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St.Nicolas and Krampus
"St. Nicolas Eve (Dec.5th) Part 2 of Christmas in the Austrian Alps
On December the 5th, with excitement at its peak,
St. Nicolas of Myra, the bishop, called Saint Nick
Goes around with his unholy peer this special night
To visit good children that don't brawl and fight.
Do not confuse Saint Nicolas with Santa Claus,
The kind bishop of Myra had no bulbeous nose.
Attired in the traditional fancy array
They roam the streets or a snowy alpine way,
The illustrous bishop - and his unholy peer,
The cleft-footed Krampus, with tail, who inspires great fear;
This Evil One has a switch and rattles a chain,
And when all is quiet they peek through a window pane.
The panes are veiled, but pious parents are certain
A saint can pass through window panes and curtain;
These two pace the streets, going from house to house;
St. Nick brings goodies, the “Krampus” deals quick blows,
Believers know this full well, whether rich or poor
And expect any time three taps on the front room door.
St. Nick asks the parents: ”Have the children been good?
Or did they have a brawl at school and booed
Mrs. Fingerle, or thumbed yet again their nose
At Freddy and Fanny, and put a frog in the sauce?"
At this the Krampus brandishes switch and stick,
But is stopped in his track by gracious Saint Nick.
The children stammer and stutter confessing their sins:
“Matthew pilfered my cookies and chocolate beans;
And Charlie bit into Gretchen’s cruller and apple;
And pulled - o dear! -on her beautiful tress in the chapel
From a rear pew he sneaked up and pulled on her tress
While Father Schupfer said solemn high mass.!”
And Hans, who had picked with Franz and Bert a fight
Must two times as penance the “Our Father” recite.
Now the Krampus ducks and squeals and wails like a pig,
But is exorcised on the spot by glorious St. Nick,
Who entreats the children forthwith to take care,
And for the Christ Kind’s coming to prepare.
"Prepare dear children, prepare! prepare!
The Christkinhd is coming - the Herr, Lord, Seigneur!"
At times they stop to check their long list
To see if some family had been missed.
And satisfied and content that not
They linger a moment to give thanks to God.
.
Oh loitering heedless Tourist, take care!
Show respect and reverence when meeting this pair.
In a busy street, or lonely snow- covered path;
Do not stir up the springs of Krampus’ wrath! -
Both walk long distances through snow and sleet,
And on their mission often get wet feet,-
The citizens, who hold them very dear,
Thrill, when at dusk the two at last appear.
O Tourist!-, rouse your heart, have faith,- believe!
When you meet this prodigious pair on Saint Nicolas’ Eve.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
© Elizabeth Dandy
