Pre-Christmas traditions in Austria
Part 1: St Nicholas or “der
heilige Nikolaus”
A pre-Christmas tradition in Austria is St Nicholas walking from house to house handing out small gifts to children on the 6th of December. It is said that God rewarded Nicholas' generosity by
allowing him to return to earth each year to bring gifts to all the good
children. He is dressed as a bishop with flowing robes and a miter. He carries a big book and a bishop's crozier. St Nicholas is accompanied by the diabolical
figure of Krampus, his role is to punish children who didn´t behave well. This devil figure, often in
chains, is dressed in fur with a scary devil mask with horns and a long red
tongue and carries a wooden stick. Many towns and cities have Krampus parades with young men in
costumes and devil masks. After the parade the Krampus figures scatter and beat
anyone who gets in their way. It is very frightening
and even dangerous.
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