Krampus in Sterzing/Vipiteno - stock photo

Sterzing/Vipiteno, South Tyrol, Italy - December 5, 2012: Scary devil at „Tuifltog“ (Devils night or Krampus Night) in the streets of Sterzing (ital. Vipiteno), South Tyrol. As in many parts of Tyrol in Austria, southern Bavaria and South Tyrol, the day before the Feast of St. Nicolas, Saint Nicholas appears in devilish companion named Krampus on the streets. While Saint Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus – a beast-like creature – in contrary, punishes naughty, bad-behaved children. During a spectacular parade at night, costumed devils appear in the streets of Sterzing, terrifying child and adult alike -- yelling, roaring, whipping with birch brooms and carrying bad behaving people away in cages. The traditional "Nikolaus- and Krampusumzug" (St. Nicolas and Krampus Night) takes place in the beautiful town of Sterzing, South Tyrol every year on December 5.