Happy Krampusnacht to all our readers who celebrate it!
As a Mexican and a former Catholic, I’m fascinated by the concept of the Krampus, a demon-like entity that got squeezed into the Nativity rituals—just like many other folkloric elements we take for granted—that is a sort of uber-zealous Santa’s helper, in charge of punishing all the naughty kids who misbehaved and didn’t obey their parents—for when putting a lump of coal inside your stocking just won’t do!
It also makes me think of how in ancient traditions, the devil wasn’t perceived as a rebel angel in battle with God. ‘Satan’ comes from the Arabic word ‘Shaitan’ which means accuser, because that was his job: to act as a sort of Cosmic District Attorney charged with prosecuting souls for all the transgressions they’d committed. I’ve always loved to upset my family by quoting the Book of Job, in which Satan is shown walking freely into Heaven before waging a bet with God over the fate of poor old Job, who never made any wrongdoings and yet he was put through literal Hell on Earth, just so God could prove the Devil wrong!
But let’s leave the theological discussions for some other time. Hope you are all cozy, enjoying a beverage and the rest of your Sunday 🙂
