Krampus is a horned, cloven-footed creature from Alpine folklore who accompanies St. Nicholas during the Advent season, punishing misbehaving children with chains, birch branches, and a rattling sack. Depicted with a long tongue, black fur, and goat-like features, he represents the darker, pre-Christian spirits once believed to roam the midwinter forests. Traditional Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) in Austria and Bavaria still feature masked figures chasing through the streets, and many locals report the eerie sound of chains or bells echoing through alpine valleys in early December. Blending ancient pagan fear with Christian morality tales, Krampus remains one of Europe’s most vivid winter entities.