What is the name of Evil Santa Claus? How the evil Santa Claus became good

Our New Year We cannot imagine without the kind Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka. None Western Christmas(Europe, England, USA and others) cannot do without the most important character - Santa Claus. But who is this kind-hearted gift-giver? This real character or fictitious? Why was he called that and where does he live? I will try to answer all these questions for you today. Santa Claus I can definitely say that Santa Claus is quite a real man who lived in ancient times. True, his name was different, he looked different and he was born not in Lapland, as is commonly believed, but in the town of Myra Lycia in 253 AD, on modern territory Turkey. And then his name was Saint Nicholas. He was a simple bishop who was ready to accept death for his faith and always fought for good.

There were legends that Saint Nicholas himself was very wealthy, but not greedy. He helped all the unfortunate and poor, at night he quietly threw coins into their shoes, which they left at the doors, and put delicious pies on the windows. So Saint Nicholas became the children's favorite. However, merchants, bakers, prisoners and sailors also chose him as their patron and saint.

But how did it become a symbol of Christmas? St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th. In the 10th century cathedral In the German city of Cologne, students of a Christian school began to be distributed pastries and fruits on this day. Very quickly this tradition became widespread in other cities and countries. Remembering the legend, people began to hang up special holiday stockings or shoes at night so that Nicholas would place his gifts there.

It is generally accepted that the Saint, who enters houses at night and descends the chimney, brings gifts to obedient children, and rods to naughty children, naughty children and pranksters. Therefore, children try to behave well long before the holiday, and parents bad behavior they immediately remind you that you can receive rods as a gift. Sometimes, even along with gifts, children are given small twigs.

How did Saint Nicholas become Santa Claus? This character came to the USA from Holland in the 17th century. In 1626, a frigate of several Dutch ships arrived in the New World. On the bow of the main ship “Goede Vrove” stood the figure of Nicholas, who, as I already said, was also the patron saint of sailors.

The sailors bought land from the indigenous people of America - the Indians - for $24 and gave the settlement the name “New Amsterdam”. Today this “village” has become the most big city USA and one of the most famous cities in the world - New York. The Dutch removed the saint’s figurine from the ship and moved it to the main square so that Nicholas could defend the village.

Only the Indians and new residents spoke some kind of their own language, and not English. They could not clearly pronounce the name of the saint and the phrase sounded like “Sinter Klas”, then it was transformed into “Santa Klas”, and over time into the familiar “Santa Claus”. This is how Saint Nicholas miraculously transformed into Santa Claus, who delivers gifts home on Christmas Eve.

However, the story of Santa Claus's transformation does not end there. Clement Clarke Moore's poem The Parish of St. Nicholas, published on Christmas Eve 1822, became important stage reincarnation. 20 quatrains describe a child’s meeting with Santa Claus, who brought him gifts. In the poem, practically nothing remained of the former saint; he was completely devoid of rigor and seriousness. Santa on a Sleigh By K. Moore, Santa is a cheerful, cheerful elf with a pipe in his mouth and a round belly. As a result of this metamorphosis, Nicholas forever lost his episcopal appearance and switched to a team of reindeer. In 1823, the poem "The Night Before Christmas" listed the names of Santa's 8 reindeer:

Blixem (Lightning)
Dunder (Dumb)
Cupid (Cupid)
Comet (Comet)
Vixen (Vicious)
Prancer (Prancing)
Dancer (Dancer)
Dasher (Awesome)

It was not until 1939 that the ninth reindeer, Rudolph, appeared with a large and shiny reddish nose. Rudolf Meanwhile, illustrator Thomas Nast refined the image of Santa Claus in detail in 1860-1880. in Harper's magazine. Santa now has such irreplaceable attributes as a list of good and bad children, the North Pole. But this is not the end of the transformation.

Klaus, completely devoid of a holy halo, was dressed up in all sorts of colorful clothes. But in 1931 famous brand Coca Cola launched advertising campaign, whose face was Santa Claus. Haddon Sundblom - American artist- portrayed a white-bearded, good-natured old man in red and white clothes and holding soda in his hands.

