KRAMPUSNACHT which is actually called Night of Krampus. On holiday greetings card Krampus is featured, which is called KRAMPUSNACHT. In this event, Krampus costumes are made from horns of the animal, skins of sheeps and goat, as costume characters are different which is the main part of this celebration.

Who is Krampus and how are Krampus Masks Made?Do you reward your kids for good behaviour or punish them for bad deeds? In European tradition both impulses are celebrated when Alpine towns bring legend to life with the annual pre-Christmas Krampus Run. Who is Krampus? And how are Krampus Masks made for the night of Krampuslauf?

We found out in Austria’s Salzburg. Who is Krampus?The Krampus masks are all about Krampuslauf, a procession that happens in December each year when hundreds of costumed locals run through the streets of Austrian towns dressed as Krampus. Thousands turn out to see these Bavarian spectacles.

What is Krampus? Or more specifically who is Krampus? Krampus is a cross between goat and demon and its role in folklore is to punish kids who have been naughty – basically Santa’s evil twin.

Who is Krampus and how is one made? Very carefully! How are Krampus masks made?How are Krampus masks made? “If the knife is really sharp, and the wood is really good, it’s like butter.” says artist, neatly slicing off a slither of wood. But I’m pretty sure this brand of butter would only go on the Devil’s toast.In the Salzburg Advent Market people stop and stare wide eyed through the window at Stefan’s wooden Krampus masks and some children shy away.

I’m not surprised really, in a few days these scary heads will be looming down at them in the crowd while furry bodies brandish a birch whip and eyes whip around in search of disobedient small people. Family taking in the true meaning of Krampus in Salzburg What is Krampuslauf? – a demon sprintIn local folklore, while Santa is all about rewarding the good kids, Krampus is all about sniffing out the bad ones and handing out punishment for their misdemeanors. I have been fascinated by Krampus and the annual December run or Krampuslauf since I saw the spectacle on Youtube. There is also a big budget Hollywood Movie ‘Krampus’ which ramped up interest for a while. If you’re struggling to picture the sight, think of the Krampuslauf as a marathon where everyone looks evil, carries birch bundles instead of water bottles and shows no sign of tiring.

Who is Krampus? See as he appears from within the block of wood A spreading Alpine traditionThe Krampuslauf traditionally take place in Alpine areas of Austria, Italy and Germany although they do happen in other European countries like Croatia and the Czech Republic. There’s a growing trend of Krampus nights wearing Krampus masks in US cities and I suspect they may wind up on our shores at some point.In Austria and Germany the event traditionally takes place on 5th December – the eve of the Feast of St Nicholas. On this night – ‘Krampusnacht,’ the devilish goat creatures appear on the streets, sometimes accompanying St. Nicholas, who is often dressed as a bishop.

They are armed with coal and birch switches as an antidote to Santa’s gifts. And they are after a different demographic to Santa– naughty kids. To scare them into behaving. Krampus come in many shapes and sizes, but most have nasty faces, lolling snake-like tongues, and goat or devil horns. Their bodies are covered in skins or fur of animals, the heads are carved out of wood. This is where Stefan comes in with his tailored Krampus masks.

Stefan Koidl at work making Krampus Masks in Salzburg The face of the Krampus masked beastStefan trained in infomatics but began carving Krampus masks five year ago. He is self taught and at the moment making the heads is still a hobby but he plans to scale it up into a self employed business. He reckons if he works hard he can make up to two a week.“The professional woodcarvers are making around a hundred Krampus a year,” he tells me.He is half way through making a face and many of the demon features are already there; horns and hair will come later.

To start the process, Stefan meets with the prospective wearer and gets their ideas and input. There is no need for measuring.“I can look at the person’s face and I know if it is a big, small or medium head.”Stefan sketches out a face on paper, puts a chunk of bark on a stick and starts copying the design on the paper into the wood.

Finally he uses a chainsaw to strip the inside of the mask so it can fit on a head.Check out this video where Stefan explains how he makes Krampus masks. Designed to scare the kidsSo who inhabits the body of a Krampus? It’s not a secret club where you sell your soul for a mask.

Anyone can buy a costume. But if you’re looking for something that looks convincing you will pay anything from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds.

