Krampus: The Devil of Christmas: Pre-WWI Krampus Postcard Reproductiions

Krampus

by Monte Beauchamp

"...an arresting terror!" -- Rick Kogan; Chicago Tribune Magazine

With an ADDITIONAL 32 pages, superior printing, and a secure HARDCOVER
binding, The Devil of Christmas picks up where the softcover edition of The Devil in Design leaves off.

In the early Christmas traditions of Europe, the Krampus was St. Nicholas' dark servant–a hairy, horned, supernatural beast whose pointed ears and long slithering tongue gave misbehavers the creeps! Whereas St. Nicholas would reward children who'd been good all year, those that had behaved badly were visited by the Krampus.

This NEW and IMPROVED edition includes an introduction, a historical survey of the character, and over 180 lavish pre-World War 1 Krampus postcards.

The Devil of Christmas is a lush, hair-raising collection guaranteed to give even Stephen King the creeps!

Genres: Christmas, Art, Nonfiction, History, Horror, Holiday, Cultural Studies

200 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2010

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This look at Krampus is in-depth and informative. There is something almost Hegelian about Krampus; the dialectic relationship that children 'choose' through behavior between Santa/Krampus. Some of the images in this book may shock readers; of particular interest is the collaboration between Krampus and parents! There seems to be a Krampus resurgence lately - so you better watch out, you better not cry..!

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

You better be good!

Santa Claus wants to find out if you're naughty or nice, as you may recall. If nice, you get gifts from him. What's the alternative? In lots of traditions, a lump of coal. (I used to get socks, but I don't think it was because I was evil; we were poor). But for centuries, as the myth goes, if you are bad, the Santa alternative is . . . Krampus, a dark Satan figure (one of St. Nicholas's assistants) who seizes bad children and either whips them with a broom or. . . brings them screaming and weeping in his back pack to Hell fire, in the cheery Calvinist moral tradition. Let thee be warned, meine kinder!

Beauchamp collects postcards, does research on them and their greater tradition, and shares this all with us. He writes an introduction about the German-Austrian-Dutch roots of this myth, an interesting history, and then he shows you postcards of Krampus to send to children, mostly, with "Gut sein" and "Gruss von Krampus!" and others as some of the greetings. A warning from Hell, kids. . . and some of them are sexual, with winking "wayward" women in his back pack (and Krampus of the long devilish tongue), and some greedy businessmen are in some postcard backpacks, but they are less interesting from a horror perspective, of course.

This is Beauchamp's second Krampus collection, but I got this one, unable to get the first. And yeah, I review this for Christmas, just to creep you out. Good stuff. I have already copied some pages to fashion into cards for my friends and family!

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great collection of Krampus-themed art from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Most of them are from privately-issued postal cards and Krampusnacht greeting cards. Some have beautiful prints, other crude pen-and-ink drawings; some of the later ones are even painted photographs. A wide range of Krampus is featured in these pages: the traditional, with one cloven foot, long tongues and black or black and red skin/fur, beating and carrying off naughty (we assume) children - or standing over a praying child, no doubt to see if they learned their prayers correctly; some that look more like traditional European devils (two cloven hooves, red skin, often with wings and pitchforks). It seems that even Krampus changes with the times, and some illustrations show Krampus skiing, sledding, and even driving early automobiles and biplanes, or dressed in early 20th Century suits - rather than just chains and his own fur. Krampus may be scary or comedic - or even female - in these; some even portray Krampus being beaten by children. One Great War era card has Krampus wearing a pickelhaube and beating up members of the Triple Entente., including a hairy-legged Scotsman. 3.5 stars.

12/3/22 - Finished re-read, just in time for the New Orleans Krampuslauf.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique and collectable book! I don't own my own copy yet, but I read my to-be brother-in-law's copy and I was glued to the pages. It's filled with the European history of Krampus, who is a very dark version of our Santa Clause. The good children would be visited by St. Nicholas and the children who behaved badly would get a visit from Krampus, a hairy, hoofed and horned beast.

The artwork in this novel is fantastic and eerie and unique. Different takes on Krampus, all horrifying, though incredible.

