Krampus in Austria

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In Austria at Christmas, who is on the Naugty or Nice list has a different meaning.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, parades honouring Krampus are held throughout many of Austria’s Alpine villages.

On December 5th, the traditional Krampusauslauf (Krampus run) take place in many alpine villages in Tirol, Salzburgerland and Bavaria.

This is when you discover if you were on the Naughty or the Nice list.
If you have been good, St. Nicholas visits with his angels and distributes gifts. Children normally receive candy, nuts, and chocolates in a jute bag.
But naughty children meet Krampus and receive punishment with birch rods or the really evil children are carried away in their baskets.

What is a Krampusauslauf (Krampus Parade) ?

On December 5th, the Eve before St Nikolaus Day, the Krampus races through the villages, half dancing, half stomping.

A Krampusauslauf is an exciting and traditional Alpine event, although it may be alarming to those who do not know what is happening.

The Krampusauslauf is a parade of Krampus.

The Krampus descend on the crowds with the intent to scare, taunt, and ‘punish’ unsuspecting bystanders by flicking them with their birch branches, ruffling up their hair, and stealing their hats (which are returned later).

The Krampusauslauf is a ~ two-hour spectacle in which each Krampus club parades down the streets, each trying to outdo the other.

The Krampusauslauf typically has many different Krampus clubs, with hundreds of Krampus participating.

The Krampus runs in Salzburg and Innsbruck’s main cities tend to be calmer than those in the Alpine Villages.

Safety and Krampus

There is usually a barrier between the spectators and the Krampus- so if you do not want to ‘participate’ and get ‘whacked’ by the Krampus, you can stand back and watch.

But please do not grab the masks of the Krampus!  In recent years, overzealous spectators have even caused injuries to the Krampus performers.

There are paramedics, security guards, firefighters, and police at the events.

Kinder Krampusauslauf (The Children’s Krampus Parade) 

The Krampus runs are generally family-friendly, but be prepared — there’s plenty of noise, smoke, and wild Krampus antics that might be a bit overwhelming for very young children.

If you think your little ones might be frightened, it’s best to stand a bit farther back from the barriers, where the view is still great but less intense.

Many events begin with a Children’s Krampus Run, featuring St. Nikolaus himself.

St. Nikolaus is the real-life inspiration behind Santa Claus, celebrated on December 6th. Unlike the jolly figure who comes on Christmas Eve, he traditionally visits children with angels and Krampus, handing out small treats — usually candy and nuts — to reward good behavior.

When is the Krampusauslauf (Krampus Parade) held?

Krampuslauf are generally held from the end of November to the first week of December. 

Traditionally, in many villages, Krampus runs occur on December 5/6. The dates are usually advertised in November.

In Kaprun, the Krampus run is always on the evening of Dec 5, starting around 6:00 pm with the Kinder Krampus (the children’s Krampus), followed by the visit of St Nicholas and the Krampuslauf commencing at 7:00 pm.
Many local Krampus clubs participate, with over 200 Krampus taking part.

Krampusauslauf (Krampus Parade) Dates?