In Croatia, people dress up as Krampus, the evil anti Santa that punishes bad kids.

d4lm3t · 2012-11-15T15:07:22+00:00

Krampus is an Austrian tradition, hence the writing "Gruß vom Krampus" which is German and translates to "Greetings from Krampus".

It is an old tradition to send such a card anonymously to a friend pranking him/her or telling him something you wouldn't want to tell in person. Also Krampus is not "evil Santa". He is the companion of St. Nicholas and usually many guys dressed up as Krampus and some older guys dressed up as St. Nicholas' roam the streets on the evening of Dec 5th. Krampus usually frighten kids and girls by looking scary and hitting some of them with a wicker. Kids are being asked by St. Nicholas whether they did behave well in the past year and then receive small gift's in red bags that they can open next day in the morning.

Not sure about the traditions in Croatia. They might be the same but your card is definetly from Austria, probably from the 1950s.

Also, this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

(Edit: spelling, clarity)

TheTwist · 2012-11-15T17:08:23+00:00

I know a certain scientist that should fear this guy.

LOLFreshman · 2012-11-15T21:00:22+00:00

So that's why Krampus gives you coal in The Binding of Isaac!

parlais · 2012-11-15T13:51:53+00:00

I have an American friend who volunteers at a school in Croatia. Her son was delighted when Santa paid a visit to the school, but terrified when he spotted Krampus. My kids are afraid of Santa. They would die of cardiac arrest if they saw Krampus.

JimmytheSaint02 · 2012-11-15T14:09:30+00:00

Delicious winter offering from Southern Tier Brewing Co.:

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3818/43738

arto64 · 2012-11-15T15:01:59+00:00

In Slovenia he's called Parkelj. He (or a group of them) accompanies St. Nicholas a.k.a. Miklavž.

Scrial · 2012-11-15T19:59:49+00:00

This is a video of a parade with these costumes in Graz, Austria.

AtomicBurritoMachine · 2012-11-15T17:55:42+00:00

Obligatory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7qLbJUPC10

iamriboflavin · 2012-11-15T19:56:03+00:00

I actually made a Krampus painting for my tattoo artist a few months ago.

http://www.artbreak.com/work/show/580529-gru-vom-krampus-iamriboflavin

ElricG · 2012-11-15T15:34:45+00:00

Another culture! WTF!!!!!! xDDDDDDD

Nickodemus · 2012-11-15T15:49:46+00:00

But... That's what the ACTUAL pagan santa did. :<

iMADEthis2post · 2012-11-15T15:55:04+00:00

Yeah, I think I know how he punishes them.

Creature77 · 2012-11-15T16:32:14+00:00

I hear quiet few good things about Southern Tier! Wish I could get my hands on that beer!

count_olaf_lucafont · 2012-11-15T17:28:15+00:00

When I was in high school in Germany, the older students put on a Christmas show for the little kiddies and Santa Claus handed out treats. After the show, two of my friends and I broke into the costume closet and stole the Krampus getup, put it on, and terrified the lil' ones into giving us all their cookies and chocolate. We were reprimanded harshly, but that just made the spoils of victory all the sweeter.

Teenage_Handmodel · 2012-11-15T18:41:03+00:00

I wonder what he uses that tongue for...

lil_buddha · 2012-11-15T18:46:54+00:00

We shall gather round the fire and lash the children with yew branches! It's a Krampus miracle!

kelseykeefe · 2012-11-15T18:55:08+00:00

I love this image. It's one of my favorites. I've a pinboard on pinterest for Christmas junk, and it has a lot of pictures of Krampus... I feel like Christmas in america-land is a bit too sugary sweet. We need more Krampus.

ruhbluhbluh · 2012-11-15T20:21:45+00:00

Posted this 8 months ago, no upvotes. For reference

mirthless_smirk · 2012-11-15T20:36:39+00:00

You make it sound like everyone walks around dressed up like that... kind of like saying that everyone dresses like Santa here in North America except it's really just drunks at the mall

yamammiwammi · 2012-11-15T20:39:01+00:00

As a Croatian, I think this is a "thing of the past" much more than it is a practiced tradition. Never in my Croatian upbringing have I heard of this practice; Krampus, yes, but not the dressing up + punishing part.

gravion17 · 2012-11-15T20:43:10+00:00

By the look of that pic, looks like molestation is part of the punishment regime!

