The Austrian tradition featuring a demon-like figure who punishes naughty children is Krampus.
In Alpine folklore, Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas during visits to children on the night of December 5, known as Krampusnacht. Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, while Krampus traditionally threatens or punishes badly behaved children, often with birch rods.
Krampus is usually portrayed with horns, dark hair, a long tongue, animal-like features, and chains or bells. His exact origins are uncertain. Some writers have proposed pre-Christian influences, but historians note that clear evidence for the figure does not appear until the sixteenth century. The character became linked with Saint Nicholas as a frightening counterpart to the saint's generosity.
Modern communities often mark the custom with Krampuslauf, or Krampus runs, in which masked participants parade through streets. Krampus is not exclusively Austrian: related traditions appear across parts of Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, and other Central European regions. He is distinct from figures such as Knecht Ruprecht and Belsnickel, although all can serve as companions or disciplinarians associated with Saint Nicholas.