Runners dress up as Santa's evil sidekick The Krampus to prowl the streets of Whitby - Daily Mail

JadeTotti Nisan 05, 2021

Runners dress up as Santa's evil sidekick The Krampus to prowl the streets of Whitby - Daily Mail

Posted: 07 Dec 2019 01:04 PM PST

You better watch out, and you better not cry, because Santa Claus is coming to town - and he is being accompanied by a gruesome creature called the Krampus, according to revellers in Whitby.

Hundreds took to the streets for a Krampus Run street parade, dressed as the horned creature who is said to join Saint Nicholas on his rounds.

The Krampus is part of Christmas folklore in many central European countries where he is Santa Claus's evil companion who punishes children for their bad behaviour.

Participants traditionally don a hand-carved wooden mask with animal horns, a suit made from sheep or goat skin and large cow bells attached to the waist that make noise as the wearers run, dance and jump around.

Since the 17th-century the Krampus would visit children on Krampusnacht - on the evening of December 5 - and punish children who had behaved badly throughout the year, before the Santa-like St Nicholas would come and reward 'the good children' on Nikolaustag on December 6.

In the last few decades, the Krampus tradition has been brought back to life, with a number of local Krampus associations organising parades without St. Nicholas at Krampus events throughout November and early December.

The event at Whitby, which raises money for local charities, is the very first to celebrate this folklore character in the UK.

Hundreds took to the streets today for a Krampus Run street parade in Whitby. The devil-like character is the evil companion of St. Nicholas, the kindly winter gift-bringer who rewards good children each year

According to Austrian folklore, while the generous Saint hands out gifts to the good, he leaves the task of punishing bad children to his hell-bound cloven-hoofed counterpart

The demon-like creature is traditionally portrayed with a fearsome, hand-carved wooden mask complete with animal horns. Revellers in Whitby put their own spin on his portrayal

Since the 17th-century the Krampus would visit children on Krampusnacht - on the evening of December 5 - and punish children who had behaved badly throughout the year. Pictured: Someone wears a horned mask with a crow-like beak

St Nicholas is then said to come and reward 'the good children' on Nikolaustag on December 6. Pictured: One person sports black horns while another wears a snake-like mask

In the last few decades, the Krampus tradition has been brought back to life, with a number of local Krampus associations organising parades. Pictured: A woman wears face paint and grey horns

The event at Whitby is the very first to celebrate this folklore character in the UK. Pictured: Three people wear coordinated outfits as they make their way down a street

The Krampus has been a part of Central European, alpine folklore going back at least a millennium. Pictured: A woman wears elaborate face paint and long horns

Two masked participants are seen during today's festivities. One wears light-coloured fur and sports two long horns while the other wears a black hood

Amazed onlookers watch as a participant walks down a street wearing fur trousers, a beige coat and long bronze-coloured horns

One participant wears two branch-like horns on their head (left). Another wears a black-fur head piece. Both clutch matching staffs

A man dressed up as the Krampus offers a child in a pushchair a candy cane. Groups of onlookers watched the run as it took place

A friendly pooch sniffed a black dog staff during today's parade. A participant can be seen in the background wearing a furry jacket and face paint

A man releases green smoke as participants walk through the streets during the annual Whitby Krampus parade. Onlookers in the background can be seen smiling at the spectacle

A person dressed as the Krampus carries a sack and a net prowls the streets. They sport an elaborate mask with long horns and pointed ears

Another reveller dresses in an all-white ensemble and clutches a black staff. A fake-black wolf's head was mounted to the top

Group of revellers make their way down the streets of Whitby for the parade. A man (right) wore a head-to-toe fur costume for the event

One person dressed as the Krampus wears a red Santa hat along with his pair of black horns. The participant wears glasses over an intricate mask that features long, sharp teeth

Two young girls approach a reveller dressed in white. A man can be seen in the background releasing grey smoke into the air

A group of onlookers take pictures of the Krampus dressed in brown fur and wearing long, brown curved horns

A closer image of one participant's mask reveals the intricate detail, including sharp teeth. The participant also wore a costume decorated with bones

Smoke can be seen erupting in the background of a group of participants as they pose for photographs in Whitby

One person dresses up in a carefully decorated mask, fit with two yellow horns and a long red tongue. They carry a large net decorated with bells

Two people dressed as the Krampus greet each other during the event. People came out in droves to take part today

Hoards of amazed onlookers snap photographs of the parade's participants. Someone dressed as a black dog can be seen making their way alongside participants wearing horns

A participant wears a red-fur coat with long black and red horns as part of their costume. They also have a selection of bells forming a garland around their neck, complete with children's shoes

One woman sported a red wig with long, bronze horns. She carries a long staff decorated with sweets and candy canes, but finished off with a menacing skull on the top

One participant bangs on a drum during the march (right). Another, wearing a black cloak and carrying a long staff, adjusts their hood

A menacing-looking marcher stares straight into the camera as they walk ahead of three other revellers who took to the streets today

Performers dressed as the Krampus also parade through the city center of Dobbiaco in Bolzano, Italy

A performer dressed as Saint Nicholas also parades through the city center of Dobbiaco alongside revellers dressed as the Krampus

A reveller donned a head-to-toe costume featuring an intricate mask and two large horns. Onlookers watched the parade from behind barricades in Italy

A Saint Nicholas character leads the way as a performer - dressed as the Krampus - emerges out of red smoke

One performer's costume featured a long horn with a large bird perched on top. Crowds of onlookers take pictures of the show

One participant wears a grey mask that matches their painted chest. Another person dressed as the Krampus walks over to onlookers who are gathered along the side