5. Krampusnacht
Krampus, the horned creature from Central European folklore, predates Santa Claus and punishes misbehaving children. Stories of Krampusnacht feature terrifying visits on December 5th, contrasting sharply with the jolly figure of St. Nicholas. The tradition sheds light on the dual nature of holiday folklore—reward and retribution. Read about Krampus at Smithsonian.
