Krampus/Horned God
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 12:39 pm
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!
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!