Phoenix Krampuslauf 2019

Please join us for our 6th annual Krampulauf!

When: Friday, December 6, 2019 at 7:30 PM (please give yourself extra time to arrive and find parking)

Where: meet up and start from:
Fair Trade Cafe
1020 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85003

End/turn around point
Bliss Rebar
901 N 4th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Get ready Laufers were doing it again! Don your finest masks, wings, and beards come on out and join us for our 6th Annual Krampus walk! We will meet up at Fair Trade and then descend on the Phoenix downtown art walk.

Characters strongly desired:
Krampus of course!
St. Nikolas (he keeps the Krampus in line)
White Angel
Black Angel
Perchta

You may also dress in your historical or Viking finest if you haven't put together a Krampus costume, we need YOU for handlers, we may (will) need people to hand out water to our Krampus and flyers to the onlookers

Step off is at 7:30PM sharp, we will not wait.

Finally, by showing up, you acknowledge that being Krampus (or friends) can be risky business. You accept all consequences that could potentially arise from your personal participation and any participation of others which may affect you.

For additional info pleased e-mail Skullarix

Visit our FaceBook

AND IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT KRAMPUS IS:
Krampus is the Yule Lord, or Christmas Devil. The good children get a visit from Saint Nikolaus on Christmas Eve. The bad children get a visit from Krampus and will get coal in their stockings, or get stolen away by the evil beast.

Krampus is a large, hairy, demon like character with cloven hooves and long horns. He is often wearing a reed basket on his back to put all the bad boys and girls. He is rattling his rusty chains and clanging his bells to let you know he is coming.

Krampusnacht is traditionally celebrated on the 5th of December annually. The men from the village don the costumes of Krampus and Saint Nikolaus. They are often accompanied by black and white angel characters and sometimes "Pertchta". Their walk is called the "Krampuslauf".

This group is dedicated to bringing the "Krampuslauf" to Phoenix and all things Krampus...

Halloween 2018

Well Boos and Ghouls, Halloween has come and gone. It always amazes me how I spend the whole month, even year looking forward to it and it's over in a couple hours. I guess that is what Christmas feels like to everyone else.

So to start my day off I wanted to go wash the hearse, but I stopped to air up a tire and get a coffee at the local "Maverick" convenience store.

I came out of the convenience store and a couple young men yelled at me they liked my house, meaning my hearse. So I was a little confused, but said "thanks" anyway... I'm not sure if they thought I just looked homeless or they thought a hearse would make a good home? I decided that they were going with the hearse is a good mobile home and get away car for vampires...

There were some firsts for me, I had to scrub the crappy clay dirt up here from my hearse! It sucked, once I was done I thought I needed a nap! Right in the middle of it all a guy pulls up to wash his car and he asked me about my coach. I showed it all to him and I explained how they were made yackitty smakitty… and then I said something about it being called a "hearse" and he looks at me, straight faced and says, "what is that?" I just held my arms open wide and gestured to my hearse.

This was also my first "Trunk-or-Treat," something of a necessity since I have moved from the city to the rural county side. This enables kids that live outside of the city limits, on farms or ranches to all gather someplace and get candy. It's kind of like in valley were you just bus the kids into the most affluent neighborhoods to get candy.

I pulled up and a young man said for me to park next to a fire pick-up truck (so not the big fire truck but a pick-up truck) which I did. Then I set about putting spider web on my coach and just decorating for the evening. From behind me I hear some woman say, "I'm sorry but that is just creepy." I just said something over my shoulder like, "isn't that the point?" as I continued to decorate. Then I put my church truck out and pulled my casket part way out of the back and perched it up on the church truck.

The Trunk-or-Treat is extremely fast paced, seriously, there is no break, I threw candy in bags for a good two hours non-stop. In the neighborhood Trick-or-Treat, you got a break after one mob of kids would show up then you could go to the bathroom, do a shot or re-supply candy. The nice thing is I didn't have to spend $100 on candy this year. I bought the biggest bag I could find for $10 and that's all I had to get. The Trunk-or-Treat supplies the candy!

Now as to the best costume, for me it was a kid that dressed up as a faun from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The kid made their whole costume from armor to cloven hooves! There was a girl, I'm not sure what she was supposed to be but she made a wide toothy grinning mouth using hot glue and fake stiletto nails. She affixed her home made prosthetic to her face and then covered it with a hospital mask. When she got up to me, with a great flourish she pulled her hospital mask off one ear to reveal her grotesque maw. I thought her prosthetic was well done. There was also a cute little robot costume made out of cardboard and one family showed up in those inflatable t-rex costumes!

