The Krampus Kalendar: K is for KRAMPUS

In the twenty-first century, we have become so used to the idea of Santa bringing gifts to good little boys and girls on Christmas Eve it is easy to forget that not so long ago, bad little boys and girls were likewise punished.

In the wild heartlands of Europe such legends are not so easily forgotten, and so it is that in countries such as Austria and Hungary, on 5 December, communities remember Krampus, a demonic anti-Santa who accompanies St. Nicholas during the Christmas season, warning and punishing bad children.




In the Alpine regions, traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus and roam the streets, frightening children and women with rusty chains and clanging bells. In some rural areas the tradition goes so far as to include the birching of young girls!

Images of Krampus usually show him with a basket on his back, used to carry away bad children and dump them into the pits of Hell. The name Krampus itself originates from the Old High German word krampen, meaning ‘claw’.

So when the chubby, cheery fellow with the bulging sack of presents asks if you've been good or bad, you had better have been good, for goodness sake…

Krampus is the Big Bad of both the gamebook 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas and the roleplaying game 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, which is currently funding on Kickstarter.

   

To find out more about the festive season and its many traditions, order your copy of the Chrismologist's Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts today!

The book is also available in the United States as Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Christmas.

      

Gruss vom Krampus!

Today is 5th December, which means that this evening is Krampusnacht, the night when the Christmas Devil stalks the streets of Austrian and German mountain settlements, searching for naughty children to whip with his birch switch and carry away to hell in his wicker basket.

Krampusnacht feels more like Halloween than Christmas. To mark this occasion in the winter calendar, men dressed as Krampus drink alcohol, run through the streets, and frighten children. Often, they chase delinquent children around and actually hit them with sticks! The Krampus costume itself traditionally consists of a hand-carved wooden mask and a suit made from sheep or goat skin. Cowbells are worn around the wearer’s hips.

Of course, Krampus is the villain of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas (which is accepting reviews on Amazon now), but he is also the Big Bad of 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, which needs some love on Kickstarter right now.

Don't forget to pledge your support before midnight, to benefit from the Early Bird rewards on offer.

And it's not too late to send some Krampus Kards this Christmas. If you need some more, they can be purchased from the ACE Gamebooks Etsy shop here.

The Krampus Kalendar: A is for ADVENT Sunday

I was hoping that Day 1 of this year's Krampus Kalendar would be A is for Available from Amazon, but it looks like it's going to have to be A is for Alternative Arrangements. (The unavailability of
'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas on Amazon seems to be a problem at the book distributors end, which we're working hard to resolve.)

But fortunately, today happens to be Advent Sunday. The period of four weeks leading up to Christmas is called Advent, from the Latin 'adveneo' meaning ‘to come’. In this context it refers to the coming of Jesus, and so in the Christian Church has always been a time of preparation, in expectation of the Feast of the Nativity.

In many households the days left until Christmas are counted down with the aid of an Advent calendar. The first Advent calendars, as we would recognise them, were made in the middle of the nineteenth century. Even before that, however, German Lutherans were already marking off the days of Advent by some physical means. In some households this meant lighting a new candle each day or hanging up a religious image, but could be something as simple (and cost-free) as marking a line in chalk on the door of the house. If candles were used, they were mounted on a device called an Advent clock.

The first recognisable Advent calendar, however, didn’t appear until 1851, and even then it was a handmade creation. There is some debate as to when the first printed calendar appeared. Some say that it was produced in 1902 or 1903, in Hamburg, Germany; others claim that it did not appear until 1908, and that it was the creation of one Gerhard Lang, a printer from Munich. And although it might seem like a more recent addition, Advent calendars replete with chocolate treats have actually been around for at least half a century, and were certainly available by 1958.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas makes the perfect stocking filler, while 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas is currently funding on Kickstarter.

   

To find out more about the festive season and its many traditions, order your copy of the Chrismologist's Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts today!

The book is also available in the United States as Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Christmas.

      

'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas

'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas is now live on Kickstarter!

