Okay..we’re back. We’re still working on a lot of the details, but you’ve been particularly naughty, so we had to get started. So you want to now what Krampus AP is? Well, it is a celebration older than Christmas, but don’t get upset about it. It just means it is ancient. It harkens back to a time when the world relied on balance. For every positive, there was likely a negative.
The lore of virtually every society has a dark figure associated with the Yule Tide. Krampus is just the biggest and baddest (well, Gryla is pretty bad too..).
Krampus is a mythical creature from Central European folklore, particularly associated with the Christmas season. He is often depicted as a horned, anthropomorphic figure with a terrifying appearance. According to legend, Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas during the YULE season. While Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus is said to punish naughty children by swatting them with birch branches or even carrying them away in his sack. Krampus is believed to represent the dark side of the holiday season, reminding children to be on their best behavior.
So what is it about? Back in the days of yore, punishment was not simply the absence of reward, it was a real thing. If you transgressed you were likely to receive a commupance. IN the case of Krampus it was extremely unpleasant – and on a sliding scale from coal in your stocking to getting tossed in a smelly bag and dragged to the woods to be eaten. The thing is, if Krampus was coming for you, you probably had a pretty good idea why.
So, what is Krampus Asbury Park? Well, like the traditions of Iceland, Germany and lots of other places, Krampus comes before the feast of St. Nikolaus. In fact he and old St. Nick operate in tandem. But in these countries its a tradition to have roving bands of Krampus creatures wander through town, tormenting children (to their delight). So, we invite you to do the same!
