By John Sharp
Grant Tatum had been walking with the Cub Scouts during past Homewood Christmas parades, but he decided to change course amid the pandemic.
What emerged in 2021 was a float representing the counterculture to Christmas traditions of merry and bright.
Tatum was its leader – Krampus — dressed in a horned outfit with furry boots.
“Admittedly, at first, some of the motivation was in reaction to a post-pandemic environment where the plastic and glitter of Christmas-as-usual didn’t feel right,” said Tatum, 54, adding that first parade “we looked like the case from Narnia instead of anything creepy or scary.”
The Krampus celebration has only grown in popularity ever since. Three years after participating in the Homewood parade, Tatum will host “The Wild Hunt,” hosted by the group he founded, “Magic City Krampuslauf” at Cahaba Brewing from 4-8 p.m. Saturday in Birmingham. Last year’s inaugural Wild Hunt drew 200 to 250 people. Tatum is anticipating a doubling of crowd size.
Krampus inspiration is spreading throughout Alabama despite controversies by religious groups in San Antonio and Pikeville, Ken., who claim the character is akin to the devil.
“Despite controversy,” said Eric Morley, organizer of the group, Krampus America. “Krampus is here to stay.”
Popular appeal
In Alabama, Krampus events have mostly occurred at private venues, and the character hasn’t drawn much attention nor outrage in the heart of America’s Bible Belt.
But Alabama is still awash with Krampus sightings, and the number of appearances is growing.
In Trussville, the beastly character made an appearance at The Fae Trap’s Santa Yuletide Bazaar last weekend. A 5K in Huntsville also took place last weekend and was named after the character who appears at the finish line.
Krampus is a main character this weekend at two haunted houses popular among adults and teenagers during the Halloween season — Sweet Dreams Haunted Attraction in Mobile, and Atrox Factory in Birmingham.
Who needs a picture with Santa, anyway? The monster has already been available for photo shoots at Books, Beans and Candles Metaphysical Shoppe in Birmingham, and at the Festival of Yule in downtown Tuscumbia.
What’s the appeal all about? It varies, but the celebrations in Alabama and throughout the country appear to embrace an alternative version to the commercialization of the holiday season associated with gift-giving, lavish parties, and community celebrations.
Krampus and events celebrating the fictional character represent a darker version of Christmas rooted in central European folklore. The character and its connection to the holiday are long recognized in countries like Germany and Austria and are mostly focused about the devilish-looking companion of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) who punishes those who misbehave.
Krampus is a half-goat, half-beast who could easily be compared to the mythical Greek creature, Minotaur. He has a tongue that would make Gene Simmons of Kiss envious. And his entire aura seems more appropriate for a death-metal album cover than on any Hallmark Christmas card.
The Krampus story dates back centuries and is long been viewed as the “bad cop” to Santa Claus. Where jolly Saint Nick leaves present for good boys and girls, Krampus is viewed as his evil twin and carries a basket of sticks that he uses to beat the naughty ones.
According to European tales, on Krampusnacht (or Krampus Night) which is Dec. 5, St. Nicholas and Krampus arrive together to either reward or punish children.
Worse yet, some stories suggest he will eat naughty children or drag them to hell. Parents in Europe long told Krampus stories to scare children to not misbehave, otherwise the creature would come for them.
Europeans continue to celebrate Krampus Night on Dec. 5, by parading in elaborate costumes during a rollicking Krampus event called “Krampuslauf.”
The story of Krampus has resonated, especially over the past decade, in the U.S. Much of the attention about the character was sparked through the commercially successful 2015 horror movie, “Krampus.” The character also plays a pivotal role in the newly released film, “Red One,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and J.K. Simmons.
“In the U.S., I believe people are seeking alternative celebrations and fun activities within the counterculture of Christmas,” said Morley of Krampus America, which is organizing an inaugural Krampus convention in Bremerton, Wash., in May. “Krampus celebrations are fun, simple, and don’t have the heavy expectations of decorating, buying gifts, throwing lavish parties, and burdening people with the complexities of the holiday season. In essence, Krampus is the antidote to everything that become overwhelming with the holiday season.”
Controversial beast
Krampus has been unleashed in the cities around the country in recent years. The beastly character is featured in pre-Christmas parades in Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Seattle, and in small towns like Clintonville, Ohio. In New Orleans, the Krewe of Krampus claims to host the largest Krampus parade in America.
This year, controversies about Krampus arose. San Antonio held its first-ever Krampus parade on Dec. 5, amid complaints from the Catholic Archdiocese and the San Antonio Family Association that Krampus had an uncanny resemblance to the devil.
In Pikeville, Ken. – a town of about 7,700 – city officials last month canceled a Christmas event featuring Krampus out of concern from residents who viewed it as a “satanic” event.
“It’s understandable that many people in the U.S. confuse Krampus and try to make sense of the folklore through a lens that’s familiar to them,” Morley said. “The consequence, however, is that they incorrectly call Krampus a demon or say he is the devil and compare the celebration to devil worship. This is entirely untrue, and sadly, confused people prefer to stir up controversy than seek understanding.”
Tatum said the initial reaction to his float in Homewood during the 2021 parade sparked controversy online.
