2015 will likely be remembered as the year Krampus hit mainstream.
The Northern European tradition of Krampus started filtering into North America just a few years ago — some blaming the need for hipsters to have something different and edgy to celebrate; some seeing it as being just more aware of cultural traditions around the globe. Either way, the “anti-Santa” started making waves. I included Krampus in my festive flotsam posts in 2013, and last year saw the first annual Krampus Walk in Victoria.
Krampus selfie — makeup plus handmade horns and switch.
This year, there are at least three Krampus-themed movies for your enjoyment, of various levels of production quality: the big screen Krampus, the almost straight to VOD A Christmas Horror Story (which was originally Claus vs. Krampus), and the truly awful on all counts Krampus: The Reckoning (complete with a CGI creature that looks like Iron Maiden’s Eddie the Head had a run in with the Terminator and a reindeer). The crowd-funded Slay Belles didn’t quite make the cut for this December (it will be out in 2016).
Me and my new Krampus tattoo!
This year, I may have gone a bit Krampus-crazy.
Earlier tonight, I took part in the Second Annual Krampus Walk. It was cold and trying to rain, and very windy, but fun. I think I counted about 25 Krampuses! Unfortunately, the weather meant there weren’t too many people around to terrify… but we tried.
Yesterday, I got a Krampus tattoo… (yes, a real tattoo — it was a charity promo, with proceeds going to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation — and I will get a companion tattoo (a different creature) for the other shoulder in 2016). So even if Krampus doesn’t fully go mainstream, he’s part of my world now.