Most children are excited about the arrival of Santa, the jolly old fellow in the furry red suit who travels around the world on Christmas night bringing gifts to all the children who have been nice and leaving switches and coal for all the children who have been naughty.

In fact, the modern American concept of Jolly old St, Nick, or Santa Claus is an amalgamation that has its roots in Old Germanic paganism.

Christmas is loaded with Germanic and northern European traditions, some of which, in different forms predate Christianity's arrival in northern Europe. The use of Evergreen trees, Yule logs and hanging mistletoe are a few of these traditions.  Mistletoe was once known for killing "Baldr", the Norse god of light and beauty. Of course today, we use it as an excuse to steal a kiss. Thank goodness things do change.

In some parts of the world, there is another character that accompanies Santa Claus. According to ancient myths originating in Germany and Austria, the job of Santa Claus used to be divided between two beings representing the ying and yang of the winter season, the end of the year and re-birth of the New Year.

In the pre-Christian Alpine traditions, Santa had a companion with him on his yearly visits called Krampus.

Krampus, a mythical creature who accompanies jolly old Santa and acts as his henchman. Instead of giving gifts to good children, Krampus' bestows punishment, beatings, and the like to children who misbehave.

According to custom, he hitches a ride on Santa's sleigh to bring along some seriously bad tidings. While Santa is handing out toys and candies to all the good little tots, Krampus' delivers the bad news to children who are naughty.

The word "Krampus" originates from the German word for claw (Krampen). In the Alpine regions, Krampus is represented by a goat-like demon creature with horns' and wooly fur, covered with soot from hells brimstone.

Today, young men in the Alpine region, dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December, particularly on the evening of December 5th, and roam the streets frightening children and women with rusty chains and bells.

These Krampus' also carry birch switches, which they use for delivering beatings. They particularly like to beat young girls with these switches.

Krampus carries a satchel, but instead of filling it with presents, he stuffs it with children who have been particularly bratty, before tossing them into rivers, wells and the pits of Hell. Some Holley Jolly Christmas indeed!

In some traditions, Krampus was said to make children perform a song or a dance. Those who failed to impress, well, their fate was sealed.

"Get in the bag!"  Yikes!

By the 1800s, church leaders had marginalized Krampus, melding the idea of kindly old St. Nicholas with some of the trapping of Krampus. St. Nick became Santa Claus

(Krampus=claws=Claus) He has gifts for good children and switches and coal to bad children.

The fur of Krampus is transformed to trim on Santa's suit.

By the time German Christmas traditions made their way to England, and later America, Krampus was no longer a part of the holiday. Christmas celebrations as we know them today, started in the 1800's following Queen Victoria's marriage to the German-born Prince Albert.

By the time Charles Dickens published "A Christmas Carol" in 1843, Christmas looked much like it does now, with no Krampus in sight.

That, however, has started to change in Europe and around the world. In the Austrian state of Salzburg has more than 180 Krampus clubs devoted to celebrating the long-lost Christmas figure. Most have cropped up just in the past 20 years.

Today, every December 5th, club members recreate the traditional Krampus celebration. They dress in ghoulish Krampus costumes and head out for a night of carousing, similar to how some adults currently celebrate Halloween.

Here in America, Krampus is not that well known. These days, with the Christmas season starting even before Thanksgiving, perhaps we should make room for one more Christmas guest at the table.

You don't want to end up on Krampus' list, now do you? Here's a song about Krampus:

'Zat you, Santa Claus?

Gifts I'm preparin'

For some Christmas sharin'

But I pause because

Hangin' my stockin'

I can hear a knockin'

'Zat you, Santa Claus

Sure is dark out

Not the slighest spark out

Pardon my clackin' jaws

Uh, who there

Who is it

Uh, stoppin' for a visit

'Zat you, Santa Claus

Are you bringin' a present for me

Something pleasantly pleasant for me

That's what I've been waitin' for

Would you mind slippin' it under the door

Four winds are howlin'

Or maybe that be growlin'

My legs feel like straws

Oh my, my, me, my

Kindly would you reply

'Zat you, Santa Claus

Yeah

Oh hangin' my stockin'

I can hear a knockin'

'Zat you, Santa Claus

Yeah, say now

Hey there, who is it

Stoppin' for a visit

'Zat you, Santa Claus

Whoa there Santa you gave me a scare

Now stop teasin' 'cause I know you're there

We don't believe in no goblins today

But I can't explain why I'm shakin' this way

Well I see old Santa in the keyhole

I'll give to the cause

One peek and I'll try there

Uh-oh there's an eye there

'Zat you, Santa Claus

Please, please

I pity my knees

Say that's you Santa Claus

That's him alright