Krampus

You hear that? Jingle bells… but not the cute Hallmark kind. These bells are heavy. They're dragging across cobblestones in the dark. You step outside into the snow, and there, at the end of the street, you see horns. Not reindeer antlers. Curved, twisting goat horns. And they’re attached to something standing upright.

It’s huge. Covered in black fur. Its tongue is way too long. Its hooves are clacking. And it’s dragging chains.

Merry Christmas. Krampus has come to town.

For our winter finale, we’re leaving the Florida heat behind and heading into the snowy Alps to meet one of the most terrifying figures of European folklore: Krampus, the Christmas demon. Half-goat, half-demon, all trauma, he’s the one who shows up before Saint Nicholas to punish the naughty kids. His job? Spank the wicked, rattle some chains, and maybe even drag a few unlucky souls straight to the underworld.

Krampus isn't a new TikTok trend. He’s older than the Santa you know and way less forgiving. He comes from centuries-old pagan winter traditions that were eventually smashed together with Christianity. Think torch-lit processions of horned monsters charging through snowy villages in fur and wooden masks. Think birch rods and bells. Think alpine parenting, but with more screaming.

In some towns, December 5th is still celebrated as Krampusnacht, the night he runs wild. Saint Nicholas may show up the next day with sweets, but first comes the fear. Children leave out their shoes, hoping for candy, but knowing that Krampus could be clanking up the stairs instead. He might carry chains, birch sticks, and a sack just big enough to kidnap a particularly stubborn child. Just a gentle seasonal reminder that actions have consequences.

And the tradition? It’s still going strong. From sleepy Austrian villages to rowdy Krampus runs filled with booze, fire, and chaos, the goat demon is alive and well. People in full Krampus regalia storm through the streets, swatting at onlookers and collecting schnapps. Tourists scream. Locals laugh. Somewhere, a child becomes a little more obedient.

But is Krampus just a costume, or something more? A few modern witnesses claim they’ve seen something strange…hoofprints in fresh snow, chains with no owner, a shadow that was just a little too tall. Whether he’s a metaphor for winter’s darkness or a spirit that’s been stomping through Alpine towns for centuries, Krampus is a reminder that Christmas hasn’t always been cozy.

So lock your windows. Leave out some schnapps. And maybe keep an eye on the edge of the woods.

Krampus is coming.