As a result, Santa Claus acquired the image that we can all see today. This is a plump, cheerful old man delivering gifts on Christmas night. He must have a red jacket or short fur coat, a white beard, a red hat and trousers with white trim. Santa Claus rides on a sleigh pulled by 9 reindeer and brimming with gifts for obedient children around the world.

In the UK it is usually called “Father Christmas”, which means “Father Christmas”. But our Russian Father Frost has nothing to do with Saint Nicholas. Our Grandfather Frost is a folklore ritual character who lives in the forest or, as today is believed, his residence is in Veliky Ustyug. Winter is his wife. Together they rule the earth from November to March. In very old fairy tales he is sometimes called Morozko or Grandfather Treskun.

Where does Santa Claus live today?

The closest relative of Father Frost is Yolupukki, who lives in Lapland, where Santa Claus also lives. Since 1984, by decision of the UN, Lapland was officially proclaimed the Land of Father Frost. Santa's residence is also located here, where he lives with the gnomes and elves all year round. It is there that children from all over the world write letters with wishes to the address: Arctic Circle, 96 930, Finland or to the website: santamail.com.

The Finnish government elevated Santa Claus to a cult status, built him a house on the slope of Mount Korvatunturi, made advertising, created a website and announced him email address to the whole world. It is Jolupukki from Lapland (Finland) who receives the most letters every day from adults and children from all over the world.

Every year on December 24 at noon he is on his reindeer arrives in the oldest Finnish town of Turku, accompanied by tontu, his young assistants - girls and boys in red overalls and caps. Here, from the city council building, the arrival of Christmas is announced and New Year's songs are sung.

But thanks to American advertising and persistence, Western Santa Claus gradually replaced the English Father Christmas, the Finnish Jolupukki, and the French Father Christmas. And even our beloved and dear Grandfather Frost. I will say even more, the Turks erected a monument to St. Nicholas in the city of Demra, but it is not a bishop who stands on the pedestal, but a cheerful bearded man with a huge bag of gifts!

However, apparently, these are not final changes in the image of the saint. For example, in Israel, where religious traditions, Christmas is not celebrated. And if you want to buy Christmas cards or other accessories there, you will have a hard time finding them.

But that’s why they are Jews - they will find a way out of any situation! On the shelves of Israeli stores on Christmas Eve, postcards with the image of Santa Claus, wearing a Jewish kippah instead of the traditional red cap, began to appear on his head. There are no holiday greetings on the cards yet, but something tells me: Tolya will be there again!

The story is about Scott Calvin, who accidentally kills Santa Claus and is forced to take his place. A sharp weight gain, the appearance of a gray beard, the search for Mrs. Claus, the fight with Jack Frost, charismatic deer and much more delight us in three films about good-natured Santa.

2. BAD SANTA: 18 year old teenager Billy with an ax and bad mood in film " Quiet night, deadly night" / "Silent night, deadly night" (1984)

The 1984 slasher film was the first to feature Santa Claus as a brutal killer. Parents young viewers were unhappy, but the film more than paid for itself at the box office. Then 4 more sequels were filmed, but the most successful, as often happens, was the first part.

3. GOOD SANTA: IN " Secret Service Santa Claus" / "Arthur Christma's" (2006)

There are four Santa Clauses. The animated film from Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations tells us how gifts are actually distributed on Christmas night with great humor for all ages.

4. BAD SANTA: The alternative essence of Santa Claus is revealed in the Finnish horror film “Santa for Sale” / “Rare exports” (2010).

Here is a completely unconventional approach to the Christmas character, where Santa not only does not give gifts, but cruelly punishes naughty children.

5. GOOD SANTA: Santa Claus from A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

Not quite Santa, but he also brings joy to people.

The film tells the story that the main symbol of Christmas has pressing problems and an older brother who is not as friendly and hardworking as he would like.

7. GOOD SANTA: Cartoon by Robert Zemeckis “The Polar Express” (2004).

The film showed us the good Santa himself. This is the story of how a boy who does not believe in magic and Santa Claus goes to North Pole to meet the Christmas wizard.

