The old stories of the alpine mountains tell that, many centuries ago, during one of the coldest nights of the winter, a group of children decided to disobey their parents. Despite the warnings and the strong wind that lashed the village, they left their homes to play in the snow, laughing and making fun of the rules that had been imposed on them.
The night was advancing and the storm was becoming more and more intense. Suddenly, amidst the whistling wind, the children heard a strange sound: the distant echo of bells. At first it seemed faint, almost mistaken for the sound of falling snow, but gradually it became clearer and closer. Along with the bells, the metallic dragging of chains began to be heard.
Fear gripped them as they realized they were not alone.
Through the trees of the forest, shrouded in mist and darkness, a huge figure emerged. It had twisted horns, a body covered with thick dark fur and eyes that glowed like burning embers. From its mouth protruded a long red tongue, and from its arms hung heavy chains that clanked with every step. It was Krampus.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
Krampus: who he is, his origin and the darkest Christmas legend
In the snowy mountains of Central Europe, where winters are as harsh as the stories that were born there, there is a figure that completely breaks with the warm and cheerful image of Christmas. His name is Krampus, a creature feared for centuries in the Alpine regions.
At the sight of the creature, some children fled in terror, losing themselves in the snow. Others, paralyzed with fear, were unable to move. Krampus advanced slowly towards them, lifting an old sack slung over his shoulder. One by one, the children who had misbehaved were caught and stuffed inside, while their screams were lost in the storm.
When dawn came, the village awoke covered by a blanket of fresh snow. That morning, St. Nicholas descended from the mountains to fulfill his annual visit. He handed out sweets and gifts to the obedient children, but soon noticed that some were not there.
When he asked for them, no one could give a clear answer. They only found, marked in the snow that surrounded the forest, deep hoofprints that were lost among the trees.
The children Krampus took away… were never heard from again.
Since then, it is said that every winter, when the wind blows hard and the bells ring in the distance, Krampus goes through the mountains reminding everyone that it is not only goodness that visits the villages at Christmas, but also punishment.
