Traditional Krampus run where people dress as pagan figures
543 views · Published 8 December 2018 · 3:03 · Indexed 11 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(1 Dec 2018) Hundreds of Krampus actors from all over the country descended on the market square of Hollabrunn in lower Austria on Saturday night. Several thousand visitors from Austria and the neighbouring Czech Republic came to see the event in which actors, dressed in animal furs and wooden masks, scare bystanders. In central European folklore, Krampus, is the evil companion of Santa Claus who punishes ill-behaved children, but the figure is believed to originate from pre-Christian, pagan times. Different groups try to outdo each other with ever more scary and impressive costumes that include glowing eyes made from LED lights and pyro effects next to the cowbells and animal furs traditionally worn by Krampus. It is common for the actors to dish out beatings to bystanders with bundles of twigs and play pranks on them. Bruises are a common occurrence and an accepted part of the tradition, but it is equally possible that one of the actors will pose for a selfie with a visitor and small children are usually treated with extra care. While other Krampus parades, like the one in the southern city of Villach, are far bigger with up to 50,000 people attending, the Hollabrunn event is popular as the actors can more easily interact with bystanders and security is not excessive. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/524a500bb43ca568ee846a08c96b24cc