8. BAD SANTA: Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

One of the most famous examples bad Santa. A puppet musical by Henry Selick, written by Tim Burton, about the master of horror in their town, Halloween, who decides to take the place of Santa Claus for a change. As a result, Christmas turns out to be life-threatening.

9. GOOD SANTA: Film “Santa Claus” / “Santa-Claus” (1985).

Tells us the story of the appearance of a grandfather distributing toys to children for Christmas. Santa Claus is definitely kind here. The elves couldn't save the bad guy.

10. BAD SANTA: The store-working, gruff Santa Claus from the classic American comedy A Christmas Story (1983).

Little Ralphie really wants a two-hundred-shot air rifle for Christmas, but his parents won't allow the dangerous toy, and Santa Claus, on whom the boy trusted big hopes, and even gives a kick.

11. GOOD SANTA: Northerner, aka Santa Claus from the cartoon “Rise of the Guardians” (2012).

In a story about struggle good heroes children's tales vs. The Boogeyman, Santa Claus is presented with a Russian accent. IN literally. In the original voice acting, the leader of the Guardians speaks with a Russian accent, wears a black hat and holds a collection of nesting dolls. He turned out to be a stern but kind guy.

12. BAD SANTA: Another unconventional take on Santa Claus in the horror comedy “Santa Killer” / “Santa’s Slay” (2005).

One day, an evil demon named Klaus lost a bet to an angel and was forced to bring people joy and gifts for Christmas. But one fine day the juice of the bet runs out, and Santa again takes up his favorite dismemberment.

13. GOOD SANTA: Bruiser Hulk Hogan in the comedy “Santa with Muscles” (1996).

An eccentric millionaire fleeing from the police hides in a store dressed as Santa Claus. He likes the role so much that he decides to work miracles. Maybe not with magic, but with muscles.

14. BAD SANTA: So who is the worst Santa Claus? Of course, this is Billy Bob Thornton in the film of the same name “Bad Santa” (2003).

A thief, a loser and a lustful alcoholic. Santa is so bad here that it’s simply impossible not to love him.

Previously, he was a creepy character who took children with him. In the second half of the 19th century, the transformation of the image into positive side- he flogs with rods and takes only bad children into the bag. And by our time, the sadistic beast has simply turned into a touching grandfather, from whom everyone only expects gifts.

For those who have not believed in Father Frost for a long time, you can tell the unpleasant story of this now fabulous character, who owes his appearance to a real person - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia (the ruins of his residence are located near the village of Demre in modern Turkey). U different nations he fixed himself under different names: Nicholas of Myra, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Nicholas the Pleasant, Baba Noel, Pere Noel, Santa Claus.

Of course, we didn’t hold a candle, but the ears stick out so much from all the cracks that it took many years to repaint the black image of St. Nicholas of Myra white and fluffy.

Here is one of its options modern image. By the way, Catholic Church Unlike the Orthodox Church, it not long ago prudently decanonized Nicholas of Myra, excluding him from the list of saints.

It’s interesting how fate disposed of his “relics” - his head is in Italian city Bari, and in Venice already full set along with another head. And the most interesting thing is that both heads are considered authentic! Here is such a two-headed saint. In Venice, all his bones were broken, allegedly some sailor trampled on them, which is not surprising given his deeds.

Until about the middle of the 19th century, Père Noel, Santa Claus and others who appeared in winter were clearly perceived as evil characters, who take small children with them and from whom nothing good can be expected, i.e. we were happy when he left and we could live in relative peace whole year, so every year “new happiness” is possible.

In the second half of the 19th century, according to all the rules of political correctness (this is actually an old technology of distorting the essence), the image began to change in a positive direction, so that nothing would remind of slavery. And by our time, the terrible tax collector has simply turned into a touching grandfather, from whom everyone only expects gifts.

In Russia, in the second half of the 19th century, under Alexander II, the first attempts were made to create an original “Christmas grandfather” who would give gifts to Russian children, like their Western peers; “old Ruprecht” was mentioned in 1861 (we’ll explain about him a little later ) and in 1870 Saint Nicholas or "Grandfather Nicholas". These were isolated attempts that did not take root. In 1886, “Morozko” first appeared, and by the beginning of the twentieth century, the familiar image of Father Frost was already taking shape. But then the revolution of '17, bans on everything church holidays, and Santa Claus as an obligatory character of the New Year - and not Christmas - holiday is being revived already in Soviet time and dates back to the late 1930s, when after several years of prohibition the Christmas tree was allowed again.