“We kept it G-rated,” Tatum recalled. “We made a 12-foot float, and people walking were dressed in fantastical costumes. But the next morning, a local community Facebook group, people were asking, ‘Who were these guys” and calling us witches and devils and stuff like that.”
He added, “They were negative and accusatory, but 90 to 95 percent (of respondents) came back with stories on traveling to Europe and seeing those parades.”
In Trussville, Emily Moody – owner of The Fae Trap – said she was aware of mixed reactions toward the creature they featured during this year’s event.
Moody said the goal with Krampus is to “celebrate the fascinating folklore” that she says is both “engaging and respectful of the traditions.”
“We’ve found that many people are drawn to the darker, more unique aspects of the holiday season that Krampus represents,” Moody said.
War on Krampus
Michael Altman, a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, said the more local reactions about what is included in a holiday event or parade illustrates struggles over maintaining a Christian aspect of Christmas.
Altman said unlike the “war on Christmas” – which has been engrained in the country’s culture wars for about 20 years, over public displays of the nativity and other Christmas religious features – the “war on Krampus” is more of a “conflict about how a community understands itself and who gets to be part of it and have power in it.”
“While we haven’t seen Krampus parades in Alabama yet, the recent conflict over the Pride float in the Prattville Christmas parade is a similar situation,” Altman said, referring to outrage by conservative organizations like Clean Up Alabama to a float featuring a drag queen.
“People didn’t want to recognize that there were LGBTQ+ people in their community and tried to keep them out of the parade,” Altman said. “With Krampus, some churches and Christians don’t want to recognize or including anything outside of their understanding of the holiday season in their community.”
Not all religious organizations are aware of Krampus or its origins. Mathew Staver, chairman of the Liberty Counsel — a non-profit ministry that promotes evangelical Christian values – said his organization had not been made aware of Krampus events, but after learning more about them, he called them a “pagan celebration” that should be “very concerning.”
“People of faith would be very concerned about this demonic and pagan celebration being trumpeted in some parts of the country,” Staver said, adding that he believes Krampus celebrations “will fade away,” and calling them “temporary blips on the radar with no lasting power.”
Wassailing awaits
Tatum said the event at Cahaba Brewing does not carry nefarious intents. He said “The Wild Hunt” will embrace the cultural curiosities for the strange creatures connected to the holidays and the Winter Solstice (giants, witches, trolls, elves, among others) from Iceland, Sweden, France, and Italy.
At 4:30 p.m., a foot parade featuring a menagerie of mystical mythical creatures including Krampus but also an Icelandic Yule Cat, and la Befana (the Italian Christmas witch), snow fairies and more will parade at Cahaba Brewing.
Tatum said he will be dressed this year as a Julbock (straw goat) that is associated with Swedish Christmas traditions.
The three-hour program also features The Yuletide Tumblers, described as an eclectic ensemble of musicians playing “rustic wassailing and holiday songs on archaic instruments” such as the hurdy gurdy, fiddle, harp, flute, and Viking drums. The sound, Tatum said, is very “old-world” like pub music from the 1800s.
Four dance groups will also perform, and there will be fire performers outside. Poetry and storytelling are also on the docket. Cahaba Brewing will serve up a special Krampus IPA.
“Our event definitely focuses on the pageantry and the performance aspect of it,” Tatum said. Our event is more interactive with a parade of characters like you would see at Disney (World).
He added, “Some people are exploring this as an antithesis to the shiny and glittery, everything-is-normal (version of Christmas). There are a lot of people who see the holidays as a blue time, missing loved ones. We need to think how the holiday experience can be different for a variety of people. This is just one more expression and choice people have to pull from.”
Who Is Krampus? Meet the sinister holiday Figure
What is Krampus? A creature popularized in Central European folklore and long recognized in countries like Germany and Austria as the devilish companion of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus). A half-goat, half-demon figure that is often depicted with large horns, thick furry body, massive hooves, and the devil’s eyes. Krampus possesses a basket filled with sticks, chains, and horsehair.
What is the definition of “Krampus”? The name is derived from an old German word krampen, meaning “claw.”
What does Krampus do? Krampus is an ominous figure who punishes those who misbehave. On Dec. 6 – St. Nicholas Day – children will awaken to find gifts left by Santa Claus or will nurse their wounds inflicted by Krampus, who beats naughty children with branches and sticks. In some cases, he is said to eat them or drag them to hell.
What is Krampusnacht? A holiday celebrated in Eastern Europe and Germany that is like Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). Krampusnacht which is Dec. 5, and this is the night that St. Nicholas and Krampus arrive together to either reward or punish children.
What is a Krampuslauf? A festivity involving Krampus that often involves alcohol and people dressed as the creature parading through the streets, scaring spectators, and sometimes chasing them.
Why is it popular in the U.S.? The monster’s growing appeal is often attributed to his appearance in movies, including the 2015 commercial hit, “Krampus.” Some claim the creature’s expanding popularity is a reaction to the commercialization of Christmas.
Why is there controversy? Parades have taken place for years in the U.S. in cities like New Orleans, Milwaukee, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Clintonville, Ohio, has hosted a Krampus parade since 2015. But controversies arose in San Antonio and Pikeville, Kentucky, this year with objections from community and church leaders over hosting an event perceived as celebrating evil.