There are many mask makers in Austria and more springing up as the tradition is revived.“Everyone has a unique style,” says Stefan who can tell just by looking at a head who carved it.He explains some of the newer woodcarvers are making them out of wood and then moulding with latex, which is reinventing the craft. Krampus mask by Stefan Koidl on display in Salzburg. Catch them if you can“You never saw them?” Stefan questions me. “It’s really cool. You get maybe 600 dressed and running through the streets, all noisy and with smoke in the air. The Krampus runs are usually on Dec 5th and 6th, but between the middle of November and the middle of December you can find them around the towns and cities and at special events.”He is proud that his city is leading the way.

“Krampus runs traditionally take place in parts of upper Italy, Austria and the south of Germany. The hotspot is here in Salzburg,” he grins.I ask him if he will be running on 5th and he shows me his costume.

The most impressive Krampus of them all.

Nick brings the gifts, and Krampus brings the pain. Here are some things you might not have known about Santa's demonic companion. Krampus is a Christmas demon.Who is Krampus? In Austria and across the German-speaking Alpine region, the demonic character is a crucial part of the holiday season. He’s a devilish figure, with long horns and a goaty beard, much like typical portrayals of Satan. You might see him posed harmlessly on a greeting card or reproduced in.

But you might also encounter a procession of Krampuses stalking through the town, laden with bells and chains, intimidating onlookers or whipping them with bundles of sticks. December 5 belongs to Krampus. If you survive, you might get presents.December 5 is Krampusnacht, when Krampus reigns. In the real world, people might attend Krampus balls, or young men from the local Krampusgruppe might don carved wooden masks, cowbells, chains, and elaborate costumes to run through town in a (Krampus run), frightening and sometimes beating bystanders. According to legend, Krampus will spend the night visiting each house. He might leave bundles of sticks for bad children—or he might just hit them with the sticks instead.

He might toss them into a sack or basket on his back and then throw it in a stream, or he might straight-up take them to hell.The next day, though, is Nikolastaug, St. Nicholas' Day—the same St. Nicholas whose Dutch name, Sinterklass, evolved into “Santa Claus.” In other words, it’s time for presents for all the little girls and boys that is, all the ones who haven’t already been beaten, damned, or drowned. Krampus may be a monster, but he pals around with Santa.Originally, Krampus was a purely pagan creation, said to be the son of Hel from Norse mythology. But he got grafted onto Christian tradition as a sidekick of St.

Nicholas, similar to figures like Zwarte Piet in the Netherlands and Knecht Ruprecht in Germany. Since the, the two have been linked in a sort of Christmasy yin-yang, with Krampus as St.

Nick’s dark companion. Costumed figures of the two traditionally visit houses and businesses together on Krampusnacht. Krampus revelers will hit, push, and whip spectators at their parades.The Krampus of legend whips people with his birch bundle, but he’s a literal demon. Surely the costumed human Krampus partiers wouldn’t engage in such violence, right? Here’s a of the Salzburg Krampuslauf from a tourist who expected mere costumed buffoonery and came home with welts:The narrow streets in the Old City section of Salzburg were packed with pedestrians as the Krampusse stomped through.

Many people were caught unaware and reacted with terror. Some would flee and try to seek refuge in a shop or restaurant, only to be pursued by a determined Krampus. With so many easy targets, we again managed to escape largely unharmed. At times we were chased, jostled and struck, but compared with the brutality we witnessed, it was obvious we had been spared the full brunt of what Krampus could muster.This writer went to Krampuslaufs in three cities and described “savage beatings” to people’s thighs and shins, as well as a Krampus chasing down and sitting on a teenager.

But despite the fear and bruises, it’s all in good fun, and hey—at least they aim for the legs. Krampus's appearance varies, but he often has one human foot and one cloven hoof. // Public DomainBetween 1934 and 1938, when Austria was under Fascist rule, Krampus was as a symbol of (variously) sin, anti-Christian ideals, and Social Democrats.

The newspaper of the Austrian Catholic Union called for a Krampus boycott, and the government of Lienz, the capital of East Tyrol, forbade Krampus dances, and further mandated that all aspiring St. Nicholases must be licensed by the city.

