When you visit other countries, it is always a good idea to learn a bit about seasonal traditions that occur during your visit. For some visitors to Austria, the December 6th Krampuslauf celebration surprised them. When Krampus chases the tourists, it can be a terrifying experience. They had no clue what was happening.
In the United States, our traditions are relatively mundane. People light up their homes with Christmas lights or sit around watching their favorite seasonal movies. In Graz, Austria, the Krampuslauf procession is a yearly tradition that can be quite terrifying to the uninitiated.
Reading a tourist brochure, you might think Krampuslauf is a simple parade. In English, it translates to the Krampus Run. Sounds innocent enough, right? However, the brochures don’t mention that the people parading dressed as Krampus will chase the parade watchers. Most of the Krampus actors are local men and women. There are other characters in the parade: angels, old women, Saint Nicholas, and Perchten also appear throughout. Perchten are women who roam the streets to protect the children from Krampus.
Meanwhile, the Krampus characters chase the parade watchers with sticks and switches. They swat people, and yes, it does hurt. Imagine being chased by someone wearing a sinister, demonic goat mask with massive horns and a sheepskin cloak! RUN!
Krampus Chases Tourists Back To Their Hotel
Now you understand a bit about the Austrian tradition we can delve into the video. A Krampus chases a group of tourists off the street while they record the encounter. And that brings us to this point. These tourists were returning to their hotel after visiting local establishments, unaware of the traditional celebration of Krampusnacht (Krampus Night). They realized they were being followed and turned around to see this!
They did what ordinary people would do — they ran! They were pretty frantic when they reached the hotel. The scary monster-thing with a stick went right inside after them! Ultimately, they made friends with the Krampus, even admitting, “He ended up being kinda cute.”
You can watch their terrifying run for safety below. Share this hilarious experience with your friends, especially if they plan on visiting Austria around December 6.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
