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Krampus Run around the Munich Christmas Market

December 10th, Munich. About 300 masked beings frighten passers by during the big traditional run of the Krampusses around the Munich Christmas Market. The 500-year-long tradition of the Krampus Run dates back to Christian folklore and the stories of the Bishop Nicholas and his companion, the Krampus. The run takes place at Munich Christmas Market and features members of Munich’s first ever Krampus group (the Sparifankerl Pass) dressed up in traditional costumes to surprise visitors. These figures date back to pagan celebrations of December 22, the longest night of the year, that were later adopted for Christmas. Together, the Krampus like figures and the bishop St. Nicholas, a more austere version of the American Santa Claus, held a kind of judgment day for children, where the punishments for being naughty were much more severe than a lump of coal. (Photo by Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#2370147
Date Taken	10 December 2017
Location	N/A
Photographer	Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto

Advent Bavaria Bavarian Burghausen Christmas Christmas decoration Christmas market Christmas tree German Christmas Germany Isar Krampus Marienplatz Mulled wine Munchen Munich Neues Rathaus St. Nicholas afraid attraction celebration cold frighten lights mask music pagan passers popular punishments river scary show snow snowing streets tourism tourist attraction town hall tradition traditional tree visitors white winter