Let's go back to the 19th century and see what remains of the dark prehistory of Santa Claus-Nicholas. In Russia there is a certain “babai” who is dangerous and takes away small children. Father Nikolai in Turkish is Baba Noel. In Turkish the stress is on the second syllable, and V.I. Dahl notes what has already been transformed: “Children are frightened by the woman and the old woman, and here the productions from the woman and from the woman come together.”

In Bulgaria, Father Frost is called Uncle Mraz; in the Czech Republic there is a variety of ice cream called “Morozko” (in Czech “Mrazík”).

In Germany, the equivalent of Babai is Krampus. He walks with Santa Claus and picks up naughty children. “Another creature found in the Alps on St. Nicholas Day is krampus. He is scary and shaggy, with horns, long teeth and a tail. According to legend, good children are rewarded by Nicholas, and bad children are punished by Krampus. With long rods, cow tails and bells, krampus walk in groups and alone along the streets of villages and cities and scare passers-by.” An analogue of Krampus in terms of the tasks performed is the image of the Christmas soldier Ruprecht, who also goes from house to house with rods and flogs or takes small children with him.

It’s interesting that if initially Krampus (Ruprecht) is an assistant to Santa Claus-Nicholas and a convenient distribution of roles “White Knight-Black Knight” = “ good king and bad boyars,” then the images are completely separated - the black forces seem to exist on their own, and the “good king” gains points for himself positive character. However, divide consciousness and conquer...

Here they are together:

In older versions of the legends, Krampus kidnaps especially naughty children, takes them to his scary castle and throws them into the sea, which is consistent with the role of his assistant Santa Claus, Nicholas of Myra, who is the patron saint of sailors. Indeed, slaves were sent to their destination by sea.

Here Krampus is already operating as if on his own, but the goal of the actions is still clearly visible - children in shackles are being taken into slavery:

Then, gradually, the image of Krampus degenerates into a kind of scarecrow, which itself is shackled, that is, the chains turn into a neutral attribute like that of some “metalhead.” Instead of kidnapping children, he only punishes them - flogs them with rods or just scares them:

Currently, the role of Krampus is gradually decreasing, remaining only in some areas of Bavaria and Austria, where a special “Krampus Day” (Krampustag) is celebrated on December 5th. On this day, residents dress in such scary costumes and scare passers-by and neighbors without the risk of getting hit in the head with a bottle in response. Krampus does not give gifts; he specializes in punishing naughty children by scaring them:

And now the image of an almost funny, decoratively scary Krampus appears, with all the attributes remaining - a basket with children, shackles, rods, but now this is not a kidnapping, but a sledding ride:

We watched as the image of Santa Claus's evil assistant slowly degenerated into some kind of funny scarecrow, a reason to fool around and make fun. What about Santa Claus himself? He, having separated from his evil assistant, also gradually changed his image towards a good-natured old man with gifts.

In this postcard on the left, Santa Claus seems to be doing the same thing as his assistant Krampus on the right, but somehow in a kinder way, as if he’s scaring him. The plot is the same, but the essence has disappeared:

And here everything becomes a toy - both the saber and the child:

And finally, we get almost a wandering monk. Where are the original bishop's outfits, where is the assistant devil, where are the kidnapped children in a bag or in shackles? The plot is indicated, but distorted beyond recognition. Learn how to properly correct your image...

The same story happened with “Good Santa Claus” from Lapland - Jollupukki, and his image strongly resembles the already familiar Krampus:

Few people know, but the kind Father Christmas who lives in Lapland is actually a rather dubious character in mythology. One of its historical names is Joulupukki, which means “Christmas goat” in Suomi.

