Here's Everything You Didn't Already Know About Krampus, The Demon Claus
Austro-Bavarian culture, it's said that Saint Nicholas brings gifts to every household. That's how it goes in almost every country's take on Christmas.
Krampus looks somewhat similar to the devil, since he has the horns and cloven hooves of a goat. He is also known to carry a switch to beat naughty children with, and a basket to carry them to Hell if need be.
Historians believe that Krampus' origins can be found in the pre-Christian religions of the Alpine area. The Horned God was a popular pagan deity that was worshipped by witches.
After the Austrian Civil War, the fascist Dollfuss regime banned all celebration of the Krampus tradition, since he was seen as a Satanic figure.
But around the late 1990s and early 2000s, Krampus returned. Every year, there are several Krampus parades in Austria.