One kid showed up in a Santa costume, and I tried to spread the good word of Krampus. He just looked at me funny, I told him to look it up when he got home.

I thought it was interesting that people kept asking me if I was from the Silver Creek or Owens Livingston Funeral homes (I'm shocked there are two of them up here). I tried to make it clear that this was my own personal vehicle and not one of the funeral homes. I know that sometimes funeral directors don't like people that aren't in the bizz to drive coaches around, and especially not ones with caskets in them.

I suppose I should mention my costume... I really wasn't sure what I had to wear, but luckily crap that I took to HearseCon included my skeleton poncho, then I had the hat my friend Tina made me and gave to me at HearseCon and I bought a skeleton half mask off Amazon. Not my best costume, but I thought it was pretty cool considering most of my stuff is in storage a the moment. Sorry no pictures I was just to tired and it would have been a selfie. Harvey was my co-pilot and he finds phones difficult to use because he's just cold and boney.

All in all it was a good time and I look forward to doing it again next year.

Favorite Krampus links

Our favorite Krampus links, this entry is constantly being updated, so there are probably new ones

Phoenix Krampuslauf 2018!!!
https://youtu.be/McTyKg7p4Mc

Who are the Companions St Nicholas Travels With?
http://germangirlinamerica.com/st-nicholass-companions/

Free Online Krampus Advent Calendar.
http://regina.bayern/

Krampus of Los Angeles
http://krampuslosangeles.com/about-us/

Interview with Al Ridenour of LA Krampus regarding the tradition and the founding of LA
Krampus
https://soundcloud.com/margaretcho/motwithal

The Pagan Origins of the Yule Goat
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thewanderingwitch/2018/12/the-pagan-origins-of-the-yule-goat/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FBCP-PAG&utm_content=thewanderingwitch&fbclid=IwAR2Q3z71IVq_doAyvSmNIuckwQ1zFDIEZyCOHNHgm9uAoqV4yVTBgHfKCrI

The Yule Goat Sneaks Heathen Tradition into Christmas
https://www.rationalheathen.com/2017/12/06/the-yule-goat-sneaks-heathen-tradition-into-christmas/

Christmas in Finland - Joulupukki
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/finland.shtml

The Mischievous Tomte Spirits of Yule
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/matauryn/2018/12/07/the-mischievous-tomte-spirits-of-yule/?fbclid=IwAR0Jvo5znNtFI53M2IryEFwZCFSIjZq34whQ_FK7UZLlUQoZbcnO1F5fjjE

An article from Al Ridenour
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-truth-about-krampus

Al Ridenour’s book “Krampus and The Old Dark Christmas”
https://www.amazon.com/Krampus-Old-Dark-Christmas-Folkloric/dp/1627310347

Hawthorn’s Krampus/Wildermann Pinterest Board
https://www.pinterest.com/hawthornFM/krampus-wilder-mann/

The man behind the Krampus mask
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181206-the-man-behind-the-krampus-mask?ocid=ww.social.link.facebook&fbclid=IwAR05vTSS3C6-HcE_lrW486cFThXN_9yLo5r7UUxfgB3avKxMZfJ4o7C5dWo

The 8 Different ‘Krampus’ Horror Films You Can Watch This Holiday Season
https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3473278/8-different-krampus-horror-films-can-watch-holiday-season/

Why monsters haunt Christmas in Europe but not America
https://qz.com/317080/why-america-doesnt-have-christmas-monsters/

What is the Belsnickel? Why is it part of a Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas?
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2018/12/what_is_the_belsnickel_why_is.html?fbclid=IwAR1NuBFf0WlSdLObbvQIw-lKng1hH9PiXckWLuIz7v9HeON5iut3fFG-VYk

Gryla the Christmas Witch
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-icelands-christmas-witch-much-cooler-and-scarier-krampus-180967605/?fbclid=IwAR2SCmEhyrtBaUOvXcSZp4gs5SauXnGI8INbGI8T1wVeohMWefnuJFZQtrA#Q9jhd2JB5p9TzZqG.01

The Monstrous Visitors from the Mountains of Japan (the Perchten of Central Europe)
https://www.namahage.co.jp/namahagekan/english/namahage.php