In general, the image of a good-natured, rosy-cheeked old man in a red caftan appeared relatively recently. Also in XIX century he was portrayed as an evil creature in a goatskin with horns, who comes into the house solely to demand drinks from the owners and scare the children. He boiled naughty children alive in a cauldron, and used red deer as the main food for the winter.

Vladimir DOROKHOV

Especially for the “Analytical newspaper “Secret Research”, No. 24, 2015

Catholic Christmas, despite the religious overtones of this holiday, is celebrated not only by Christian believers. Gathering for a family dinner and delighting each other with gifts has become a common tradition for people in different parts Sveta. Christmas tales and legends have firmly merged with pagan folklore among many peoples. IN various countries there is also a mystical character associated with Christmas.

The evil antipode of Santa Claus

In Austria, Saint Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, and his assistant, a terrible demon named Krampus, travel from house to house on Christmas Eve. The name "Krampus" comes from the ancient Germanic "Krampen", which means "claw", according to another version, from the Bavarian word "Krampn" (something dead, dried up). Also in the German tradition he is known as the horned Nicholas. Among the Sudeten Germans - Wild Claus. Krampus is a demon with a red face and goat horns, covered with shaggy black fur. There are chains on his body and he rings a large bell. He has a long red tongue hanging from his mouth, a tail and in his hands a large stick and a black bag. Krampus is an incubus. According to tradition, an incubus is a demon that visits sleeping people and lies on them (the word “incubus” is translated from Latin as “to lie on top”). However, Krampus is not some kind of maniacal rapist. Its purpose is to punish children who have behaved badly this year.

On Christmas Eve, Austrian children place their boots on the windowsill or outside their bedroom. While they are sleeping, Santa Claus and Krampus come to their house. If the children have been good, Santa leaves candy and treats in their shoes. If they misbehaved, Krampus beats them with a stick. If the children behaved very badly, then Krampus puts them in a bag and throws them into the river.

There are references to Krampus in pre-Christian German folklore. According to some characteristics, he shows similarities with satyrs from ancient greek mythology. During the Inquisition, the Catholic Church prohibited celebrations involving mummers depicting horned creatures. However, the tradition of depicting Krampus has been preserved, and XVII century he established himself in Christmas celebrations as a companion of St. Nicholas. The legend became so popular that the story about him spread throughout Europe. This character has become especially popular in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy.

In the 20th century, the Austrian government did not encourage the depiction of Krampus. After civil war In 1934, the Dollfuss regime, on the initiative of Christian Socialists and the Fatherland Front, imposed a ban on this tradition. In the 1950s, the government distributed pamphlets on the theme “Krampus - the creation of evil.” However, towards the end of the century there was a revival of celebrations involving Krampus, and the tradition remains very popular today. Nowadays, Krampus Day is celebrated on December 6 (St. Nicholas Day). IN provincial cities some men wear furs, heavy boots and creepy masks with horns. Then, banging sticks and ringing chains and bells, they walk around the city, visiting houses in which there are small children. When the parents open the doors for them, they begin to terrorize the children: they growl and wave their sticks in the air. Children scream and cry. After the children have been thoroughly frightened, the parents invite the guests to sit down at the table for a drink. At the same time, once in Austria there was a public discussion on the admissibility of using the image of Krampus for young children.

Frau Perchten

In German and Austrian folk tales A witch known as Frau Perchten is quite common. For twelve days after Christmas, she roams houses, distributes gifts to the righteous, and makes sinners suffer, for example, tearing them apart and dragging them out. internal organs and replacing them with garbage and dirt. In honor of Frau Perchten, the Austrians organize Christmas processions and festivities, somewhat similar to the celebration of “Krampus Night”. Experts in European folklore are confident that the legends about Frau Perchten are most directly related to the cult ancient goddess Perkhta, who most lives in the forest for years and comes out “to people” only after Christmas.

Befana

Despite her repulsive appearance, Befana is positive fairy-tale creature– she does not punish the guilty children, but gives everyone toys and sweets. Befana is considered by some to be an evil witch, who is usually carried on a cart and burned on main square. However, a more common idea is of Befana as a kind creature who brings gifts to children by entering the house through the chimney. Children hang socks for gifts in front of the fireplace in advance. Gifts go to only good children; Befana puts coals in their socks for bad ones. There is also a belief that if there is a good owner in the house, she will not only give gifts to his children, but will also sweep the floor before leaving. Befana is usually depicted as an old woman flying on a broom, dressed all in black and with a bag of gifts and sweets on her back.

