Editing Companions of Saint Nicholas (section)

=== Krampus ===
{{main|Krampus}}
[[File:Krampus at Perchtenlauf Klagenfurt.jpg|thumb|left|A modern [[Krampus]] at the Perchtenlauf in [[Klagenfurt]] (2006)]]

''Krampus'' is a terrifying figure found in parts of Austria, Bavaria, South Tyrol, Slovenia, and Croatia, most probably originating in the [[Pre-Christian Alpine traditions]]. In Tyrol, he is also called "Tuifl".<ref name=Taylor>[https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2013/12/krampus-saint-nicholas-dark-companion/100639/ Taylor, Alan. "Krampus: Saint Nicholas' Dark Companion", ''The Atlantic'', December 3, 2013]</ref>

The Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on December 6. On the preceding evening, ''{{lang|de|Krampusnacht}}'', the wicked hairy devil appears on the streets. He sometimes accompanies St. Nicholas. However, Krampus will at times be on his own, visiting homes and businesses.<ref name="Bruce">{{cite journal |last=Bruce |first=Maurice |title=The Krampus in Styria |journal=Folklore |date=March 1958 |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=44–47 |doi=10.1080/0015587X.1958.9717121 }}</ref> Saint  Nicholas dispenses gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and bundles of birch branches.<ref name="Siefker">{{cite book |last=Siefker |first=Phyllis |title=Santa Claus, last of the Wild Men: the origins and evolution of Saint Nicholas |publisher=McFarland and Co. |year=1997 |location=[[Jefferson, North Carolina]] |pages=155–159 |isbn=0-7864-0246-6}}</ref>

Europeans have been exchanging ''Krampuskarten'', greeting cards featuring Krampus, since the 1800s. A ''Krampuslauf'' is a run of celebrants dressed as the beast, and is still quite popular, many of the participants fortified with ''schnapps''. Over 1200 "Krampus" gather in [[Schladming]], [[Styria]] from all over Austria wearing goat-hair costumes and carved masks, carrying bundles of sticks used as switches and swinging cowbells to warn of their approach. In the past few decades village Krampus associations parade without St. Nicholas at Krampus events throughout late November and early December.<ref name=Taylor/>

In 2011, National Public Radio helped advertise the formation of a ''Krampuslauf'' by Krampus enthusiasts in Philadelphia.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil|last=Ridenour|first=Al|publisher=Feral House|year=2016|isbn=9781627310345|location=Port Townsend, WA|pages=9}}</ref>