Alpine Nightmare: Krampus
Nightmare or Alpine Tradition?
Alpine Nightmare: Krampus

Krampus in Naturns

Between Fun and Fright

With villages throughout South Tyrol bracing themselves for the annual Krampus invasion, it feels like a set of a horror movie. Interestingly, this age-old custom is currently seeing a revival in popularity.

Before sweeping into the villages, the tension on the streets on the night of 5th December is palpable, any little sound rattling the nerves. This event is also commemorated in Naturns/Naturno, when hordes of terrifying ‘devils’ descend on the village. With cattle horns mounted on their heads, their faces covered in grimacing animal masks, the shaggy-cloaked Krampus menacingly rattle chains and clang cowbells as they sweep through the streets chasing terrified youngsters. Those unfortunate enough to find themselves on the streets at that time flee home along the backstreets. Only the Tuifeltratzer (or ‘devil-baiters’ – brazen young males) dare to confront the Krampus. The taunting goes on for a while, and the outcome depends on whether the youthful challenger is able to outrun the “devil”. Most often it ends with a sooty face and a few bruises here and there.

Drawn from old Alpine folklore, the Krampus are demonic figures that precede the arrival of St. Nicholas during the Advent season. While St. Nicholas rewards good children, the Krampus (also known as Tuifl), are there to punish those that misbehave. Although this old tradition has acquired religious overtones, the old custom probably originated in pre-Christian times, representing the purging of the harsh Alpine winters.
The Krampus punishes misbehaving children.
While not as widespread, the Krampus tradition has been gaining in popularity, and is now more popular than ever in the Alpine regions. Following the re-formation in 2006, the Krampus Association in Naturns currently numbers 70 members. But even joining the club comes at a significant cost, with costumes that can cost up to € 2000.

Krampus are usually men dressed up in shaggy outfits, their faces covered by scary masks. While it used to be the preserve of single males, nowadays women may also be a Krampus. During the world wars of the 20th Century, when most of the menfolk were away, women not only kept the farms going, but also donned the Krampus costumes – without any fuss being made!
Being a Krampus is expensive: the cost of a costume with fur and mask can amount to several thousand euros.
Even though Krampus night might sometimes still get a little out of hand, Krampus devils nowadays are more constrained in what they can get up to. While the old Krampus runs were a bit of a free for all, and one didn’t quite know who had just doled out a beating, the event has been toned down considerably. Supported by local municipal authorities, this old custom has evolved into a folk spectacle, and is subject to strict rules. The anonymity of the Krampus is also something of the past. Nowadays, each ‘devil’ has to wear an ID number, allowing traceability in the event of malpractice.

Watching the event unfold from a safe distance, those erstwhile scary nights seem just a distant childhood memory, when the unbridled Krampus rampaged through Naturns. With groups of young boys confronting the Krampus before fleeing, this one-time scary event can be experienced as a bonding rite of passage.
Follow us on Social Media
Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno Yesterday
Naturns  I  Naturno

‼️Achtung wichtiger Hinweis für Nacht der Lichter:
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝟮𝟲𝟭, 𝟮𝟲𝟰 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟲𝟲
Während „Nacht der Lichter“, am 9., 16., 23. und 30. Juli, ist das Zentrum von Naturns aus Sicherheitsgründen zwischen 14 und 23 Uhr für den Verkehr gesperrt. Die Haltestellen Lahnplatz, Rathaus und Seilbahn Unterstell werden nicht bedient.

Ersatzhaltestelle ist „Haus Juval“.

𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗵𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝟮𝟱𝟬: Aufgrund der Veranstaltung "Nacht der Lichter" werden die Abendfahrten des Ersatzverkehrs B250 am 9., 16., 23. und 30. Juli in Naturns umgeleitet.

Die Haltestellen "Naturns, Rathaus" und "Naturns, Seilbahn Unterstell" werden vom Ersatzverkehr nicht bedient. Als Ersatzhaltestelle wird in Naturns nur die Haltestelle "Haus Juval" bedient.

------

‼️ Attenzione – Importante avviso per la "Notte delle Luci":
𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲 𝟮𝟲𝟭, 𝟮𝟲𝟰 e 𝟮𝟲𝟲
Durante la manifestazione „Notte delle Luci“, nei giorni 9, 16, 23 e 30 luglio, il centro di Naturno sarà chiuso al traffico per motivi di sicurezza dalle ore 14:00 alle ore 23:00. Le fermate Lahnplatz, Municipio e Funivia Unterstell non verranno servite.

La fermata sostitutiva sarà "Haus Juval".

𝗖𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝗕𝟮𝟱𝟬: A causa della manifestazione "Notte delle Luci", nei giorni 9, 16, 23 e 30 luglio le corse serali del servizio sostitutivo B250 verranno deviate a Naturno.

Le fermate "Naturno, Municipio" e "Naturno, Funivia Unterstell" non verranno servite. Come fermata sostitutiva verrà servita unicamente la fermata "Haus Juval".

