Satan School: Lesson 1

I am taking a class on Iconography in the Christian Church in my God School. For those of you who do not know what Iconography is, it is bascially using symbols or icons to represent things that we cannot see or associating symbols with people in art. For my 10 page research paper I have chosen the subject of Satan and demons in ancient and modern pop culture. Yesterday I went to the library and checked all kinds of books on His Evilness (they have already left a sulfur burn on my desk), and over the course of the next couple of months i will be posting some little known facts about demons, devils, and the like.

Lesson 1: Gruss vom Krampus.

In nineteenth century Germany legend has it that children who were good would receive gifts and treats on Saint Nikolaus Day, a holiday in December. They would put out a boot the night before and if there were pure of heart St. Nikolaus would put goodies in it but if they were bad he would put switches in their boots for their parents to beat them with. Germany is a tough country. Kids that were really bad would be paid a visit by the Krampus. The Krampus is St. Nikolaus's dark hairy servant and has pointed ears, horns, and a long slithering tongue. He would spank kids, beat others, and the really bad ones would be shackled, locked in a basket, and thrown into the fires of Hell.

Imagine if Santa Claus had an evil servant who beat children. Damn.

So the next time you are tucking your kids in on Christmas Eve, or any night for that matter, make sure to tell them that they better cut the shit or the Krampus will get them.