Surreal Pictures Show Bulgaria’s Masked Dancers Warding Off Evil Spirits
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/bulgaria/kukeri-survakari-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-photos/?fbclid=IwAR1KAiYO3G7zFXtvQdUyLnBsEVj5VIbP98vky-PGnDr3Whes6m1TCgKk0Ag

Horned Headband DIY
http://www.wholesalehalloweencostumes.com/blog/diy-horn-headband/

Krampus hooves DIY
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hooves-from-Comfy-Shoes-No-high-heels/

This Ancient Pagan Celebration In Macedonia Looks Truly Bizarre
http://www.businessinsider.com/ancient-pagan-celebration-in-macedonia-2014-1

Zvoncari The Pagan Slavic Carnival In Croatia
https://www.slavorum.org/zvoncari-the-pagan-slavic-carnival-in-croatia/

The Most Disturbing Images Of ?Krampus, Santa's Child-Eating Counterpart
https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-most-disturbing-images-of-krampus-santas-child-ea-1681356117

I Told You This Village Was Under My Protection
https://io9.gizmodo.com/i-told-you-this-village-was-under-my-protection-1676987889

Pan-Celtic Hoofbeats: Horses of the Dark time (Yes I know not Krampus but interesting)
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2018/10/horses-of-the-dark-time/?fbclid=IwAR1X2Prck2JL3Js4NETy68krovuaqOHyUO7cXXshOmLloVKxDFCnezltRmw

Ded Moroz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ded_Moroz

Wren Day in Ireland
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/the-excitement-of-the-ancient-tradition-of-hunting-the-wren-on-st-stephens-day-237165371-237793621

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping, and Gives You Nightmares
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/22/world/europe/krampus-he-sees-you-when-youre-sleeping-and-gives-you-nightmares.html

Letters: Nothing cute or funny about Krampusnacht
http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-nothing-cute-or-funny-about-krampusnacht

Santa’s Horned Helper: The Fearsome Legend of Krampus, Christmas Punisher
http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/santa-s-horned-helper-fearsome-legend-krampus-christmas-punisher-004799

Austrian Villagers to Refugees: Please Don’t Fear Krampus
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/austrian-villager-refugees-please-dont-fear-krampus-n471906?cid=sm_fb

The Mystical Origins of the Kukeri: Bulgaria’s Strangest Folk Festival
http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2016/01/the-mystical-origins-of-the-kukeri-bulgarias-strangest-folk-festival.html

Stunning images of pagan costumes worn at winter celebrations around the world
http://thewildchild.co.za/stunning-images-of-pagan-costumes-worn-at-winter-celebrations-around-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2buhUQoR5wgKtZ5MKPrRPj1xY_ok6Ampz9w9ovsBvfs1jb8Brt0wlKeJ0

Oh by the Way...
http://ohbythewayblog.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/carnevale-in-sardinia.html

Mamuthones and Issohadores
https://www.thecrowdedplanet.com/mamuthones/

NSFW: SpookyDan’s Slay Belles Features an Anatomically Correct Krampus
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/109977/nsfw-spookydans-slay-belles-features-an-anatomically-correct-krampus/

Petaluma says hello to Krampus (This one contains the character, "the crapper")
https://www.petaluma360.com/news/8998567-181/petaluma-says-hello-to-krampus?sba=AAS

Folk icon Krampus to return to Denton for a downtown romp
https://www.dentonrc.com/entertainment/folk-icon-krampus-to-return-to-denton-for-a-downtown/article_56ae48cb-a1e7-5097-86d2-bca7d844e25f.html

Add Milwaukee Krampusnacht to your holiday traditions
https://onmilwaukee.com/seasonal/holidays/articles/krampusnacht-krampus-parade-2018.html

The Living and the Dead at the Time of the Winter Solstice
http://www.folklore.ee/~liisa/too/RY2015/articles/RY2015_51_Pocs.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0-7OhLrB35RWzZXjX8aldf_LaGgKSdTu2u8tK2NmyO62hTsWOwR3npdFw
<--------------------------------------------------->
6 to 8 Black Men by David Sedaris
https://youtu.be/UCUHTDrca4s

YouTube Videos:
How to make a Krampus Costume like the one in the movie!
https://youtu.be/n9rQYIGlIUM