They also pledged to arrest Krampus whenever they saw him. Though it didn’t rise to the level of a ban, in 1953 the head of Vienna’s kindergarten system also a pamphlet calling Krampus “an evil man” and warning parents that celebrating him could scar their children for life. Krampus masks are valuable pieces of folk art.Sure, you could probably pick up some plastic horns at Tyrolian Target, but that’s not really in the right spirit. Traditionally, the masks worn in a Krampus procession are made of wood, hand-carved by specialist artisans. For instance, makes the masks for all 80 members of the Haiming Krampusgruppe—and he’s been making them. Antique masks often wind up in museums; either folklore museums, or ones explicitly devoted to the Krampus.

The towns of and both feature Krampus museums that collect old costumes and masks, and until recently, there was a museum in as well. You can celebrate Krampus even if you're in the U.S. Krampus has become increasingly popular on this side of the pond—he's shown up on, The, and, and there's a Krampus-inspired. And in an increasing number of American cities, you can go to a Krampus party, Krampus costume contest, or even a traditional Krampuslauf. Los Angeles in particular has a burgeoning.Of course, for some people the holidays are scary enough without throwing a demon beast with a penchant for physical assault into the mix.

But if you’re the kind of person who goes to extra-scary haunted houses at Halloween, take heart: That terror doesn’t have to stop just because we’ve entered a season of togetherness and joy. Getty ImagesSince Just Born turned Peeps-making into an automated process, the chicks have been carefully formed by a top-secret machine known as The Depositor. Created by Sam Born’s son, Bob, The Depositor could manufacture six rows of five Peeps apiece in a fraction of the time it took workers to form them by hand. And that same machine that Bob built kept the Peeps flowing for several decades.In 2014, the company announced that it was planning to renovate its manufacturing plant, including The Depositor. “It’s a little sad,” senior vice president of sales and marketing Matthew Pye Candy Industry Magazine at the time.

“Bob Born made it from scratch in 1954 and it allowed us to distribute and grow the brand nationally.' The updated equipment means new Peeps innovations could be coming. Getty Images“The investment in our marshmallow making process will allow for more efficiency, more consistency, improved quality, and additional innovation capabilities,” co-CEO Ross Born told Candy Industry magazine about the new Depositor, which will be able to produce a wider variety of Peeps in all sizes. “The old Peeps line did one thing and one thing very well—cranking out chicks day in and day out. Five clusters, just in different colors,” Born said. Peeps used to have wings.They were clipped in 1955, two years after the first marshmallow chicks hatched, to give the candy a sleeker, more “modern” look. A Peep's eyes are the final touch.

Getty ImagesIn 1999, a pair of scientists at Emory University—dubbed “Peeps Investigators”—decided to the theory that Peeps are an indestructible food. In addition to a microwave, the pair tested the candy’s vulnerability to tap water, boiling water, acetone, and sulfuric acid (they survived them all). When they upped the ante with some Phenol, the only things that didn’t disappear were the eyes. Peeps really are everyone's favorite non-chocolate Easter candy.For more than 20 years now, no other non-chocolate Easter candy has been able to compete with the power of Peeps. With more than 1.5 billion of them consumed each spring, Peeps have topped the list of most popular Easter treats for more than two decades.

There are sugar-free Peeps.Counterintuitive, we know. But in 2007, the first line of sugar-free Peeps hit store shelves.

There are also chocolate-covered Peeps.Chocolate-covered Peeps hit the market in 2010. Today there’s a of them for every occasion. Peeps come in a variety of flavors.Color and shape (i.e. Yellow chick) are no longer the only ways to categorize a Peep. They now come in an of flavors, including pancakes and syrup, gingerbread, cotton candy, root beer float, and chocolate pudding. On New Year's Eve, a giant Peep is dropped in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. IStockThe festival of Passover (or Pesach) commemorates the story of the Jews' escape from Egypt.

The passover in question is when the houses of the observant Israelites in captivity were 'passed over' as Egypt's first-born children were killed (although, in the Torah, the date the 14th of Nisan is referred to as Passover while the week-long celebration is the Festival of Matzot. They've since been into one celebration called Passover).In celebration of the firstborns being saved, it is traditional for them to fast on 14 Nisan.

