Last year in the US, a movie came out called, Krampus. It is a Horrorfilm that stems from an old folk tale in Europe. The idea is that a monster comes and punishes bad children in winter time. Many Americans have seen this film, but they do not know that Kramperln and Buttnmandl is actually a very important tradition in Germany, specifically some Bavarian districts.
The story comes from Austro-Bavarian folklore. In the city I was born we celebrate this tradition. The tradition of the Krampuslauf and the Buttnmandl. These gruesome beasts go from house to house with Nicholas. Nicholas is the story we learned about in school where if you leave your shoes outside on the 6th of December he will fill them with sweets. In the Bavarian towns that participate it is usually on the 5th or 6th of December. The Buttnmandl carry switches and wear bells that clatter loudly from house to house.
In 1934, the Krampuslauf in the Berchtesgadener Land, a big participator in this tradition, was banned. Today there are the strict rules you must abide by to be able to conduct the Krampuslauf. You must be included in a basse. A basse is a group of bachelors who have been specifically selected by current members to be in the group. It is very exclusive to become a member. Rules are passed verbally and carried out according to specific tradition dating back to old times. It could begin as early as 10:00 am and it's usually in the basement of a persons home where the men get together and start drinking.
They usually drink schnapps, of course, that good German beer. Then they dress themselves in their costumes and put the bells on. When they are good and drunk, they go into town, run around, and later meet up with Nicholas and go to the houses to visit the children of the smaller cities/neighborhoods.
This day can be particularly unpleasant for children. At the beginning it is not so bad, because Nicholas comes and speaks to the children and everything is joyful. But the children can hear the bells of the buttnmandl. So naturally the children become very anxious. When they get they get inside the house with Nicholas, they make a lot of noise and commotion but then Nicholas kloppts his staff three times on the ground and the buttnmandl become silent. Nicholas tells the children that they should be good this year and then he gives them sweets.
This tradition is certainly unlike anything that happens in the US, but it is an interesting take on your children learning right from wrong, even if its scared into them. It's a slightly more intrusive way then the naughty or nice list, but hey it's still very interesting to see how people from all of the world celebrate different times of the year!