This isn't a happy holiday novel, this is an interesting read on a different cultures beliefs at Christmas. Great artwork and a wonderful collective copy for the shelves. I'll be picking up my copy this week with my Holiday gift cards. *winks*

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Krampus is a creature from European folklore with huge amounts of hair as well as horns, pointed ears & a long tongue. Unlike the kind St Nikolaus (who leaves small gifts & treats) the Krampus terrorised bad children. After a brief introduction this book contains a huge selection of Krampus illustrations throughout the years. Some are scary & many are amusing. If you have a child who is not behaving this Chrsitmas perhaps you should introduce them to the Krampus ?

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun art book.

[Eva Cabrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

El Krampus es mi monstruo favorito, conocí de su existencia hace años y descubrí que la Navidad no siempre fue lo que pensé. Me encantó como el libro simplifica sus orígenes y como esta fascinante figura es igual de importante que St. Nikolaus, además tiene un montón de imágenes de postcards hermosisimas que se vendieron en distintas épocas, si quieres conocer la historia de este demonio, "Krampus: The Devil of Christmas es bueno para comenzar.

No suelo ser fanática del estilo americano de esta celebración, pero al conocer la verdadera historia que mantiene vigente los países alpinos, mi manera de pensar cambió, El Krampus, ha hecho de mis navidades, las mejores :)

[Robin Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would make a good coffee table book in a quirky home.

I thought this would be more of a history book. There are only a few pages of history, while the rest of the pages are pictures and pictures of postcards.

Every time I’d pick this book up, my five and eight year old sons would gather around and gaze at the pictures. They requested that I read this to them as a bedtime story.

Once I read the postcard history to them, I thought their attention spans would wander but they listened.

They were so fascinated, which I loved.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous representations of a ton of post cards. I love having a reference about this weird, European Christmas character.

[Hadas · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool book!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these kinds of books. They're a more eccentric kind of coffee table book. Many people have those giant books, usually with photographs by Ansel Adams. Sometimes it's one of those "Major Events of the 20th Century" kind of books. This still fits the mold; it's got very little writing and it's the kind of book you can pick up whenever you feel like and just flip through all the postcards. I personally think it would have been cool if you got a copy of each of the postcards that you could actually send as well, but I suppose that's too much to ask for.

The photographs are a great thing. I love how they differ so much from one another despite depicting the same thing. The krampus ranges from being gentlemanly and dressed in high fashion to being a bestial thing, all hooves and tongue. I laughed quite a bit at the ones depicting women practically throwing themselves at the krampus. What hussies! Actually some of them seemed kind of sexual in nature to me, particularly the ones that have the women in his basket but smiling and all giddy looking.

It was definitely a quick and fun read. More of a perusal. Totally something I'll be keeping on my coffee table.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book was accidentally routed to my library, I knew I had to look at it. Krampus is a demon who, in European folklore, is the antithesis if St. Nicholas: he "treats" bad children to a whipping and perhaps even a free trip to hell.

Images of Krampus were used to encourage children to behave, and he adorned countless holiday season postcards, a fascinating number which are collected here. Interestingly, Krampus is shown interacting with misbehaving adults as well as children.

With all of the cruelty, selfishness, and just generally bad behavior I see everyday among both adults and kids, I think it's about time to bring Krampus back.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you've ever wanted to know about Krampus, but were too terrified to ask!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun for the whole family

[aaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gruss von Krampus!

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL PICTURES OF THE KRAMPUS

Author Monte Beauchamp wrote in the Preface to this 2010 book, “In nineteenth century Germany, legend had it that those who were pure of heart bore witness to the magic of Christmas Eve… Earlier that month, on St. Nikolaus Day, children of goodwill sprang from their beds and rushed to the empty shoe they’d placed outside the night before. Inside, they’d discover small gifts and treats left for them by St. Nikolaus, and joy would fill the air. Disobedient children, however, awoke to the shakes and the shivers. In their shoes awaited switches, with which their parents would spank them. Or worse yet, they’d be paid a visit by Krampus.