Belsnickel

Legends in some south-eastern regions of Germany speak of Belsnickel, a shaggy-haired tramp in shabby clothes made of animal skins, who on Christmas Eve rewards good children with candy, and educates tomboys and lazy people with rods. With his behavior, Belsnickel resembles Krampus, only he is not so bloodthirsty and cruel: most often the spirit does not use assault, only warning children that on Christmas each of them must behave exemplary.

Hans Trapp

Another "Anti-Santa", this time from Alsace and Lorraine ( northeastern regions France), bears the name Hans Trapp. According to legend, Trapp was a cruel and greedy rich man who made a pact with the devil, for which he was excommunicated and sent to live in the forest to protect the French (especially children) from his corrupting influence. The link didn’t help much: the villain, disguised as a straw scarecrow, began to hunt the lost kids and eat them. One day, God heeded the prayers of a boy caught by Trapp and struck the wicked man with lightning, but even this failed to completely calm the villain. Now every year at Christmas, dressed as a straw scarecrow, he returns to this world and scares badly behaved children.

Pere Fouétard

The sinister companion of Père Noël (the French Santa Claus) is Père Fouétard. He accompanies the main Christmas wizard on his travels and tells him how this or that child behaved during the year. In the old days, the French believed that one butcher one day around Christmas lured three little boys into his shop, killed them and cooked up all sorts of “delicacies” from children’s meat. But the cannibal did not have time to eat them to his fill: Saint Nicholas came to the aid of the innocently murdered, who resurrected the victims, and took the butcher himself under his wing. Since then, every year on December 6, the couple Père Noël and Père Fouétard come to Earth and look for mischief-makers and tomboys in order to teach them a lesson, and exemplary boys and girls receive from them the reward they deserve for their good behavior.

Yule cat

If Gray Wolf or Baba Yaga are taken away from our naughty children, then little Icelanders are frightened from childhood by the Yule (Christmas) cat, who visits homes around Christmas and can kidnap and eat boys and girls who have not done anything good during the year and, in addition, have been noticed in hooliganism. The furry “guardian of morals” leaves gifts for diligent children. According to legend, in order to avoid the attack of the Yule Cat, it is necessary to acquire warm woolen clothes for the Christmas holidays, which will let the four-legged prankster understand that the person managed to purchase a new thing, which means he did not waste the year. Apparently, the fear of the cruel but fair Christmas Cat serves this purpose. northern people an excellent motivator: according to statistics, Icelanders work overtime more often than the vast majority of residents of other European countries.

Jolasveinar

There is no one Santa Claus in Iceland, instead there is national folklore There are thirteen strange-looking creatures, mostly resembling gnomes. They are called Jolasweinar, that is, approximately “Christmas boys,” and are the sons of a terrible mountain giantess named Grýla. Previously, it was believed that they harm people in every possible way during the thirteen nights before Christmas. Since December 12, they have been stealing meat, seasonings, etc., even going so far as to eat children. These creatures have a clear specialization: for example, one has a long hook with which he steals meat from people, the second peeks through windows to find something to profit from in a human home, the third has pig legs and scares sheep in barns. In general, wonderful creatures... Poor kids have to believe in this and fear the coming of Christmas. They have only one way to survive - to behave well and obey their parents, then the gnomes put small gifts in their shoes throughout the thirteen nights before Christmas. Naughty children have to be content with potato tubers instead of gifts.

The number of Jolasweinars changed from legend to legend, but nowadays it is generally accepted that there are a damn dozen of them, and the already mentioned Yule Cat goes everywhere with them. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Jolasveinars were considered not very respected characters, but after the legends about Santa Claus penetrated into Iceland, the local residents wanted to have their own positive Christmas hero, and in the absence of more suitable ones, they took on the “Christmas Boys” for this role. It is worth noting that Icelandic Santas are noticeably different from each other and do not like to be confused, so each of them has their own gifts.

