Santa Claus is recognized as a kind, lovable symbol of Christmas. Sure, he keeps a list of who’s naughty and nice, but he’s a jollyold soul known for his generosity and amazing ability to squeeze down narrow chimneys. However, not all of the figures associated with this festiveholiday are so adorable. In fact, some are truly frightening,violent, peculiar, or just plain different from good old Santa. Let’s look at some of these more unusual Christmas characters.
Krampus
If you were to design a being that was the exact opposite of Santa, you might come up with Krampus, who resembles a horned demon. Having been a part of the Christmastime traditions in certain regions of Germany and Austria for centuries, Krampus not only looks evil but also acts in a viciousmanner. With a dark, hairy body and a long, scary-looking tongue, Krampus carries sticks that he uses to hit mischievous kids. On his back, the terrifying beast also has a basket to cart naughty boys and girls away to the underworld. The monster’s origins are believed to date back to pre-Christian times, and even though the Catholic church tried to get rid of this pagancharacter, his popularity has persisted.
Zwarte Piet
While Krampus may scare kids into being good so they can avoid his wrath, Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, is a funny, kindly character in Dutch culture. He shows up before Christmas—December 5, to be exact—acting humorously and dressed in bright clothing to help Sinterklaas (a patron saintof children). However, this seemingly innocent character is also controversial. This is because those who pretend to be Zwarte Piet are Dutch people who use blackface to portray the dark-skinned character. Because the performance resembles a minstrel show, many view it as racist, although not everyone sees it that way.