'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas is a rules-lite RPG, designed to be picked up and played with minimal preparation. It is inspired by the legends and literature of Christmas, as well as the ACE Gamebook 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

In 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, the players take on the role of various toys, brought to life by Santa Claus, so that they might save him from Krampus, the Christmas Devil, who has abducted the jolly old elf. What follows is an epic adventure, that will take them to the arctic wilderness of the North Pole and, eventually, into Santa's workshop itself.

Written by Jonathan Green, and illustrated by Tony Hough, 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas is ideal for a festive gaming session with an established group, or even as an alternative to the games usually played on Christmas Day.

And remember, if you back within the first week, you will receive a £5 Early Bird discount off the basic Print Book Code rewards.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas concludes on Kickstarter today!

Don't get left out in the cold! Today is your last chance to back 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas, written by Yours Truly and illustrated by my sometime partner-in-crime Tony Hough.

You have until 7:00pm GMT to place your pledge, so don't delay! Winter is already here!

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas

I bring you glad tidings of great joy! 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas has reached its funding goal on Kickstarter.

Of course, it's not too late to join the fun yourself, as there are still two weeks left to run and plenty of rewards on offer, including...

Scrooge and Marley (Deceased)

It's Christmas Eve, which is the perfect time to read a good, old-fashioned ghost story set in Old London Town...

"Before I begin my story, it must be distinctly understood that Marley was dead – to begin with – just as he had been the previous Christmas Eve, and the seven Christmas Eves before that. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail."

Scrooge and Marley (Deceased): The Haunted Man is available now from Green Man Books.

Scrooge and Marley (Deceased)

If you're a fan of my Pax Britannia books, then you'll love Scrooge and Marley (Deceased).

Coming Soon...

Holy Night, Hipster Night

Yes, this is actually a thing. And not a spoof but a thing you can buy - for $129.99!

If you want to find out more about the Hipster Nativity Set - which today’s Millennials can relate to with its man-bunned Joseph taking a selfie and Starbucks-toting Mary - then click this link.

It's August so Happy Christmas!

On Monday, Selfridges, in London, revealed their ‘summer Christmas shop’ – and it’s covered in festive cheer.

Almost the entirety of the Oxford Street store’s forth floor has been transformed into a ‘Shine on’ winter wonderland with 50,000 decorations on display.

The eager store has claimed that the 2016 opening is the world’s earliest, and it will be further expanded in autumn.

To read more about this story, click this link.

Christmas Explained, from A(dvent) to Z(oophagous)

It's 1st December again, the night's have drawn in, there's a distinct chill in the air, and what better way is there to prepare yourself for the coming of Christmas than to dip into Christmas Explained - Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts every day in Advent.

You'll discover all sorts of fascinating Yuletide facts, including the origins of the Advent calendar, the origins of Yule, and the origins of the traditional family pantomime.

Christmas Explained is available now from Snowbooks (appropriately enough) and via Amazon.

Oh, and if you'll able to (and up early enough), why not tune in to BBC Radio Wiltshire this morning between 8.00am and 8.30am, when I will be making an 'appearance' on Ben Prater's show?

Happy St Andrew's Day from Scottish Miscellany!

Seeing as how it's St Andrew's Day - hello to all my Scottish fans - I thought it worth reminding you that I wrote a book about all things Scottish, once upon a time.

And do you know what's really good about this book? My Scottish Miscellany is now in a new edition - and yes, you did read that right, it does say that I'm the best-selling author of Skyhorse Publishing's Christmas Miscellany. Speaking of which, it's 1st December tomorrow...

Krampus is coming...

4th December 2015

A late Christmas present...

For everyone!

Now I know Krampusnacht was celebrated back on the 5th December and the Feast of Saint Nicholas was on the 6th December, but Family Green are away in the snowy Austrian Tyrol at the moment, and in a fit of seasonal generosity, inspired by the inspiring surroundings, I am giving away a story I wrote back in 2012.

You can download a pdf of Claws here.

If you enjoy Claws, and you like you future police enforcement Mega-City One-flavoured, then chances are you will also enjoy my latest seasonal Judge Dredd offering, You'd Better Be Good, For Goodness' Sake.