Gryla

The selection of heroes of Christmas legends is completed by the bloodthirsty cannibal giantess Grila. This image has been found in Icelandic legends since ancient times, but it was only in the 17th century that Gríla began to be called the mother of the Yule (Christmas) boys and began to be associated with Christmas. Icelandic folklore says that a giantess lives in mountain cave together with her thirteen offspring, a lazy and careless husband named Leppaludi (for her, this marriage became the third) and a huge black Yule Cat as a pet. Disgusted family life endowed Gríla with cruelty and treachery: the villain kidnaps little Icelanders (especially those who have “distinguished themselves” with pranks during the year) and serves them at her Christmas table. In Iceland, Grýla is considered so powerful that in 2010, the American satirical news agency The Onion even declared her to be the “culprit” of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption!

Now that you were sure that Christmas is the only time of the year when there is nothing scary, remember the “sweet” Krampus and his “meek” Christmas colleagues...

For those who have not believed in Father Frost for a long time, you can tell the unpleasant story of this now fabulous character, who owes his appearance to a real person - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia (the ruins of his residence are located near the village of Demre in modern Turkey). He was recorded among different peoples under different names: Nicholas of Myra, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Nicholas the Pleasant, Baba Noel, Pere Noel, Santa Claus.

Apparently, the dark deeds of Nicholas, which are so strongly etched in the people’s memory, consisted of a control trip through the territories of his subjects in the autumn-winter period to collect tribute/taxes. In those days, if tribute was not paid, the completely normal practice of penalties was to take children 7-12 years old into slavery. Of course, we didn’t hold a candle, but the ears stick out so much from all the cracks that it took many years to repaint the black image of St. Nicholas of Myra white and fluffy.

Here is one of the options for his modern image. By the way, the Catholic Church, unlike the Orthodox Church, not long ago prudently decanonized Nicholas of Myra, excluding him from the list of saints.

Until about the middle of the 19th century, Père Noel, Santa Claus and others who appeared in winter were completely unambiguously perceived as evil characters who took small children with them and from whom nothing good could be expected, i.e. they were happy when he left and it was possible to live relatively calmly for a whole year, so every year “new happiness” is possible.

These were isolated attempts that did not take root. In 1886, “Morozko” first appeared, and by the beginning of the twentieth century, the familiar image of Father Frost was already taking shape. But then the revolution of the 17th year, bans on all church holidays, and Father Frost as an obligatory character of the New Year - and not Christmas - holiday was revived already in Soviet times and dates back to the end of the 1930s, when after several years the ban was again allowed Christmas tree.

He walks with Santa Claus and picks up naughty children. “Another creature found in the Alps on Nicholas Day is the krampus. It is scary and shaggy, with horns, long teeth and a tail. According to legend, Nicholas rewards good children, and krampus punishes the bad ones.

With long rods, cow tails and bells, Krampus walk in groups and alone along the streets of villages and cities and scare passers-by." An analogue of Krampus in terms of the tasks performed is the image of the Christmas soldier Ruprecht, who also walks from house to house with rods and flogs or takes small children with him .

It is interesting that if initially Krampus (Ruprecht) is the assistant of Santa Claus-Nicholas and a convenient distribution of roles is obtained “White Knight - Black Knight” = “good king and bad boyars”, then later the images are completely separated - the black forces seem to exist on their own , and the “good king” gains positive character points. However, divide consciousness and conquer...

Here they are together:

In older versions of the legends, Krampus kidnaps especially naughty children, takes them to his scary castle and throws them into the sea, which is consistent with the role of his assistant Santa Claus - Nicholas of Myra, who is the patron saint of sailors. Indeed, slaves were sent to their destination by sea.

Here Krampus is already operating as if on his own, but the goal of the actions is still clearly visible - children in shackles are being taken into slavery:

Then, gradually, the image of Krampus degenerates into a kind of scarecrow, which itself is shackled, that is, the chains turn into a neutral attribute like some “metalhead”.

Instead of kidnapping children, he only punishes them - flogs them with rods or just scares them.