Naughty or Nice - Santa's helper, Krampus, deals with the naughty kids

(WKTV) - Most of us are familiar with the yearly visit from Santa Claus, bringing joy and gifts to those children who've been good throughout the year. But what about the children who've been bad?

Aside from coal in the stocking, Old St. Nick used to have a traveling partner who'd take care of all those on the naughty list.

In Europe, especially the Germanic countries, Krampus was employed as a helper of Santa's to deal directly with badly behaving children at Christmas. St. Nicholas gave out the treats of nuts, fruits, and cookies to the good children, but it was Krampus right behind him, that delivered birch rods and ashes to the children - or took children away in his sack if they've been naughty.

All of this, of course, taking place on St. Nicholas' feast day - December 6.

Scholars believe that the origin of the Krampus may be traced back to ancient times and pagan deities, who were associated with the winter solstice celebrations and who were said to prowl the countryside during long, cold, dark nights. Others suggest that a heavy fear of the devil and his works by the ancient protestants placed him in a subservient position to Santa to further emphasize God's power over evil.

In parts of Austria, Krampus is a scary figure, most probably originating in the Pre-Christian Alpine traditions. Local tradition typically portrays these figures as children of poor families, roaming the streets and sledding hills during the holiday festival. They wore black rags and masks, dragging chains behind them, and occasionally hurling them towards children in their way. These Krampus runs, or "Krampusumzüge," still exist, although perhaps less violent than in the past.

In Modern Day Schladming, a town in Styria, over 1,200 "Krampus" gather from all over Austria wearing goat-hair costumes and carved masks, carrying bundles of sticks used as switches, and swinging cowbells to warn of their approach. They are typically males in their teens and early twenties, and often get very drunk. They roam the streets of this typically quiet town and hit people with their switches. Their primary aim is to frighten young children as they go through the streets of the towns, but many say it is not considered wise for young women to go out on this night, as they are popular targets.

In many parts of Croatia, Krampus is described as a devil, wearing chains around his neck, ankles and wrists, and wearing a cloth sack around his waist. As a part of a tradition, when a child receives a gift from St. Nicholas he is given a golden branch to represent his/hers good deeds throughout the year; however, if the child has misbehaved, Krampus will take the gifts for himself and leave only a silver branch to represent the child's bad acts.

Children are commonly scared into sleeping during the time St. Nicolas brings gifts by being told that if they are awake, Krampus will think they have been bad, and will take them away in his sack.

In Hungary, Krampus is often portrayed as mischievous rather than an evil devil, wearing a black suit, a long red tongue, with a tail and little red horns that are more funny than frightening. Krampus wields a "Virgács," which is a bunch of gold twigs bound together.

Hungarian parents often frighten children with the threat getting a Virgács instead of presents if they do not behave. By the end of November, you can buy all kinds of Virgács on the streets, usually painted gold, bound by a red ribbon.

When Old St. Nick came to America, his benevolent self remained, and children were told to be on their best behavior for fear of coal in their stocking or no gifts, but lost the threat of Krampus taking you away in his sack if you were naughty.