“In European folklore, the Krampus is Nikolaus’s dark servant---a hairy, horned, supernatural beast whose pointed ears and long, slithering tongue gave misbehavers the creeps! The Krampus terrorized the bad until they promised to be good. Some he spanked. Others he whipped. And some he shackled, stuffed into his large wooden basket, carted away, and hurled into the flames of Hell! Such scenarios were delineated by skilled and imaginative Old World craftsmen, printed on penny postcards and disseminated throughout Europe. The rare examples which follow [in this book] are, perhaps, the best history has left to offer.” (Pg. 7)

He continues, “In Austria… festivities are well underway by December 6th, on St. Nikolaus Day, when God grants the legendary bishop a return visit to earth. He arrives bearing gifts, along with his big Book of Sins, and is joined by his controversial companion, the Krampus. As Nikolaus travels door-to-door doling out treats and gifts to those boys and girls who’d been good all year, those who behaved badly are dealt with by the Krampus. Comprising features both human and bestial, the ghostly amalgam ensnares young waywards unwilling to relinquish their raucous behavior. They are then shackled, stuffed into the wood-staved pail strapped across the Krampus’s back, and carted off to be flailed unmercifully with his notorious birch switch. In the clutch of the Krampus, even the most unruly child would spew forth a promise to turn from his wicked ways.” (Pg. 9)

He goes on, “Dating back as far as the mid-seventeenth century, European history reveals that St. Nikolaus has traveled with an array of unsavory servants. The Dutch speak of Zwarte Piet, a black-faced menace in medieval dress who crams misbehavers into his Christmas bag and then spirits them off to Spain. In Czechoslovakia, children unable to recite their prayers to the austere saint are beaten by an evil spirit called Cert. In northern Germany, Nikolaus is served by Knecht Ruprecht, a disheveled, devilish-looking lout who crams boisterous brats into his hefty cloth sack and totes them around town on his shoulder! The image of St. Nikolaus as a twinkle-eyed, rotund, jolly old sort coursing over snow-covered treetops in a sleigh full of toys drawn by eight tiny reindeer … was never a apart of the original European tradition. That portrayal originated in America, entrenching itself during the first quarter of the nineteenth century.” (Pg. 9-10)

He summarizes, “Of the rare and exquisite examples contained herein, most flowed ubiquitously throughout Europe during the winter months of 1898 through 1914, until the beginning of World War I. Not only are they historical monuments of visual fantastique, as applied graphic art they are watershed examples of the printer’s craft. Though the content of these postcards can be debated, their aesthetic brilliance cannot. Thus, forever will they proudly shine.” (Pg. 18)

The abundant full-color examples alone are worth the price of the book.

[Ceallaigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mitt dem Korbe auf dent Rücken, Ruth' und Kette in der Gand
Sucht der rothe Krampus die Schlimmen Kinder in dem Land;
Doch za den Braven geht er niemals, d’rum merk Dir diefes Bildchen gut,
S’ei immer fromm und folgsam und vor dem Ungethüm auf der Gut.”
— a poem from one of the postcards in this book (any errors due to my transcription, it was written in a tricky font 🙈)

[Very loose translation by me (my German is not excellent 😅):] “With the basket on his back, switch and chain in his hand
The red Krampus is looking for the bad children in the land;
But he never visits the good ones, so remember this little picture well,
Be always pious and obedient before the monster on guard from Hell.”

TITLE—Krampus: The Devil of Christmas
AUTHOR—Monte Beauchamp
PUBLISHED—2010

GENRE—art book
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—Krampus, the history of Christmas legends & traditions, graphic printing & design, postcards

A brief history of the American Santa, the European Krampus & St. Nikolaus, postcards, and chromolithography (an early color-printing technique) prefaces this collection of late 19th and early 20th century postal card depictions of the infamous “Christmas Devil” from various European countries. This is a beautiful collection that I have looked at over and over again as there is so much beauty and subtlety in these simple festive designs. Would definitely make a gorgeous addition to any (dark 😉) Christmas books collection. ❤️

“Gruss vom Krampus! Brav sein!” [trans: “Greetings from Krampus! Be good!”]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Further Reading—
- Krampus the Yule Lord, by Brom
- The Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas, by Al Ridenour
- Krampus and Other Yuletide Tales, by Faina Lorah
- Gothic Blue Book VI: A Krampus Carol, by Sara Tantlinger—TBR
- Rare Exports (2010 film—Finnish with English subtitles)
- Krampus (2015 film)

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, colorful coffee table Christmas book that briefly goes into the history of Krampus and gives you dozens of amazing Victorian-era postcards, all featuring the long-tongued devil of Christmas. Some of those postcards are hilariously salacious and put monster-lover into a whole new category. The styles of postcards are going to be comfortably familiar to anyone who’s dived down that rabbit hole of Victorian era anything. It’s just some of them were a little shocking how much some of those drawn women…welcomed Krampus, shall we say. Although it should come as no surprise considering what he, um, brings to the table, shall we say.

