The Legend of Krampus -
With Christmastime approaching, many European countries (most
notably Austrian villages) still mention the fabled, Krampus. The monster was said to have captured mischievous children
and hold them hostage and then beat them until they become nice and not
naughty. There has recently been somewhat of a surge in Hollywood to make
Christmas-time horror films on this uniquely Germanic tale.
The term “Krampus” was believed to be transference in
literation from the meaning of the Son of
Hel from Norse mythology. Ironically enough, while researching this
article, it would appear that this is also one of the origins of the word, “hell”.
Krampus is a derivative of the ancient word, krampen which means “claw” in old High-German. Every year prior to
December 6th which is known as Krampusnacht (OR Krampus Night, December 5th, the eve of the 6th),
Krampus is said to make his appearance and cage up his young, mischievous
subjects to punish them.
Modern day advents with Krampus have the mythical being
dressed out as a hairy, giant type of creature with horns. Citizens parade
around in the streets and the activity in some places is akin to “The Running
of The Bulls”.
The Woodwose Beings
in Other Areas of Europe and in North America -
A total of 19 European countries celebrate with some
derivation of woodwose- type beings during the holidays. Take for instance the
country of Sardinia – participants dress up as a character called, the Mamuthones. Slovenia has their own
variation of forest creep called, Kurent
or Korent.
These beings resemble a sheep-skin covered type animal that are said to have
unrestrained, hedonistic behaviors. The Macedonians have the Bearded Djolomari and the Bulgarians
have their Babugeri that wards off
evil spirits.
Every year at Easter, Poland has a festival with characters
dressed as the Dziady and there
again the costumes are made of fake hair, woven straw and sheep skin. We there
again see a resemblance of what Americans have coined Bigfoot or Sasquatch. Quite remarkably, all of
the above mentioned are not supposed to talk during their performances but
rather hoot, whistle or murmur. This again is very similar to some of the
accounts where people have heard of Bigfoot
or Sasquatch making only those
types of noises. One must have to wonder where that tradition came from and it
would almost seem that the ancients would have had to witness this type of
behavior first hand in order to mimic it.
We again see woodwose
or forest beings in such as the Gallorones
in Spain, the Pelzmartle in another
area of Germany, Strohman in another
part of Germany, and the Stag on New
Year’s Day in Romania - all having the theme of a hairy creatures coming in
from the forest.
Is There Any Doubt?
It would almost seem that the mythological creatures of
holiday Europe have some ties to what we contemporarily term as Bigfoot or
Sasquatch. There’s almost a definite connection based simply on folklore
itself. Could early Europeans have based their own Bigfoot-type sightings and
then later attributing names to them like what we’ve seen explained here? The
Native Americans described the Sasquatch as beings that seemed to live in “two
worlds” but; I f I may suggest – is that not the very same attributes early
Europeans described and attributed to their holiday folkloric characters?
With the suggestion of both Europeans and Native Americans stating
that these forest monster- type beings live in two worlds; would it still not
stand to reason that there are elements of truth in these historical accounts?
Is it possible that the woodwose and wild men of both continents share a
historical kinship in some weird and unknown way? Could they perhaps have undefined
gifts that at current have no way of measuring scientifically? Can they really
live in “two worlds” as suggested by our ancients?