Krampus

Linocut print of the goat-like horned head of Krampus surrounded by a holly wreath with a square border.

Linocut on Awagami kitakata, edition of 50, 8 x 8 inches (20.32 x 20.32 cm)

Krampus is a goat-like creature with a long red tongue traditionally associated with St. Nicholas — however, this yuletide spirit predates the Christian era. The people of Europe's alpine regions had been marking the annual arrival of Krampus long before the concept of Christmas came along, and well before a certain former bishop of Turkey stole the spotlight. Traditionally, Krampus serves to punish naughty children by whipping them with switches or tossing them in icy rivers. Krampus is the “bad cop” to St. Nick's “good cop”.