Krampus are creatures with ancient roots. According to legend, during times of famine, young people from mountain villages would dress up as monsters, wearing furs and animal horns, in order to plunder supplies from neighbouring villages, upsetting the locals.

After a while, the group of young people had expanded, and among them was one more monster: the devil, who had blended perfectly into the group of monsters. When the young people discovered his presence, they called Bishop Nicholas, who banished him with an exorcism.

In memory of the devil’s defeat, young people still dress up as demons, parading along the streets of villages and bringing gifts to good children or punishing bad ones. The parades are still accompanied by the figure of the bishop who defeated the devil, St Nicholas.

The Krampus are still present at events in various mountain villages on 5 December and the largest parades in the Dolomites attract groups from Austria, Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Bavaria and parts of Switzerland.