If there are no children, the member of the household fasts. If the firstborn is a daughter? That depends on the of the community.2. Passover lasts either seven or eight days. IStockThe Torah says to celebrate Passover for seven days (the the Exodus and the parting of the Red Sea), but many Jews outside of Israel celebrate for eight. Traditionally each month of the Jewish calendar was determined by an astronomical observation and could be either 29 or 30 days long.

After a new month was determined, messengers spread the word. For Jews who lived too far away for messengers to bring timely news of a new month, it was safest to celebrate for an extra day, so no matter how long the previous month was, the holiday was celebrated.Eventually the calendar was standardized and the eight-day custom was no longer needed. Today, some Jewish denominations outside of Israel (like ) celebrate the mandated seven days, while many others prefer eight days. Inside Israel it's generally seven.3. Leavened grains are a no-go at Passover. IStockOne of the most important parts of Passover preparations is cleaning the house of chametz, or leavened food.

Even the tiniest bit has to go. Because the Jews left Egypt in such a hurry, it's said they didn't have time to leaven their bread. To commemorate that, five grains (traditionally wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and oats) are banished from the house. Jews can spend weeks ensuring that the house is perfectly clean—and there are even professional chametz cleaning services that they'll boil toys, break down and reassemble kitchen chairs and possibly still leave the house dirty.

There's a in Jewish households: 'Dust is not chametz.' The goal is to get rid of chametz above all else.4. Matzo, which is made from wheat, is one of the most important parts of a Passover meal. IStockWhile there are restrictions against leavened products, one of the most important parts of a Passover meal is matzo, which is made from wheat. The difference between matzo and regular bread is that the wheat in matzo cannot come into contact with any water until it's ready to be cooked.

And once water and wheat are mixed it has to be baked within 18 minutes (sources as to whether the timer stops when it enters or leaves the oven). After 18 minutes, fermentation begins and it is chametz.But why 18 minutes? Supposedly it's because that's how long it takes to walk between the cities of Migdal Nunaiya and Tiberias in Israel. Over the years, scholars have argued about how long it would actually take to walk between the cities, with some proposing that reduced the distance from to 1 and thus reduced the time from 72 minutes to 18. Nowadays, it's felt that even if there was a transcribing error, there's enough tradition to use 18 minutes.5.

Grains get complicated during Passover. IStockAs Jews spread around the world, they often found themselves faced with foods that weren't explicitly mentioned for Passover. Sephardic Jews (generally) feel that only the five expressly mentioned grains are forbidden, while Ashkenazi Jews worry that the dishes made from certain other plants that look similar and are grown in similar conditions as the forbidden grains will risk contamination between the two. So if these ingredients (called kitniyot, or 'legumes') were avoided, actual chametz could more easily be avoided (although kitniyot is nowhere near as regulated as chametz).But recently, some authorities that improved technology and storing methods have rendered the old methods obsolete.

It's a current debate in some communities.6. Some of the best matzo flour is made in Arizona. IStockOne of the most difficult parts of making matzo is keeping the flour dry before it's ready to be converted into matzo; any water risks converting flour into chametz. So, according to, one sect of Hasidic Jews has found the perfect farming conditions to produce their wheat—the arid fields of southwestern Arizona. The group of ultra-Orthodox Jews from Brooklyn, New York, work with a farm in Yuma, Arizona, to ensure that no unwanted moisture affects the crop, and the resulting kosher wheat is shipped back east to make up to 100,000 pounds of matzo.7. Pets also get special food during Passover.

Run your own country simulation. He strongly supported the leadership of Emperor and endorsed, coining the term in reference to the post world. However, as Ivan went inactive, so did he, and as new Sith Lords rose to power it is presumed the loyalist-dominant bureau was dismantled or absorbed.Unko Kalaikz and the New Pacific OrderAfter more than a year M.I.A., Junkalunka returned once more as Unko Kalaikz and was accepted into the in September 2010. He admired Moldavi's strong leadership and was the fifth nation to join the NSO. He established the Bureau of Internal Security, a secular, Imperial-style organization serving two purposes: regulating the in-game alliance affiliation, and also acting as a secret police force to counter those who would act against Ivan's interests. He later was the fifth nation to join 's alliance.Rise of the SithCount da Silva departed NATO immediately following Ivan's return to CN.

