I'm not sure why I feel the need to jump on the
Krampus bandwagon this year. I found out about him two years ago and haven't really had the opportunity to work on any pieces involving him until now. This year has been such a roller coaster through crap I figure it might be nice to believe a little in some cosmic force of justice.
Of course the assumption there is that Krampus won't be coming for me. If he were coming for me, that might not be all bad though. Cover your ears kids! A hairy horny devil with a ridiculously long tongue kidnaps me and drags me away to do with me as he pleases. All because I've been bad. Hmmm...I say let the punishment fit the crime, eh!
I guess in the end, I just like the idea of Krampus. He's a little taste of punishment to help us appreciate the good in life. I wonder perhaps if he is some seed idea left over from
Saturnalia? Perhaps he is the last
Lord of Misrule from the lost tradition of the
Feast of Fools. Perhaps not completely lost,
Halloween /
Samhain has taken on many of the qualities of Saturnalia and the Feast of Fools. Considering how much our calendars have changed since those times, Halloween may be closer to the correct timeframe.
I am intrigued that these kinds of festivals seems to emerge from the human psyche regardless of repression or taboo or dogma or fiat. Close one door and the urge will find its way out through a window. This is the cord that Krampus strikes with me. Aha! there's the reason: The repressed urge given its day in the sun.
I think we need more of that...at least here in the United States we certainly do. Too many natural urges are repressed and criminalized. We need to find healthy outlets instead of shoving it all in a box...or a prison. I feel Krampus is part of that. A little comedic S & M for the whole family! Be good kids for goodness sake! Only one more day until Krampusnacht!
{Image created in Adobe Illustrator}
