In Alpine folklore, Krampus is the horned creature said to punish naughty children at Christmas.
Krampus traditionally appears on the night of December 5, known as Krampusnacht, before Saint Nicholas Day on December 6. Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children, while Krampus threatens or punishes those who have misbehaved, often carrying birch branches, chains, bells, and a sack.
The figure is usually shown as hairy and devil-like, with horns, fangs, a long tongue, and sometimes one cloven hoof. Although Krampus is often described as a survival of pre-Christian pagan customs, historians note that clear written evidence appears only from the 16th century. His exact origin therefore remains debated.
Krampus is not the same as Knecht Ruprecht, Belsnickel, or Zwarte Piet. Those are separate Saint Nicholas companions from different regional traditions. The modern international image of Krampus was also shaped by 19th-century greeting cards and later films, television, and holiday events.