Since time immemorial, in the heart of the Tarvisio valleys, and in neighboring regions such as Carinthia, Bavaria, Alto Adige and Slovenia, a unique and fascinating festival has been celebrated.
Dressed as a bishop, on the evening of December 5th, Saint Nicholas goes through the houses, flanked by the scary Krampus, praising the good children and admonishing the naughty ones.
It all begins with the interrogation of the children by San Nicolò. With his thick white beard, he evaluates who has behaved well during the year. To virtuous children, give sweets; to those who have disappointed, a bad reproach and coal.
Saint Nicholas is often assisted by angels, but he also has to calm the wrath of the Krampus, wild and furious creatures. They burst in amidst shouts and screams, starting a frantic race through the streets.
In the snowy context, the kids challenge Krampus with snowballs and firecrackers, creating an atmosphere of fear and fun. Tradition has it that the next morning, when the children wake up, they find on their windowsill the plates placed the night before, full of dried fruit such as figs, walnuts, pistachios and carobs.
Krampus and San Nicolò come from far away, they bring with them a celebration that has its roots in the history of Tarvisio and its valleys, there is an intertwining of Christian mythology and ancient legends.
Krampus are mysterious goat-men, sometimes half-devils, dressed in goat or sheep skins or with old and worn clothes, they have sharp claws, rough fur, a long beard, sharp teeth and a sorghum broom or branches with who spank the village rascals. They perform somersaults and chases, fake fights and whippings. Often rough and unpredictable, they can target a child and make him kneel down to make him regret the pranks he has committed... only to then offer him a sweet immediately afterwards to console him for his fear.
The Tarvisian valleys preserve signs of devils, fauns, saints and bishops. The mix of popular traditions, tales, sacred and pagan stories and fables finds fertile ground in a mountain and border area like the Tarvisio area. The festival enchants and testifies to the richness of a culture rooted in the Alpine valleys.
