My Croatian friend told of her childhood terror of Krampus and even now, she couldn't shake it. The video triggering long ago emotions.
Fast forward, I saw this post, about learning to dance with your demons, it made me laugh as it seemed so cheery and fun because of the song. I sent it to her saying 'Maybe your childhood Krampus just had the wrong soundtrack."
So the life lesson is, if things are getting you down, just change the tune...
(For the record, that kid is a much better dancer than me. I'm quite envious at how cool they are. And that clip makes me smile without fail every time I watch it!)
The picture was taken in Finland. The closest I've been to Krampus.
A little post on being happy for #TrafficJamReboot #TheRandom #HappyNow and #HappyTuesday (And because being in Finland, in Santa's Village was a very happy time for me - one of the best family holidays we ever had as the photos show.) #SeniorSalonPitstop
I've never really thought about Krampus, it's not really a belief here, think the most I've seen of it has been in horror movies.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I know I live under a rock but I am not very familiar (at all) with Krampus. But I have a very similar reaction to gargoyles as your friend's reaction to Krampus. I like the idea that a big of music - the right music - can make all the difference in how we view things. I know music can help me shake a really crummy mood.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating that you’ve discovered Krampus! 👹 Here in Austria, we grow up with both Nikolaus and Krampus – one bringing gifts for the good kids, the other supposedly punishing the naughty ones.
ReplyDeleteSince I was mostly well-behaved, I wasn’t too scared, but a little shiver of dread always came with the season…
In my teens, we spent many winters in a caravan at a ski resort in Lower Austria, where the local farm boys worked as ski lift attendants. They called me a "Wildsau" (wild sow 😄) – which was actually a compliment, because I skied fast and wore a helmet (rare back then!).
At the annual Krampus night at the campground tavern, the same lads dressed up as Krampuses. When one of them jokingly came at me with his Rute (a bundle of sticks), I dove under a table and kicked his shin – only to hear him laughing about it the next day. That’s when I realized which "monster" it was – and from then on, I wasn’t afraid at all!
You’re right – the soundtrack really makes a difference. But in this case, I feel the drumming amplifies the atmosphere even more. Traditionally, Krampus processions – with all their loud drums, cowbells, and rattling chains – were meant to drive out the demons of winter and darkness. So dancing with them sounds like a bold and empowering twist! 💃
Warm greetings from Austria,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2025/06/der-rest-vom-mai-und-u30blogger.html
And you would definitely have danced with them! I keep telling people about dancing to music you don't like because you're 'starved for dancing'. It's catching on here!
DeleteChanging the tune is a good thing. A fun post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday, Lydia. ♥
I'm from Southwest Germany and while I always knew about Krampus, it's not a tradition we have here, so I was never afraid.
ReplyDeleteWe have another story here, the so-called Nachtkrabb (different spellings, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachtkrapp) which some children were really afraid of. I admit I can't imagine anything but a haunting music with it which probably wouldn't have made it any better for those children.
But you are totally right of course, just see what film music can do. Play the same scene with different tunes and the mood changes completely!