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Forget meeting Santa. I want to meet Krampus!!
The real Nightmare Before Christmas
I first learned of Krampus while playing a video game — Don’t Starve. Yes, that really is a real game, and it’s highly entertaining. At least, I found it so.
In the game, Krampus is a monster that steals a player’s items. This can be disastrous. What triggers a visit from Krampus? The player’s naughtiness rating. The higher the rating, the more likely that the monster will spawn. After he wreaks his path of destruction, the player’s naughtiness is reset to zero. To avoid becoming naughty, a player must avoid murder. Unfortunately, there are times when it’s unavoidable in the game. So it’s a balancing act….
Apparently the game can also spawn multiple Krampii (yes, that is the appropriate plural). To kill them, the player needs an Ice Staff and a Sleep Dart.
After playing Don’t Starve, I decided to google Krampus. Turns out, he’s not a made-up beastie. Or, he is, but he was invented ages ago. Some think his origins pre-date Christianity, harking back to Central and Eastern Alpine Europe’s pagan past.
Who is Krampus?
He is typically represented as a horned man-like figure who is paired with Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season. While Saint Nick gives gifts of…
