Krampus Creatures Parade On Saint Nicholas Day

SANKT JOHANN IM PONGAU, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 06: Men wearing horned, wooden masks and dressed as the Krampus creature participate in the annual Krampus parade on Saint Nicholas Day on December 6, 2017 in Sankt Johann im Pongau, Austria. Several hundred Krampus creatures from the region took part in this year's Sankt Johann parade. Krampus traditionally accompanies Saint Nicholas and angels in a house to house procession to reward children who have been good and warn those who have not, though in recent decades Krampus parades have become an intrinsic part of local folklore and take place throughout the end of November and into the first half of December in the alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Italy. Krampus usually wears large cowbells on his back that he rings by shaking his hips to ward off the evil spirits of winter. He also carries a switch made of branches or animal hair that he uses to whip bystanders. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)