Krampus
Krampusnacht, Krampus run, Christmas devil
Horned, shaggy and rattling his chains, Krampus is the companion of St. Nicholas in the Alpine Christmas season, especially in Austria, Bavaria and their neighbors. On Krampusnacht, the evening of December 5, the two make their rounds together: Nicholas rewards good children, while Krampus shakes his bells and waves a bundle of birch twigs at naughty ones. Young men in carved masks and fur suits still roam the streets in Krampus runs, and the figure has grown popular in the United States too. In a dream, Krampus is the shadow side of a cozy holiday: the fear of being judged, and the thrill of a scare you can laugh about afterward.
Dream variations
- Krampus coming for youYou're bracing for a verdict at the end of a long stretch, like a review or a family gathering. Write down the good alongside the bad; a fair judge sees both.
- Krampus walking beside St. NicholasYou're learning to be kind and firm at once, as a parent, a teacher or a boss. Neither half works well without the other.
- Dressing up as KrampusYou've been handed the role of the strict one this time. Play it with a wink, and people will accept the rules without taking offense.
- Getting a Krampus postcardOld Krampus cards came with cheeky rhymes and the greeting "Greetings from Krampus." Some teasing in your life has an affectionate edge, so feel free to joke back.
Related symbols
- Santa ClausJolly, generous and a little magical, Santa Claus takes you back to the excitement of…
- DevilTemptation, not doom: that's what the devil usually brings to a dream.
- ChristmasLights, gifts and familiar songs: Christmas in a dream carries warmth, family ties and…
- CostumePulling on a costume gives you permission to play.
Symbol of the day
TicketA ticket is a small piece of paper that says you're allowed in, or allowed to go.
Read more →Dream interpretations are for entertainment.