Gruesome Christmas Monster Showdown
https://youtu.be/wdX3BqF1s9Y

Krampus/Christmas Demon Makeup Tutorial
https://youtu.be/lmavwgiaPUc

Fallen Angel | Halloween Make up Tutorial
https://youtu.be/fccBFoXWiBw

Top 10 Christmas Monsters:
https://youtu.be/2KLPWGMs_lE

Grimfrost Yule
https://youtu.be/y8W4d85IyJQ

Kukeri of Bulgaria
https://vimeo.com/59987528

Krampus B!tch
https://youtu.be/KQ2tpq2Gy98

Gastein Krampuslauf 2015 - Krampus & St. Nicholas in Bad Gastein, from house to house
https://youtu.be/PLBQWk_l_KQ

Podcast: KRAMPUSLAUF PHILADELPHIA VOICES: CLAUDIA LEVIN-DORKO
https://krampuslaufphiladelphia.com/2015/09/14/krampuslauf-philadelphia-voices-claudia-levin-dorko-talking-with-ruby-soffer/


Want to try your hand at Carving your mask?
Where to buy Rough Carved masks: https://www.schnitzeisen.at/?fbclid=IwAR3eEvMxk3Ix6KO25lA4Qkb-KJNYtWDtahp7176V8mnlRZsUbCeF3uBFVWM

Video's on carving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbBZ9yaDg_E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf16-4FS9l8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvQXnvs3Itc
https://youtu.be/66hIxVOAGm8?t=148

Smooth-On Free From Air?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ets07_oF8M0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL4BIs9vCGk

https://youtu.be/ecrYdinyuIM

https://youtu.be/cOV1yV6NPAM?t=158

Krampus FAQ

1. How many people attend? Typically around 10+

2. Lauf means run, are we running? We move through a high traffic area, so we would not be able to run, we also try to stick together so the leader should be walking pretty slow. So we literally get dressed up in costumes and walk around in them for a couple hours in hopes of terrorizing or brightening someone's holiday.

3. How far is the walk? Roughly 6 blocks... Typically we start from Fair Trade and end at Bliss Rebar, usually we walk back the whole way it becomes a 12 block walk. If you wish you can park along the route or at the end... car pooling is encouraged.

4. How long does the walk take? Just for the walk about 50 minutes, we recommend you show up 30 minutes early to suit up.

5. Is the walk a bar crawl? This is simply a walk, some folks might choose to go out after but that is not part of our walk.

6. Are children welcome? They are! Please be mindful that we are walking in a high foot traffic area along streets, with lots of cars. BE CAREFUL and watch your children.

6. Do I have to wear a costume? We would love it if you did, but if you just want to come and take pictures or hang out that's fine too... We have a fine assortments of masks if you would like to wear one.

8. Keep in mind this is Friday night down town you will want to give yourself LOTS of extra time to find parking and get down to Fair Trade Coffee shop to suit up.

Here is the route we typically take^^^

Start point
Fair Trade Cafe
1020 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85003

End point
Bliss Rebar
901 N 4th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Here is a quick Krampuslauf survival guide:

1. Try on your costume before you get on site (Like TODAY) make sure you can see make, sure your pieces fit and aren’t terribly uncomfortable. If you wear glasses make sure they work with you’re your mask or wear contacts. There will always be parts of a costume that are more delicate or require adjustments more frequently than others. If you know these areas ahead of time, you can better plan out how your Krampuslauf will go and be prepared to deal with any problems that arise.

2. You should also be aware of any areas of the costume that may injure you during wear. Moleskin (which can be found at places like Walgreens) is an amazing product that helps prevent rubs and sores… especially with regards to SHOES for instance.

3. Do you need a handler or helper? A handler is basically someone who helps a Krampus in a complex costume. Figure out if you’ll need help getting into your costume, or if you’ll need someone to help guide you during the walk. (Consider dressing someone up as a victim to guide you)

4. Please eat before you come, no fainting Krampus’ allowed

5. Please bring your own water, last year I bought two cases and only two bottles were used… While our Brethren in Canada and Germany worry about cold, we have worry about over heating. Try to just add the "hint" of fur, on the shoulders, arms and waist. Think Krampus on summer vacation.

6. Stay in the group and let the leader know if we need to slow down

7. Know your limits, don’t push yourself. Consider parking at the end of the walk at the Bliss ReBar so you don’t have to walk the route twice.

8. Be aware of where you are, we will be crossing streets and we don’t want anyone to get hit by a car.

9. Be prepared to have pictures taken of you, we will be moving slow in some places so that folks can snap some photos

10. Have Fun!