Heart Starts Pounding: Christmas Horror Folklore – Krampus, Frau Perchta & The Other St. Nick

Episode 154 | December 2, 2025
Host: Kayla Moore

Main Theme & Purpose

In this chilling holiday special, Kayla Moore explores the ominous, original roots of some of our most beloved Christmas characters: the terrifying Christmas witch Frau Perchta, the unsettling miracles of St. Nicholas, and the demon Krampus. The episode uncovers how these dark figures from European folklore were woven into Christian traditions, shaping the Santa and holiday customs we know today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Frau Perchta: The Ancient Christmas Witch

Timestamps: [03:11] – [14:07]

• Origins:
  • Frau Perchta hails from southern Germanic folklore, predating St. Nicholas and Santa.
  • Unlike Santa, she’s violent and fearsome: known to cut open naughty children and eat their porridge from their bellies.
• Parental Folklore:
  • The legend was a parental tool to ensure children contributed to housework, crucial for survival in harsh winters.
  • Parents would leave porridge out for Perchta and inspect the remains for omens:
    • Spoon moved = bad luck next year
    • Spoon fallen in = death in the coming year
    • “If you heard Perchta slurping in the night, you knew your house was blessed.” (Kayla, [12:45])
• Wild Hunt & Trick-or-Treating:
  • The “Wild Hunt” led by Perchta: monstrous followers, terrifying consequences (vividly described through a story of a girl named Lina).
  • The custom of leaving food for Perchta is the origin of leaving cookies and milk for Santa.
  • Halloween and Christmas were once aligned in pagan culture; people would dress up as spirits and demand food—a precursor to trick-or-treating.

Memorable Quote:
“Before we had Santa Claus, we had a Christmas witch known as Frau Perchta. She would have made even Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm clutch their pearls in horror.” (Kayla Moore, [03:13])

2. St. Nicholas: The Grisly Origins of Santa

Timestamps: [16:27] – [24:27]

• Historical St. Nicholas:
  • Originally a Greek bishop—not a jolly old man.
  • Known for unsettling miracles:
    • Revives murdered, butchered children from a stew prepared by a sinister innkeeper ([17:52] – [21:57]).
    • Secretly saves three daughters from being sold by dropping gold down their chimney, inspiring the stocking tradition.
• Transformation by the Church:
  • Catholic missionaries used St. Nicholas to absorb local pagan traditions (like those of Perchta) into Christian lore.
  • Overtime, chilling elements (child mutilation, etc.) were sanitized or integrated as morality tales.

Notable Quote:
“Now, when you see a Christmas movie of Santa carrying a sack of presents down a chimney for children, you’ll know what he was actually doing all those years ago.” (Kayla Moore, [23:53])

3. Krampus: From Pagan Demon to St. Nick’s Enforcer

Timestamps: [27:09] – [36:48]

• Church’s Role in Demonizing Pagan Figures:
  • The spread of Christianity led to rebranding folk spirits as “evil” — Perchta and her minions became Krampuses (from “bright one” to “claw”).
  • Krampus originally referred to many creatures, later consolidated into a singular anti-Santa figure.
• Krampus Traditions:
  • Historically, groups of men enacted Krampus parades, “whipping” spectators and creating public fear.
  • Krampus worked with St. Nicholas:
    • Good kids received gifts, bad ones were threatened with being dragged to hell.
    • In home visits, children’s deeds are judged; Krampus attacks or rewards accordingly.
• Modern Revival:
  • Krampus runs still happen in Austria and have recently become popular globally due to internet virality.
  • The playful intimidation by Krampus ties communities to deep-rooted cultural identity.

Memorable Quotes:

• “The word Perchta literally translates to ‘bright one,’ and over time that word was changed to a different word—Krampus. Krampus means ‘claw’…” (Kayla Moore, [28:15])
• “But though Krampus might seem horrible to us, and some of these traditions seem to border on child abuse...they hark all the way back to the ancient identities of different European ethnic groups.” (Kayla Moore, [36:48])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Description | |-----------|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:13 | Kayla Moore | “Before we had Santa Claus, we had a Christmas witch known as Frau Perchta. She would have made even Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm clutch their pearls in horror.” | | 12:45 | Kayla Moore | “If you heard Perchta slurping in the night, you knew that your house was blessed.” | | 18:45 | Kayla Moore | (Describing the miracle of the reassembled children) “…the dismembered corpses were made whole, lowering to the floor…” | | 23:53 | Kayla Moore | “Now, when you see a Christmas movie of Santa carrying a sack of presents down a chimney for children, you’ll know what he was actually doing all those years ago.” | | 28:15 | Kayla Moore | “The word Perchta literally translates to ‘bright one,’ and over time that word was changed to a different word—Krampus.” | | 36:48 | Kayla Moore | “But though Krampus might seem horrible to us...they hark all the way back to the ancient identities of different European ethnic groups.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------|-------------------| | Introduction & Episode Theme | [01:01] – [03:11] | | Frau Perchta’s Folklore | [03:11] – [14:07] | | St. Nicholas’s Dark Miracles | [16:27] – [24:27] | | Transformation of Santa (History) | [24:28] – [27:09] | | Krampus: Origins & Traditions | [27:09] – [36:48] | | Modern Krampus & Cultural Meaning | [36:48] – [38:50] | | Closing Thoughts | [36:48] – [38:50] |

Tone & Style

Kayla Moore’s narration is vivid, engaging, and intentionally dark, recounting old tales as if they’re bedtime stories gone horribly wrong. Her delivery is warm and curious, often punctuated with playful asides, personal insights, and immersive, atmospheric details.

Summary

This episode is a fascinating deep dive into the forgotten horror at the heart of Christmas. Kayla weaves history, folklore, and vivid storytelling to re-examine the “merry” traditions we take for granted, revealing their genuinely spooky roots. For listeners interested in the intersection of folklore and holiday custom, it’s a holiday episode that both entertains and startles—reminding us that the spirit of Christmas once required not just good cheer, but genuine terror.