What If Everything We Believe About The Krampus Is Wrong?

Hollywood says Krampus is an ancient Christmas demon with roots in pagan mythology — but there's no evidence any of that is true. The real story of how this monster came to be is stranger than any legend. #HolidayHorrorsIN THIS EPISODE: We’re all familiar with the poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” – better known as, “Twas The Night Before Christmas”. But while we know the poem, we can’t be quite as sure about who wrote it. (The Christmas Poem That Started a Feud) *** One of the great (and now, sadly, lapsed) Christmas traditions is the telling of ghost stories. On one particular year, a British teenager took this pastime to a whole other level. He didn't read about a Christmas Eve haunting. He experienced one. (The Phantom Choir of St. Albans) *** The past few years have made Krampus, the Christmas devil, a star of the big screen. But have you noticed that every version of him is different than the others? This may of course be in part to creative license, but it might have just as much if not more to do with the fact that none of the filmmakers had any idea of just what Krampus truly is, what he is all about, and how terrifying he can be. (Krampus, The Christmas Monster) *** Disaster strikes a small Illinois town on Christmas Eve, stripping away all that was merry and bright for the families who lived there. (The Christmas Eve Mine Disaster)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = A Monster Without a Past00:01:44.770 = Show Open00:03:40.217 =The Mine That Took Christmas From Moweaqua00:12:02.466 = *** Krampus: We’ve Been Wrong About This Christmas Monster00:30:16.273 = *** Did The Wrong Man GEt Credit for the Most Famous Christmas Poem?00:50:38.898 = *** A Visit From St. Nicholas (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas)00:53:48.557 = The Singing Ghosts of Saint Albans Abbey00:59:32.026 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Christmas Eve Mine Disaster” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p97f84v“The Christmas Poem That Started a Feud” by Henry Litchfield West for Victoriana Magazine:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/52y4uaan“Krampus, the Christmas Monster” by Garth Haslam for Monsters Here & There: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8r6ev4“The Phantom Choir of St. Albans” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycxyzk7p= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: December 09, 2021EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/KrampusABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#Krampus #ChristmasMonster #ChristmasHorror #AustrianFolklore #KrampusLegend #HolidayHorror #ChristmasDevil #Folklore #CreepyChristmas #WeirdDarkness