Greetings from St. Nicholas and Krampus
Mystical figures. Shrill bells. Scary larvae. As early as the 17th century, groups consisting of St. Nicholas and his terrifying companions went from house to house to reward the good children and admonish the naughty ones. This time around December 5 was then, and still is today, often a source of thrills and heart palpitations for the little ones. In many places in the region, impressive Krampus runs, such as the one in Schladming, are part of the Advent tradition.
In this blog post, you can find out the story behind the Öblarn Krampus play and which characters, among others, appear in this Styrian folk play:
History & Tradition
The origins of the Öblarn Krampus play date back to 1816. It is known from the first written records that a St. Nicholas play was performed in honor of Archduke Johann during a visit to Gstatt Castle. In order to get closer to the original play step by step, a start was made in the 1980s on recording all existing text excerpts and documenting the roles in discussions with long-standing players. Rods and whips are not used in the Öblarn Krampus play.
The church square in Öblarn provides an impressive backdrop for this traditional play, not only during the "Öblarn festival season" in summer, but also at Christmas time. It is one of the last Styrian folk plays and was awarded UNESCO cultural heritage status in 2014.
Figures & costumes
The game opens with an argument between "Summer" and "Winter" about supremacy on Earth. These two figures are among the first documented characters. Gradually, other figures appear that you will only see during the game in Öblarn. The so-called "Schab", straw-wrapped figures with huge horns, for example, symbolize the spirits of the cornfield. Impressive costumes made of moss and lichen are worn by the "forest and mountain spirits", who chase away the darkness with roars.
The "Habergeis", who likes to steal the hood of one or two visitors, provides amusement for the audience. You should also watch out for the "blacksmith". Before you know it, you'll be nailed to the bench by him. Even today, he still likes to leave sooty greetings in the audience.
The Krampus larvae are painstakingly carved by hand from wood and decorated with goat or cow horns. Most of them come directly from Öblarn and are often made by the bearers themselves. Death" shows people that he is their constant companion and announces disaster. St. Nicholas" appears as a savior. He turns everything around and banishes the ghosts for another year. The play ends with the appearance of the "Storm".