Fierce_Pajamas · 2012-11-15T20:47:29+00:00

I was hoping to see a reference, but since no one brought it up yet, I recommend watching Rare Exports to see more creepy Santa lore...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401143/

Never before have old men been so terrifying to me.

EDIT: The trailer on IMDB makes it seem rather silly, but the movie is excellent.

HidanSensei · 2012-11-15T20:58:40+00:00

Krampus are also a really awesome folk metal band, check them out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI3H4Moh_jE

Sarlo_Akrobata · 2012-11-15T21:54:51+00:00

Not only in Croatia but the catholic population in the Ex -Yu countries in general. Also, Krampus is not Santa, it's somwthing like the boogieman.

Green_Geno · 2012-11-15T22:06:36+00:00

In America, we drink up Krampus, the tasty Helles lager that punishes bad livers. just as I was doing in this pic

TheActualAWdeV · 2012-11-15T22:26:27+00:00

That's an interesting tidbit on cultural differences. Is this about the image or about "look at those wacky foreigners?"

mablake184 · 2012-11-15T22:41:29+00:00

This should have been my Halloween costume.

bluepineapples · 2012-11-15T23:05:43+00:00

Having an anti-santa-type character was actually at one point in time common in many countries. The french at one point in time had "father spanker" who beat the crap out of bad kids with a paddle in the middle of the night. Americans used to give bad kids coal. But no one does any of this now, because kids are too spoiled to be punished on a holiday.

Treborius · 2012-11-15T23:10:00+00:00

In the Netherlands this character (together with Knecht Ruprecht and other folklore) evolved into Zwarte Piet. Also WTF-worthy.

murdocjenkins · 2012-11-15T23:41:06+00:00

I actually have a krampus tattooed on my arm

Mickeymousears · 2012-11-16T00:17:01+00:00

We don't celebrate Xmas- but I'm thinking of picking up krampus--- he seems pretty awesome!!

scroogish · 2012-11-16T00:19:28+00:00

Looks like he's offering a nice tasty basket of fruit. Not too shabby.

themidnightnarwhal2 · 2012-11-16T00:57:40+00:00

i didn't know that croatia has german customs. Krampus is scary as hell. if i saw that thing coming at my door id pull out the shotgun.

avon22889 · 2012-11-16T01:11:15+00:00

I dress up like brock sampson and whip his ass.

TotalRiot · 2012-11-16T04:17:33+00:00

For the people who are inevitably thinking it, no, krampus does not punish bad children from behind

destroyosaurusrex · 2012-11-16T04:33:22+00:00

... By molesting them on a horse.

iC3xM4n · 2012-11-16T04:36:10+00:00

This "Krampus" is actually two old gods that look like a jolly old couple that love the holidays. They sneak into homes and pull people out of the chimney then lock them in their basement and eat them. They choose their victims using Meadowsweet and can only be killed by an evergreen stake through the heart. There's also some process to the eating that involves blood, fingernails, and teeth, but that's a little morbid for Christmas.

The more you know.

Infiltr4tor · 2012-11-16T06:13:05+00:00

"Gimmy them cookies ya little shit, now cry for me!"

pisstones · 2012-11-16T08:33:47+00:00

God I'm glad to be American.

Gattatok · 2012-11-15T22:32:21+00:00

Anyone else think that the name "Croatia" means when you visit there you see dinosaurs and shit?

Ouizardus · 2012-11-15T22:54:39+00:00

This is awesome and should be a part of standard popular culture. Maybe kids would be better behaved, rather than snotty spoilt brats.

WTF

MODERATORS

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login