IStockFor Passover, houses must be free of chametz and there can be no benefit derived from it. This includes pet food. In keeping with this, there are Passover-friendly pet foods out there, and some Rabbinical authorities propose switching out your pet's diet for a few days—such as giving dogs straight meat or herbivores a variety of approved vegetables.

If a pet must have a specific type of food—or you can't get Passover-friendly pet food—some observant Jews follow the rabbinical authorities who give the to sell the pet to a gentile for a few days and then get it back after Passover has ended.8. There are six symbolic Passover foods. IStockIn the 1980s, Dartmouth professor Susannah Heschel spoke on a panel at Oberlin College. While there, she met some students who told a story of a rabbi who said 'There's as much room for a lesbian in Judaism as there is for a crust of bread on the seder plate.' In response, they started placing a crust on their plates.Heschel was inspired, but felt that using bread sent the wrong message, 'it renders everything chametz suggesting that being a lesbian is being transgressive, violating Judaism.' So she proposed putting an orange (originally a tangerine) on the Seder plate to symbolize Jewish gays and lesbians. At some point a story emerged that it was actually to symbolize women in general, but Heschel: 'A woman's words are attributed to a man, and the affirmation of lesbians and gay men is erased.

Isn't that precisely what's happened over the centuries to women's ideas?' Other more modern additions include (symbolizing mass incarceration), an (to recognize interfaith families), or or (to remember that there's still slavery around the world).10.

Some major companies produce special kosher-for-Passover food and beverages. Mike Mozart, //Many companies produce kosher-for-Passover products, from chocolate syrup to cake mixes.

But one of the most important is Coca-Cola. In the early 20th century Rabbi Tobias Geffen was serving as an Orthodox Rabbi in Atlanta. Due to his location (Coca-Cola was and is headquartered in Atlanta), he was frequently asked if Coca-Cola was kosher. After the product, he found two problem ingredients—alcohol and glycerin.The alcohol was a problem because it was grain-derived and thus unacceptable for Passover, a problem that was solved by switching to fermented molasses. The other problem, however, was glycerin. The glycerin was derived from animals, and there was simply no economic way to ensure the animals were kosher.

As Roger Horowitz explains in, there's an exemption in the rules for a tiny amount of an unacceptable ingredient—designed to cover mistakes—and Coca-Cola's glycerin content was dramatically below that level. Rabbi, however, believed that since the glycerin was deliberately added, it didn't qualify for this rule. Soon though, a new source of glycerin from cottonseed oil emerged, and Coca-Cola was approved for Passover.When Coca-Cola switched to high fructose corn syrup, however, that created a problem for Ashkenazi Jews. As such, today there's a special Coca-Cola that doesn't use HFCS and is certified kosher.11. Maxwell House coffee holds a special place at Passover.

Tom Lappin, //But the most influential company is likely. In the 1920s they decided to expand their presence to Jewish families—but there was a problem. Colloquially known as coffee 'beans,' there was a view that they were legumes, and as such forbidden to Ashkenazi Jews.

Soon Maxwell House convinced reluctant coffee drinkers that their product was acceptable and in 1932 the company began publishing the Maxwell House Haggadah (the Haggadah is the telling of the Exodus and how to perform a seder meal). In the years since, Maxwell House estimates that it has published 50 million Haggadahs, which were even the preferred text for the White House Seder.12. The world's largest Seder happens in a surprising location. PRAKASH MATHEMA, AFP/Getty ImagesGoing on for almost 30 years and hosting over 1000 people, the Kathmandu Seder was in 1989 by the Israeli ambassador to Nepal, who quickly realized that the demand was much higher than he was ready for. The ambassador contacted a rabbi friend who dispatched two rabbinical students to aid the preparations. The seder was a massive success—expecting 90 guests and hoping for 150, they ultimately had 500 guests.Nowadays, preparations for the seder start, with 1000 bottles of wine and over 1000 pounds of matzo getting shipped in from the United States and Israel.