And of course you can find out all about the Krampus in my Christmas book Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts.

Christmas Explained

Ever wondered why robins are so connected to Christmas, what the significance the gifts of the three kings are in the Nativity story, or why you are forced to eat Brussel sprouts with your Christmas dinner? If so, then Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts is the book for you this Christmas.

Christmas Explained also answers these timeless Christmas questions...

Why do people put up Christmas decorations?
Where does the Christmas wreath come from?
Why are mince pies eaten at Christmas time?
Why are carols sung at Christmas time?
When was there a Frost Fair on the River Thames?
Why are reindeer so associated with Christmas?
Why is fish eaten on Christmas Eve?
What was the first Noël?
What have holly and ivy got to do with Christmas?
What is a Christingle?
Who made the first Christmas cracker?
Why do people go to pantomimes during the Christmas season?
What is wassailing?
Who was Good King Wenceslas?
When, and why, was Christmas cancelled?
When did war stop for Christmas?
Why do people build snowmen?

I was actually on BBC Radio Wiltshire this morning, fulfilling the role of their Mr Christmas, helped presenter Simeon Courtie get to the bottom of such festive practices as Christmas pudding, kissing under the mistletoe, and Boxing Day. You can listen to the segment using BBC Radio Wiltshire's listen again service here. (You want to start at 31 minutes in.)

Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts

Available now from Snowbooks (appropriately enough) Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts is the perfect stocking filler for anyone remotely interested in how the Christmas we celebrate today came to be.

Why do we send cards at Christmas time?
When was there a Frost Fair on the River Thames?
Who is the real Father Christmas?
Why do people build snowmen?

All of these questions, and more, are answered within the pages of Christmas Explained. The book also features an A to Z of Christmas. So don't delay, pick up your perfect Christmas present today!

Coming Soon - Christmas Explained (a.k.a. What is Myrrh Anyway? v2.0)

Coming to a Christmas stocking near you soon from Snowbooks* is Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts.

Some readers of this blog may already have What is Myrrh Anyway? in their collection of Christmas books (published in 2008 by Icon Books), Well Christmas Explained is the brand new hardback edition of the book (and actually has the word 'Christmas' in the title).

If you have already read What is Myrrh Anyway? then you'll know that the book's a great read - "As welcome as a warm glass of mulled wine on a wintry night," according to the Good Book Guide - but you will also be thinking, "Why do I need to buy it again?"**

And to you I would say, "Because the text has been completely revised and updated, and at least another 10,000 words of content added. That's why."

So if you want to know where tinsel comes from, or when a frost fair was held actually on the surface of the River Thames, or if you've ever wondered why we build snowmen at Christmas***, then add Christmas Explained to your wish list this festive season.


* Rather appropriately.

** Unless you're buying it as a suitably festive gift for someone else.

*** If it actually snows.

Christmas Jumper Day

Just in case you didn't know already, Friday 13 December 2013 is Christmas Jumper Day, an initiation intended to raise money and awareness for the work of the Save the Children charity.

To find out more about Christmas Jumper Day, click this link.

Never mind Christmas in July. How about Christmas in August?

What are you doing on this sunny summer's afternoon? Relaxing in the garden? Enjoying a cold pint in your local's beer garden? Putting up your Christmas tree almost four months early?

You may laugh, but that's exactly what's happening in Kingston-upon-Thames today (28 August!). And here's the proof...

"Happy Christmas!" from Cadbury

The US owners of Cadbury have been criticised for scrapping the annual Christmas gift boxes they used to send to thousands of retired staff, in order to cut costs. Mondelez International, which has taken over the brand, has written to retired workers telling them the festive offerings are being axed to help plug a £320m pensions deficit. Cadbury previously sent out 14,000 parcels each Christmas, containing chocolate and sweets for former staff. It is thought to be saving about £210,000 annually by abandoning the tradition.

However, in April it was revealed that Irene Rosenfeld, the Mondelez chief executive behind the takeover of Cadbury, had been awarded a 31.5% pay rise increasing her pay package from £14.4m to £18.9m.

To read more about this story, click this link.