JACOPO COEN
Krampus, a devil story

This reportage shows the last meeting of Krampus in South Tyrol (IT).
On December 5 in Castelrotto 52 different groups of Krampus from Switzerland, Austria, Germany and South Tyrol met for the annual show.

In Central European folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure described as "half-goat, half-demon", who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved. This contrasts with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts. Krampus is one of the companions of Saint Nicholas in several regions including Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Hungary, Northern Italy including South Tyrol and the Trentino, and Slovenia. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated it as having pre-Christian origins.

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