Austrian Villagers to Refugees: 'Please Don't Fear Krampus'

[IceWizard]

DEC 1 2015, 9:53 AM ET
by ANDY ECKARDT

MAINZ, Germany —
The integration of Syrian and Iraqi refugees is facing a terrifying challenge in rural Austria this holiday season.

Officials in the village of Virgen worried about
how new arrivals from the Middle East would
react to the local tradition of meeting so-called "Christmas Devils" who pretend to abduct kids.
"In the first week of December, the good, gift- bringing St. Nicholas wanders through the
streets with his evil, scary companions called
Krampus," Kurt Glaenzer, the head of a local
Krampus club, explained to NBC News.


A man dressed in a Krampus costume and mask performs during a festival in the western
Austrian village of Kappl on Nov. 13. A similar
event will be held in Virgen this week. DOMINIC EBENBICHLER / Reuters


Some of Virgen's around 2,000 residents wear
animal skins and don carved wooden masks on nights leading up to St. Nicholas Day on
December 6.

Loud bells tied to their costumes clank through the darkness of the night as the creepy creatures wander the streets searching for poorly behaved children.

"When the Krampus roams the town, he often
wrestles people to the ground, symbolizing the
abduction of bad children," Glaenzer added Fearing the spectacle would be misunderstood, community representatives last week visited the 22 migrants — including 12 children — who have been housed in the Alpine village since the end of October.

They were shown the frightening masks and
given insight into the event's history with the
help of an Arabic translator.

The verdict?

The newcomers had "lots of fun," according to social worker Nicole Kranebitter. The migrants "will now know what to expect when St. Nicholas and the Krampus creatures knock on their door," Kranebitter added.

She said the next event planned for the families who fled war-torn homelands will be traditional cookie baking.

---

A man dressed in a traditional Krampus
costume and mask performs in Kappl, Austria,
on November 13.
DOMINIC EBENBICHLER / Reuters

[Grandote]

Sounds like a good cover for a pedo. They simply dress in costume, grab a kid who thinks its all a game until he/she gets whisked away to a dungeon. Plus the costume prevents identification of the culprit.

[willie33]

If they don't want the people to fear Krampus, that mutt has to have a serious makeover.

Maybe get rid of the pitchfork, get some nice contact lens, file those horns down or at least get a big hairdo. And how about some waxing, moisturizing, and manicure and pedicure.

Charon, he might benefit from WEN hair products.

Also, sir, do something with those teeth and pick out a nice suit.

[Charon]

too much.

i bet parents tell children all year to fear the krampus if they act up.

Maybe Wen products, but damn. If that knocks at my door, cannot u have left the door open? If it enters, you can then shoot the interloper in the USA.

Merry Christmas and all that. My son was afraid of some kinda black christmas eve movie. And, of southpark. Dunno.

I am sure its a loverly festival but i don't want any strangers touching me. Grabbing my kid.

Just not the holiday i know.