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Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 12:39 pm
by T'a Nuk
Interesting discussion last night concerning Yule traditions and origins. My buddy brought me a Krampus card! Very cool, quite the thing in the 1800s as I understand it, but I digress.

A little google research on the interweb machine revealed some fascinating lore. It seems that the Christian St. Nick, in the true fashion of the Roman church, rewarded good kids. Nice guy! However, Cosmic Duality demands balance, and nasty urchins must be punished! Soundly! Enter Krampus! Half goat-half devil with a prodigious tongue and a secret lair for torturing and eating children! What better way to get the little darlings to toe the line during the time of year when they spend more time inside with ample opportunity to annoy mom and dad? If the Witch in the woods didn't get you in October, well, just you wait...

If a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, than who is Krampus? If he does actually predate Christianity, then he was defiled by the church later. A forest dweller with horns who keeps company with a saint? Add cloven hooves and a tail, throw some chains around his wrists, (presumably a reference to chaining the devil), and have him commit heinous acts against the innocent, and there you have it, a warning to Pagans everywhere, your beliefs are conquered so jump on board!

Thankfully, Austria has wonderful parades and festivals to honor and venerate Mr. Krampus. One more destination on the bucket list. So light the yule log, pour the mead, and embrace the ever persistent legends of us tree hugging dirt worshipers. GO TEAM K!

Re: Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 12:04 am
by SpiritTalker
There was a book several years ago on the shamanic roots of Santa Claus. ... The red and white suit stemming from the amanita muscaria mushroom...how those reindeer can fly...How the coke got in Coca Cola...etc. Gotta love it.

Re: Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:32 am
by Lord_of_Nightmares
The "horned god" isn't specified and there is many horned gods. I am assuming you mean Cernunnos? Cer is more of a Celt thing and if it is related, it is very far from direct. Both are highly speculated on, Cernunnos being the most mysterious.

It's kind of how the figure of Perchta is related to Holda and/or Freya, but she is also extremely different.

Re: Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:02 am
by Corbin
Masks of misrule is a good book if you havent read it Lil.

Hating to play devils advocate (or not as the case may be) ..

Its not the demonization of a paganism that bothers me, its the fact paganism wasn't just the patsy, it evolved; no simple tool of conversion, it was enlisted to manipulate, dominate and control the flock ... the carrot and the stick, St Nicholas and Krampus, God and the Devil [?]

In cahoots.

Image

Image

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Its interesting however, hopeful even (though part of me would suggest satisfying) how it, as a thing, may be evolving into something new again, away from the demons, even the angels, of the past ...

" ... A crown of horns, An image formed deformed"

- Billy Corgan

Re: Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 12:01 pm
by Firebird
I dare say the shadow side of Sinterklaus!
Also known as Ruprecht, definitely a way to keep children in line!
We have a big festival here in called Krampus LA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7guTQ3UjSj4&app=desktop

Re: Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:42 am
by Corbin
firebirdflys wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2017 12:01 pm I dare say the shadow side of Sinterklaus!
Or indeed like the high and low aspects of Jupiter: The rewarding, selfless divine father and the punative self-interested tyrant.

Where do we really believe the commonly held image of the Christian God comes from; technically it would be considered a graven image? Cromwell did not approve.

Re: Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 12:51 pm
by Firebird
How do you mean Corbin? Like he was all old and wrinkled? Kinda like Krampus?
I often wonder about the images chosen, God...old wrinkled, white haired, wizened, Jesus...young, blond, white, holy ghost, invisible yet shown in the clouds, sheer, vaporous.
Hadn't thought of the Krampus as Jupiter but that makes perfect sense.
Images adapted for the time and era in which they were popular? Because Jesus could not have been a white man.
It's interesting what power we give these images by virtue of physical location, and of location in time.
As a child we were told to be good or Santa wouldn't bring us any toys for X-mas, I think they left out the part that the bad Santa would render discipline. Also to be left coal... a bad thing, yet in an area where you were freezing coal would be a fine gift.
BB, FF

Re: Krampus/Horned God

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 12:55 pm
by Firebird
oh ya, here is the Krampus LA page. http://krampuslosangeles.com/