Greetings on Krampusnacht!
Today we will be looking at some Yuletide figures and their origins. Given that today is Krampusnacht, we'll start off with none other than Krampus himself!
Krampus
Krampus is a Central European folkloric creature. He is described as a horned, anthropomorphic figure with a red, long, polling tongue, as is said to be a "half-goat, half-demon" who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved. Krampus is one of the companions of Saint Nicholas in several regions - including Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Hungary, Northern Italy, Czech Republic and Slovenia. Although his origins are unclear, it has been theorized that Krampus has pre-Christian origins.
Krampus has gained popularity in recent years outside of Central Europe thanks to the glorious Krampusnacht Parades that have been recorded and shared on the internet year after year, as well as being centric to a number of movies and books.
It is hard to come across Krampus themed items, so every year, the search is quite intense. This year I decided I'd commission some Krampus bauble/pendants, such as the ones displayed above, as well as the Gingerbread Krampuses just below this paragraph.
La Befana
"La Befana vien di notte
Con le scarpe tutte rotte"
These are the opening lines for the classic Italian nursery rhyme about La Befana. There are many variants of the two lines that follow, but the one thing that everyone is in agreement on is that La Befana travels at night.
Her name is thought to be a corruption of Epiphany, although some theories suggest that Befana is descended from the Sabine/Roman goddess named Strenia.
The story goes that this old Italian lady was approached by the biblical magi, also known as the Three Kings/Wise Men a few days before the birth of the Jesus. They asked for directions, as they had seen the star in the sky which announced Jesus's birth. La Befana didn't know where Jesus was to be found. She did, however, provide them with shelter for the night. She was considered the best housekeeper in the village, and her home was spotless. The Magi invited her to join them on the journey to find the baby Jesus, but she declined, stating she was too busy with her housework.
Later, La Befana had a change of heart, and tried to search out the traveling party and the newborn Jesus, without any luck. It is therefore said that to this day, La Befana is searching for the infant Jesus, and as she looks for him, she leaves all the good children toys, sweets or fruit, while the bad children get coal, onions or garlic.
The Befana is celebrated throughout all of Italy, and has become a national icon. Urbania is thought to be her official home. Every year there is a big festival held to celebrate the holiday. It is estimated that 30,000 - 50,000 people attend the festivities. Hundreds of Befanas are present, swinging from the main tower. They juggle, dance and greet all the children.
Santa Claus
Last but not least, the most famous character of the festive season!
There are several predecessors to Santa - here they are at a quick glance:
Saint Nicholas of Myra: A 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra jn Lycia. Nicholas was renowned for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. During the Middle Ages, often on the evening before his name day of 6 December, children were bestowed gifts in his honour.
Father Christmas: He dates back as far as 16th century in England during the reign of Henry VIII. Father Christmas was portrayed as a large man in green or scarlet robes lined with fur. He was the embodimeny if the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, bringing peace, joy, good food and wine and revelry.
Wodan/Odin: Prior to Christianization, the Germanic people's, which also includes the English, celebrated a midwinter event called Yule. This is what the Yule sabbat we celebrate today is based on, in fact!
With the Christianization of Germanic Europe, many Yuletide celebrations were absorbed into what is modern Christmas.
During the Yuletide period, supernatural and ghostly occurrences were said to increase in frequency, such as the Wild Hunt. The leader of the wild hunt is often said to be Wodan (Norse Odin), bearing (among many) the names Jólnir, meaning "Yule figure", and Langbarðr, meaning "long-beard", in Old Norse.
Wodan's role during Yuletide has often been thought to have influenced concepts of St. Nicholas in a variety of facets, including his long white beard and magical steed.
Ded Moroz - Originating from pre-Christianity times as a Slavic wizard of winter. Some sources in Slavic mythology see Ded Moroz, also called Morozko or Ded, as being a snow demon. At the time, the term demon had no negative connotation.
Ded Moroz is known to bring presents to well-mannered children, often delivering them in person on New Year's Eve.
In East Slavic cultures, Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka ( "Snow Maiden"), who is his granddaughter and helper. Whilst Ded Moroz wears a heel-length fur coat, a semi-round fur hat, and valenki on his feet, Snegurochka wears long silver-blue robes and a furry cap or a snowflake-like crown.
Snegurochka is a unique attribute of Ded Moroz. Similar creatures in other cultures do not have a female companion. Often Snegurochka is known ad Nastenka (Nastya), diminitive of Anastasia.
Ded Moroz has a long white beard. He walks with a long magic staff and often rides a troika (a traditional Russian harness driving combination, using three horses abreast, usually pulling a sleigh.)
Santa Claus - The name is a phonetic Americanisation of the Dutch Sinterklaas. The name was first used in the American press in 1773), and was at first pictured as a thick-bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat.
As the years passed, Santa Claus evolved in popular culture into a large, heavyset person. One of the first artists to define Santa Claus's modern image was Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist of the 19th century.
Did Coca Cola really invent Santa Claus as we know him?
Haddon Sundblom is the person behind the depiction of Santa Claus for The Coca-Cola Company's Christmas advertising in the 1930s. The Coca-Cola Company did not, in fact, invent Santa Claus, nor are they the first to depiction him as wearing red and white. The fact that these are the same colours of the company is a happy coincidence.
Santa Claus had appeared dressed in red and white, pretty much in the same form as we known him today, on several covers of Puck magazine in the first few years of the 20th century.
Then, in 1915, White Rock Beverages used a red and white Santa to sell mineral water. They then used the red and white Santa image in 1924 for advertisements for its ginger ale in 1923.
This brings us to an end for today. Be good this festive season, and take care of one another!
