Krampus part 1 Krampus, The Devil of Christmas or so they say. The companion or “shadow” of St. Nicholas. He who punishes the bad children, by rattling his chains, whipping them or spanking them with his birch branches. Or even worse drags them to Hell with him or just outright eats them. A modern icon of Yuletide traditions, Krampus has a far older and tumultuous history and similar to Holle, Perchta, Gaude, and many more he is a god who is seen as a monster in the modern day. An Alpine horned god far more important than at first glance. In his appearance he calls to mind beings such as Pan, Cernunnos, and The Eternal Hunter.