Author: teakrulos

Freelance writer from Milwaukee, I'm the author of non-fiction books Heroes in the Night, Monster Hunters, Apocalypse Any Day Now and forthcoming Wisconsin Legends & Lore and American Madness. I write a weekly column called "Tea's Weird Week" at teakrulos.com.

Milwaukee Krampusnacht: Call for 2024 Parade Floats

teakrulos

Planning for Milwaukee Krampusnacht 2024, which will take place Sunday, Dec. 1 in the Brewery District, is underway. We want to get something out there right away so you have time to plan for a potential summer/fall project: a float for our 2024 Krampus Parade. The floats will be in the parade and displayed somewhere on the street afterward.

This is just what popped up when I googled “Krampus float”

This is a good opportunity for organizations, clubs, businesses, or just groups of friends. Here’s what we have so far for guidelines.

-Floats must be pushed/ pulled by human or bicycle power, no motorized vehicles.

-We will have more specific measurements soon, but think something the size of a car or smaller– Juneau Ave is narrow at certain points. Also, have some decent wheels because 10th and Juneau is a rocky road of bricks.

-Should we do a juried prize for this? Maybe, we’ll discuss.

Krampus themed floats are great, of course, but anything that fits the tone of the event is welcome. Here’s some ideas that might get your thinking process started. If any of these specific ideas grab your interest, contact us (see below). But to be clear, you are able and encouraged to come up with your own ideas, too.

-A great Wisconsin-specific piece of lore is the story of the Christmas Tree Ship. The Rouse Simmons transported trees from “Up North” to Chicago every winter, but in 1912, the ship sank in a storm and all hands were lost. Legend has it that you can see the Rouse Simmons ghost ship sailing on the lake trying to complete their voyage in stormy weather: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouse_Simmons

A float based on the legend might be a great project for people who are into model building.

The Rouse Simmons aka the Christmas Tree Ship, seen here loaded up with trees.


-How about a giant Icelandic Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn) being pulled by a team of Yule Lads?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Christmas_folklore

Jolakotturrin Yule Cat


-Shopping cart chaos! Could be a funny statement on consumerism to make some creative shopping cart floats pushed by monsters.

-Namahage is a Japanese New Year’s Eve tradition similar to Krampus. Would love to see it represented. Fun project for an Anime Club? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namahage

If you’re interested, I don’t think we’ll have an application this year, but what you should do is send us an email. Describe your idea, and/or create a sketch (even a crude one) just so we can make sure it’s appropriate and not being duplicated by someone else. Deadline on this TBD, probably sometime in late fall. Email: milwaukeekrampusnacht@gmail.com

That email can also be used if you’re interesting in helping organize or volunteer for this year’s event. Just say hi and tell us some areas of interest.

As always, we must (and will) continue to kick ass!

Erna Meets Krampus…Again!

teakrulos

Erna1

Milwaukee Krampusnacht 2018 was a huge success! The event is open to all people who want to celebrate with us, but of course we love to hear stories of those who have a connection to the tradition in the past. Lisa brought her friend Erna to the event and shared this delightful story with us: 

Hey all, I just wanted to say thanks so much for this awesome event! I brought my 92 year old friend Erna, who emigrated from Austria (Krampus’ homeland!) as a young woman right after WWII. Erna remembers being visited by the Krampus as a little girl.

She says she found out later that when St. Nicholas and Krampus arrived, one of her parents would slip St. Nicholas a note with details of when she and her siblings had been naughty throughout the year, and St. Nicholas would secretly read it quickly and then confront the children with their misbehavior. If the children did not take responsibility and apologize and promise to be good from then on, they were threatened with Krampus abduction! She still remembers being frightened/excited when she and her siblings heard the combination of chains and bells outside their home announcing the arrival of St. Nicholas and Krampus, and then her parents would round the children up and make them sit in a row of chairs in the living room waiting to meet their visitors. Hahaha!

Again, thank you so much. Erna had the time of her life!

Thank you, Lisa and Erna, for sharing! 

erna2

(Erna, left, and Lisa meet the Krampus!)