Today was the Krampus run in the Munich Christmas Market. It was pretty packed and cold too. Having snowed the 3 days previous. But we didn't fear the Krampus, since we were nice and not naughty. Otherwise you would have gotten off with a whiping. And no you wouldn't want one of these showing up down your chimney when you were expecting St. Nick. A lump of coal maybe but a Krampus.

From the Munich Christmas Market site:

The 500-year-old tradition of the Krampus run dates back to the Christian mythological characters of Bishop Nicholas and his companion Krampus. During the walk across Munich‘s Christkindlmarkt, the archaic figures of Munich‘s first Krampus group „Sparifankerl Pass” make a surprise appearance.

From Wikipedia:

Although Krampus appears in many variations, most share some common physical characteristics. He is hairy, usually brown or black, and has the cloven hooves and horns of a goat. His long, pointed tongue lolls out and he has fangs.

Krampus carries chains, thought to symbolize the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church. He thrashes the chains for dramatic effect. The chains are sometimes accompanied with bells of various sizes. Of more pagan origins is the Rute, a bundle of birch branches that Krampus carries and with which he occasionally swats children. The Rute may have had significance in pre-Christian pagan initiation rites. The birch branches are replaced with a whip in some representations. Sometimes Krampus appears with a sack or a basket strapped to his back; this is to cart off evil children for drowning, eating, or transport to Hell. Some of the older versions make mention of naughty children being put in the bag and taken away.

---

This Krampus is coming for you!

A white Krampus

Krampus with a wagging tongue

Two Krampuses on the run looking for victims

Krampus with a mean face

A bearded Krampus

Scary Krampus

If Odin were a Krampus maybe he would look like this

He's tall

Beware the Krampus