Members of the Koatlacker devil's association dressed as demonic creatures take part in a Krampus procession on December 4, 2011 in Prad near Merano, Italy.
Perhaps the scariest incarnation around Christmas appears in the form of Krampus. A mythical anti-Santa, Krampus is known as the “holiday devil.” To a much more extreme extent than Pere Fouettard in France, Krampus punishes naughty children while St. Nicholas delivers gifts. Found in Alpine countries from Austria to Slovenia, Krampus is thought to stuff kids who’ve been less than nice into his large bag and bring them back to his lair.
