The Jackson City Library is defending its decision to include the Krampus character in a holiday program.
While many folks claim they want to see more traditional Christmas celebrations, apparently that doesn’t extend to European traditions like Krampus. According to the Krampus legend, which is popular in many German-speaking areas of Europe, the horned creature shows up with St. Nicholas. If you’re good, St. Nick leaves presents. If you’re bad, Krampus puts you in a sack and beats you with switches. (that could be a slightly more effective deterrent to bad behavior than the threat of an elf on a shelf) While the creature has its origins in Norse mythology, it’s been part of Christmas celebrations in Europe for around 800 years.
Here’s what’s got some Jackson residents bent out of shape. The library scheduled an after-hours opportunity for people to get their pictures taken with a volunteer in a Krampus costume at the library. However, the decision caused a backlash that led the library to fear for the safety of employees. In a statement, the organization said. “When presenting programs, the health and safety of our employees and patrons is the top priority, and as such, the mature-themed photos with Krampus will be unfortunately canceled.”
While some library patrons seemed puzzled by the decision, others in the community applauded it. Renae Hughes commented, “In a matter of hours this terrible idea was pulled with juvenile remarks made towards those of us with morals, standards, and some Christianity.
Dominic Jacobson countered that Krampus is simply a German Christmas tradition like so many others adopted in America. “The Christmas tree? That’s German. In fact, the majority of American Christmas traditions are taken from German traditions. In case you didn’t know, German ancestry is the largest ancestry group in the United States at around 12%. German immigrants have been coming to the US since Jamestown in the early 1600’s and heavily influenced the culture and traditions in the early years of this country. So, I ask again, what American traditions are you speaking of, because I’m fairly certain that most American Traditions you could name are German.”
Others wanted to know why someone offended by the photo op just didn’t skip it.
The Krampus myth saw a resurgence in American pop culture after the release of the 2015 horror movie of the same name.
On December 5th, which is St. Nicholas Day, the library shared a detailed post discussing the traditional celebration of St. Nicholas Day.
“Krampus was the antithesis of St. Nicholas to these people. They were two sides of the same coin. They were partners that traveled the night of December 5th. While St. Nicholas embodied the spirit of generosity, kindness, and gift-giving Krampus served as a consequence for those who stray from the path of virtue.
St. Nicholas can be traced back to a 4th-century Christian bishop in what is now modern-day Turkey and is revered for his benevolence and compassion. His legacy evolved into a gift giver who rewarded well-behaved children with sweets, toys, and other delights on the eve of his feast day December 6th. While St. Nicholas bestows gifts upon the deserving Krampus emerges from the shadows to confront the mischievous and disobedient. Some see him armed with a birch switch who admonishes and reminds children of the importance of virtue and obedience.”