com/krampus/

There is a wealth of information in The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas. Ridenour succeeds in weaving together the strands of an enormous database of information to create a fascinating and enjoyable reading experience. I was impressed with his depth of research and his ability to organize it into a conversational flow. I enjoyed reading about his travels through Europe to experience the Krampuslaufen in various regions of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. This is not a book of “library research” but an all-in endeavor during which he consulted Krampuslauf participants and the regional folk to obtain first-hand knowledge and perspective on these traditions.

The book is generously illustrated with beautiful professional photographs of costumes, masks and events. It includes historical reproductions of old prints and woodcuts, and the earliest photograph of a Krampus Pass. I was impressed with the quality of paper and vibrant color.

Rich in visual imagery and cultural history, this book is sumptuous reading for anyone interested in-depth psychology, mythology, history, shamanism and religion, and more. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

[Brendan Leber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew all about Krampus.

Al has shown me that there is so much more. I found this a great look into the Krampus and related folklore. I’m looking forward to delving deeper and what comes next from Mr. Ridenour.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read! Ridenour starts with the modern Krampus revival in America and plunges further and further back in time, establishing a baseline "real" Krampus tradition alive to this day in Austria, then exploring the wider religious and folkloric milieu that has for centuries incubated myriad ghouls, witches, and other beasties. Neither pop culture nor overly academic, the book satisfies your curiosity about the Krampus while also opening up an entire world of alpine winter traditions. Throughout, Ridenour explores the relationship between serious ritual and just plain fun, softly posing more questions about how we approach traditional stories and superstitions. I'm a Feral House fan so I ordered the book sight unseen - it was a nice surprise to find it full of illuminating photos and illustrations of costumes and myths. Quality printing makes it good enough to be a coffee-table book and therefore great holiday party conversation starter!

[Natira]

Was für eine Fülle an Informationen über Krampus, den Lauf, St. Nicholas, Masken, Kostüme, was beim Lauf passiert und gewollt ist, Zusammenhänge mit Perchta, Perchten, der Wilden Jagd, regionale Unterschieden bei Läufen oder Darstellungen etc. Der Autor hat sich offensichtlich intensiv mit dem Brauchtum beschäftigt. Er führt auch an, wenn aus seiner Sicht Behauptungen/Thesen nicht nachweisbar bzw. mit Skepsis zu sehen sind. Ich fühlte mich manchmal etwas überwältig von den Informationen, obwohl das Buch gut strukturiert ist und die Texte gut lesbar sind (ich schwanke daher noch zwischen 4 u. 5 Sternen). Komplettiert werden die Ausführungen im Übrigen durch viele Fotos u.a. der Masken, einzelner oder mehrere Teilnehmer von Läufen etc.

NebenInfo: Es ist ein Softcover zur Größe von knapp DINA4

[HRPrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to learn more about Krampus traditions? Sure, we all do! But do you also want detailed information about where each tradition is held, and other folkloric traditions of spirits, witches and ghosts, and how they morph and merge across locations and times? And how they're co-opted and reinvestigated? And also mask making? And also many BIG GLOSSY PICTURES of Krampus troupes and their costumes? Then this book is for you!

Not sure if it sounds too dense for you? The author does a folklore/horror podcast called "Bone and Sickle". You can give an episode a listen for free, and decide if that kind of folklore deep dive is for you!

[Tansy Foor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying, "If I wanted to read a research paper, I would have stayed in school; however, this book was picked for bookclub and I'm always up for a challenge."

Now, the author, Al Ridenour does a wonderful job outlining the different histories of the Krampus and you can really tell the amount of work and passion he put into the book. For that, I applaud you.

I recommend the book to those who are REALLY into the Krampus, Christmas history or "things that go bump in the night" in general.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard for me to review this book. If you are looking for an incredibly comprehensive history of the Krampus tradition town by town, this is a 5 star book. For someone kind of interested in the Krampus tradition, this is will get really boring to read. It is very detailed and well researched, and has great photographs. However, it reads more like a textbook and will probably only appeal to a small audience.

[Cicely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just fabulous! As an avid fan of folklore and paganism, I just eat this stuff up. Though I lived in Austria for many years I was not aware of all of the details of the Krampus and Perchten festivals all over mostly Western Austria and that general region. A must read for those who are interested in such things.

[Thaydra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book on the darker aspects of some winter folklore. Be forewarned that much of this book is not really on the Krampus itself, though. Still, if you are fond of the Krampus, I would recommend reading this.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is EVERYTHING you will EVER need to know about Santa's dark special friend in all his flavors and guises and adjacents.

You'll also be qualified to call BS on most everything Krampu-centric that issues from Hollywoodland.

Cheers.

[Kimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the pictures. the text got a little boring toward the end tho.

[Bernd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone who is interested in the Krampus cult should read that book.

[Cadi Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing subject matter and creepy-ass pictures! Creatively written, though a bit difficult to follow. I definitely recommend if you like ghost stories, horror and history.

[Aljan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. It’s full of great information and history. Beautiful photos. It’s interesting and yet, it manages to be kind of boring.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and informative counterpoint to the sanitized Hallmark version of Christmas that we all know.