0
Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno Yesterday
Naturns  I  Naturno

Unser heutiger Wandertipp:
🏔𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘇𝘂𝗺 𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘀

Von der Bergstation der Seilbahn Texelbahn🚡, geht es zuerst auf dem Weg Nr. 2 hinauf Richtung Zielspitz. Nach einem guten Stück zweigt der Steig Nr. 25A links ab, welcher hinauf zum Orenknott führt.☀ Der Abstieg erfolgt über den Weg Nr. 25 Richtung Hochforch. Von da aus geht es über den Weg Nr. 24 (Meraner Höhenweg) zurück zur Bergstation Texelbahn.🥰

⏰Dauer: ca. 4 Stunden (hin- und retour)
📈Höhenmeter: 955 hm
Höchster Punkt: 2.258 m

📸: Tourismusgenossenschaft Naturns_Michi Nischler

-------

Il nostro consiglio escursionistico di oggi:
🏔 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹’𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

Dalla stazione a monte della funivia Texelbahn 🚡 si segue inizialmente il sentiero n. 2 in direzione della Cima Ziel. Dopo un buon tratto, il sentiero n. 25A si dirama a sinistra e conduce fino all’Orenknott. ☀ La discesa avviene lungo il sentiero n. 25 in direzione Hochforch. Da lì si prosegue lungo il sentiero n. 24 (Alta Via di Merano) fino alla stazione a monte della funivia Texel. 🥰

⏰ Durata: ca. 4 ore (andata e ritorno)
📈 Dislivello: 955 m
Punto più alto: 2.258 m

📸: Associazione Turistica Naturno_Michi Nischler

3
naturns_naturno naturns_naturno 4 days ago
naturns_naturno

🌟Only a few days to go!🌟
This Wednesday it's finally time again: "Night of Lights" is back in Naturns!✨

Look forward to delicious culinary delights🍴, live music from various bands, bungee trampoline, a handcrafted goods market on the town hall square, late-night shopping until 10:00 PM, and much more! ❤

📍 Location: Naturns town center
🕖 Start: 6:00 PM
📅 Every Wednesday in July (9, 16, 23 and 30.07.2025)

📸: Naturno Tourist Association_Fotostudio2000

#naturns #naturno #nightofthelights #summerday #culinary #livemusic #southtyrol #südtirol #nachtderlichter #kulinarik #livemusik #kinderprogramm #altoadige #estate #nottedelleluci #culinaria #musicadalvivo #altoadigedascoprire #altoadigedavivere

0
Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno 5 days ago
Naturns  I  Naturno

🌟Nur noch wenige Tage!🌟
Am Mittwoch ist es endlich wieder so weit: Nacht der Lichter in Naturns ist zurück!✨

Euch erwartet Kulinarik vom Feinsten🍴, Live-Musik🎼 verschiedener Bands, Bungee Trampolin, ein Manufaktur Handwerksmarkt auf dem Rathausplatz von Naturns, 🛍Shopping bis 22:00 Uhr und vieles mehr!❤

📍 Ort: Naturns Zentrum
🕖 Beginn: 18:00 Uhr
📅 Jeden Mittwoch im Juli (09.07., 16.07., 23.07 und 30.07.2025)

📸: Tourismusgenossenschaft Naturns_Fotostudio2000

------

🌟Mancano solo pochi giorni!🌟
Mercoledì è finalmente di nuovo il momento: la "Notte delle Luci" torna a Naturno!✨

Vi aspettano delizie culinarie🍴, musica dal vivo con diverse band🎼, bungee trampolino, mercato artigianale sulla piazza del municipio di Naturno, 🛍shopping fino alle ore 22:00 e tanto altro!❤

📍 Luogo: Centro di Naturno
🕖 Inizio: ore 18:00
📅 Ogni mercoledì di luglio (09.07, 16.07, 23.07 e 30.07.2025)

📸: Associazione Turistica Naturno_Fotostudio2000

1
naturns_naturno naturns_naturno 6 days ago
naturns_naturno

🥾 Themed Trail in Tabland: Discover Nature and Culture❤

This circular hike in Tabland offers a varied discovery tour through nature and local culture. Along the route, 15 themed stations accompany you from the village center out into the surrounding forest landscape.🌿

The starting point for this scenic and diverse trail is the village square next to the elementary school in Tabland. From there, follow the road briefly downhill past the bus stop, then turn left onto the paved road and follow trail marker no. 4 toward the Schleidertal valley. At the shooting range, the path continues moderately uphill through the forest in a westerly direction to station no. 9 (Birch Forest). From there, the trail heads east to the Hasler Weide meadow. The return leads downhill along the trail marked "Hinzlweg" until you reach the main road in Tabland. Follow it west back to the starting point.

🕒 Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
⚠️ Difficulty: Moderate
⬆️ Elevation gain: approx. 220 m

#naturns #naturno #hiking #mountains #hinzlweg #walking #discouver #southtyrol #südtirol #wandern #entdecken #unterwegs #altoadige #escursioni #montagne #bellavista #altoadigedascoprire #altoadigedavivere

0
nextleft-arrowclose facebookinstagram liketalk