Whitby is a delightful seaside town which a considerable amount of history but it lacks any calendar customs compared to nearby Scarborough and so the arrival of the Krampus run is to be considerably welcome even though it makes no sense whatsoever to have it in the town let alone Britain being a custom restricted central Europe Austria, Croatia and Slovenia but no worries because in a strange way it fits in well with Whitby’s burgeoning Gothic (and Goth) Steampunk scene. For those unaware the Krampus, is a demon who accompanies St Nicholas when he visits the houses of children on the 5th December. Whilst St Nicholas gives out gifts to the good children, the Krampus punishes the naughty often collecting into a bag carried on its back.
Despite the first Whitby Krampus Run being 2015 it has now firmly established itself. For the 9th run the BBC reported in the 2023 article by Julie Bryson Whitby Krampus Run: Festive folklore marked in Yorkshire town reported that:
“Mr Mitchell said the idea for the event was sparked by a holiday souvenir. In 2003, we went to the Czech Republic and picked up this wooden figure who we didn’t know much about,” he said. “We did our research and thought – this will be fun! And it’s grown into what it is today.” He said the Krampus parades which take place in Austrian villages can be wilder than the one they have created, with Krampus often seen running into crowds and whipping them…..We have had to tailor it for our audience.”
As such the article continues to describe the run
“Organiser Laurence Mitchell said: “About 50 people joined Whitby Krampus Run in the North Yorkshire town…Some were dressed as Krampus, in full “fells outfits” including wooden masks – and others were dressed as animals such as foxes or reindeer….Speaking ahead of the popular event, Mr Mitchell said: “We have reindeer heads on sticks, and an old dog cart that’s pulled up the hill that has music and speakers on. We also have drummers and fire performers, who will all stop along the way to perform for the crowds.”
Mr Mitchell said the event is designed to bring together European and local traditions, and those taking part will be experience a “salt blessing” where they will be showered in Whitby Sea Salt. Others carry a model of the Whitby Wyrm, a dragon-like creature which legend has it used to live on the headland by Whitby Abbey. Events also include a snowball fight, with fake snowballs, and a stand-off between a fox and the parade’s drummers, the Krampus Krumpettes.”
The costumes are absolutely incredible and it is evident this is no DIY pastiche which the impressive masks being scary and realistic. Much of the morning is spent with small groups of Krampuses (Krampi?) processing and posing for photographs around the narrow streets of the town to the delight and fear of the people and children going about their day.
Then in the afternoon all the Krampuses assembly at the band stand at the harbour side of the town to make their procession or run around the town. The costumes glistened in the bright December light with children being equally delighted and scared worrying they would end up in a krampus bag. The light begins to fail the Krampus become even scarier and as night has fallen accompanied with eerie Germanic techno music they reach the cliffs overlooking the bay and start to dance, swirling around and scaring the audience.
In search of traditional customs and ceremonies 