There’s really nothing else to review with this book. It cheered me up after a string of lackluster Christmas cozies. While not cozy itself, it definitely warmed me on the inside and I look forward to pulling it out every year from here on out and using it as a unique conversation starter. 😁

5

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this GORGEOUS book in a tiny candle shop in Salem, MA. It was wrapped in plastic and I had no idea what was inside…I HAD to have it.
The book tells of the history of Krampus, and of the Krampusnacht in European countries. It also explains how, with the development of a new printing system, post cards were made and distributed, collected and traded. From 1898 through 1914 at Christmastime “Gruss Vom Krampus” (Greetings from Krampus) postcards were quite popular. People began to collect and trade them, much like Americans did in the 30’s through the 60’s with Bubble Gum cards.
The rest of the book is a collection of the art from these post cards, and I have to say…It. Is. OUTSTANDING.
I am so excited to have found this book! The art is beautiful! An absolute DELIGHT to add to my library 🖤

5 glowing stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Missy (myweereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun look into the history of Krampus. You get a detailed introduction on the origins of Krampus and a varied look at the American and European traditions. I have read some interesting facts on Krampus before so there were facts I was familiar with but it was equally interesting to read about it from this perspective.

After a few chapters the remainder of the book is full of images of Krampus postcards which were sent out to households worldwide. It was around October 1st 1869 it all began. There are a mixture of a beastly Krampus stealing children to adults being tempted by a groomed Krampus. The more you look through them the more you can pick out details that reflect the time in which they were sent. 😈

A fun little book to flip through.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully bound book collection of vintage Krampus postcard images, with a brief introduction to the history of Krampus and the history of the postcard. Wonderful to look at, though it would have been nice to have as least a translation for some of the cards pictured, if not a little background information (i.e. some appear to show politicians or perhaps famous people of the time, and I have read elsewhere that there was a period of time when the sexual cards were more common than before or after). A good additional to a Krampus book collection, but cannot stand alone without further reading.

[LordSlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krampus: The Devil Of Christmas is mostly a collection of Krampus-themed vintage postcards, prefaced with some interesting prefatory material about the legend of Krampus. The images presented in the book are fascinating, captivating, grim, funny, macabre, whimsical. I spent an enjoyable hour or a bit more poring over the book. Some of the cards contain a bit of text which I plugged into Google translate, so I learned a few Czech, German, Polish, and Dutch phrases along the way (mostly variations of "Greetings From Krampus" and "You'll Be Good" although there were at least two cards with a multi-line poem). This book is a beautiful, fascinating artifact.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly visual representations of Krampus Christmas postcards. Interesting to see the differing depictions of Krampus, some Krampus as a woman punishing men and some look to be based on minstrel shows. I do wish there was information on some individual postcards or maybe showing both sides. The clear focus is on the art which is nice but some analysis of why Krampus is often shown with one cloven hoof (did not know that was a thing) or if the praying children were begging or if the were to be spared? Anyway, 3.5 rounded down.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruß vom Krampus!

Visual history of Krampus postcards throughout the German sphere of influence in Europe.

A timely reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, to be kind, generous, and loving …

…or face supernatural punishment in the form of a hairy, horned, long-tongued demon bearing chains and switches.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are only a few pages of text in this 200-page book, but that is fine, as the bulk of it consists of beautiful reproductions of vintage cards and art depicting Krampus. A must have for all lovers of the strange side of Christmas season.

[Sarah Molder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book but way more pictures than reading.

[Deb O rah · Rating 4 out of 5]

great history and love the prints

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book of tradition Krampus postcards. If you like Krampus, definitely worth flipping through.

[Matthew Picardat · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible collection of unique artwork

[She Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

this would be a great book for scary Krampus craft ideas! the images and postcards were really cool.