Something Krampus This Way Comes

            The mythical horned demon known as Krampus is recognized in Alpine countries as companion and counterpart to St. Nicholas during the Christmas season and mainly during the first two weeks of December.  In stark contrast to the joy delivered by St. Nicholas, this vengeful creature strapped with rusty chains and a cow bell makes it his business to dole out punishment to bad children everywhere.  His weapon of choice is the birch rod.

As St. Nicholas delivered holiday cheer to the homes of well behaved boys and girls elsewhere in the Austrian town of Salzburg, Krampus, horned creature and swift hand of justice to all bad children during Christmas time looked in on the home of Manfred, glutton and constant tormentor of younger sister Agatha. Manfred’s lederhosen burst at the seams as he fed on the basket of apple strudel that had been left for St. Nicholas in hopes that only joy would come to the house of Pfeifenberger this holiday season.  Deciding that young Manfred was something of an asshole, Krampus firmly grasped his birch rod considering one lash per greedy bite while trying to contain the holiday cheer he himself was suddenly overcome with over the chastisement of this little piglet.