Saint Nick’s Dark Companion

Published 2 hours ago
Source: theatlantic.com
Saint Nick’s Dark Companion
A person wearing a frightening demon mask and costume, dressed as 'Krampus,' seen at night, silhouetted by a light
Elisabeth Mandl / Reuters
A person costumed as Krampus participates in the traditional Perchten parade in Vienna, Austria, on November 30, 2025.
A person wearing a Saint Nicholas costume stands beside several costumed, demonic characters.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
The Krampus of the Flagellium group and Saint Nicholas enter a house to bring gifts to children in Fusine di Valromana in Tarvisio, Italy, on December 5, 2025. Saint Nicholas and the Krampus are folkloric figures from the Alps, where on the night of December 5 (the eve of Saint Nicholas Day), the saint rewards good children with sweets, while his demonic helpers, the Krampus (horned, hairy, and noisy creatures), scare and symbolically punish the bad ones, in a tradition that mixes Christianity and pagan rituals, especially in South Tyrol, Austria, and Friuli.
A person wearing a scary Krampus costume holds up a torch during a parade.
Borut Zivulovic / Reuters
A person dressed as the horned evil spirit known as the Krampus takes part in a parade through the small town of Goricane, Slovenia, on November 22, 2025.
People wearing scary, horned, demon costumes gather on a street.
Matthias Schrader / AP
Participants wearing traditional Krampus and Perchten costumes perform during a Krampus run in Itter, Austria, on December 5, 2025.
Children in a parking lot playfully run from a person wearing a scary Krampus costume.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
A Krampus from the Flagellium group scares children in Fusine di Valromana on December 5, 2025, in Tarvisio, Italy.
A close view of a person wearing a Krampus costume and mask, seen standing in front of a Ferris wheel
Elisabeth Mandl / Reuters
A person costumed as Krampus participates in the traditional Perchten parade in Vienna, Austria, on November 30, 2025.
A crowd gathers to watch a person, dressed as Krampus, perform among many small fires.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
The Krampus of the Flagellum group perform near the upper lake of Fusine on December 5, 2025 in Tarvisio, Italy.
A Christmas display inside a large manor, including a decorated Christmas tree and the shadowy outline of a Krampus figure projected against a wall
Jim Dyson / Getty
The Billiards Room in Waddesdon Manor is decorated with German traditions, including the legend of the Krampus, seen on November 23, 2025, in Aylesbury, England.
A person performs while wearing a scary Krampus mask with horns.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
The Krampus of the Flagellum group perform in Tarvisio, Italy, on December 5, 2025.
Six performers wearing frightening Krampus costumes and masks walk across a snow-covered field out of a forest.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
The Krampus of the Flagellum group walk through the woods in Fusine di Valromana, on December 5, 2025.
A performer dressed as Krampus approaches a group of people hiding behind a wooden sign.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
A Krampus from the Flagellium group scares children on December 5, 2025.
A close view of a person wearing a scary Krampus costume and mask with long curved horns.
Elisabeth Mandl / Reuters
A person costumed as Krampus takes part in the Perchten parade in Vienna, Austria, on November 30, 2025.
A performer wearing a Krampus costume and Santa's red, fuzzy coat takes part in a parade.
Meegan M. Reid / Kitsap Sun / USA Today / Reuters
Krampus Bremerton’s Eric Morley heads for the crowd lining Pacific Avenue during the Krampusnacht Bremerton parade on December 6, 2025, in Bremerton, Washington.
Onlookers watch as performers take part in a Krampus run in Munich.
IMAGO / Wolfgang Maria Weber / Reuters
Onlookers watch as performers take part in a Krampus run in Munich, Germany, on December 14, 2025.
Several performers dressed as Krampus walk into a well-lit bar.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
The Krampus of the Flagellum group entered a bar in Fusine di Valromana, on December 5, 2025.
A person dressed as Krampus holds a torch during a performance.
Stefano Mazzola / Getty
Performers dressed as Krampus put on a show in Tarvisio, Italy, on December 5, 2025.
A spectator takes a selfie with a participant dressed as Krampus during a parade.
Michaela Stache / AFP / Getty
A spectator takes a selfie with participants dressed as Krampus, a half-goat, half-demon figure that punishes misbehaving children during the Christmas season, during the traditional Krampus parade in downtown Munich, on December 14, 2025.
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