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Christmas Cartoon Featuring Santa’s Demonic ‘Helper’ Yanked From Travel Channel

Dec. 12, 2011 8:36am Billy Hallowell

Travel Chanel Decides Not to Air Krampus Christmas Cartoon

Krampus is Santa's "demonic" sidekick who targets children on the "Naughty List"

The Christmas season is filled with television specials that remind us of our childhood. From “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to “The Grinch,” holiday favorites offer a lesson for viewers, while enabling them to celebrate and experience the Christmas spirit.

But when a new, animated holiday cartoon called “A Krampus Carol” was produced for the Travel Channel, it was apparently a bit too creepy and disturbing to be aired. So, executives decided to pull the plug.

Travel Chanel Decides Not to Air Krampus Christmas Cartoon

Anthony Bourdain, a chef and television personality who hosts the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations” show, apparently wrote the short cartoon. He took the Austrian legend of Krampus, a mythical demon-like creature who accompanies Santa and punishes children who land on the “Naughty List,” and attempted to bring it to the small screen.

Gawker reports about why the network made the decision not to air the cartoon:

Apparently, they felt the world was not quite ready for a stop-motion retelling of Santa’s “whip-toting sidekick” who “whips and licks naughty children” with his 12-inch tongue then “carries them off in his sack” — a source tells us they cited sensitivities regarding the Penn State scandal when delivering Bourdain the disappointing news.

But while the short cartoon isn’t going to air on the Travel Channel, it can be seen on YouTube in its entirety. Below, watch Bourdain’s ”A Krampus Carol:”

Krampus is actually much creepier than he’s depicted in this short film. Krampus.com takes the time to explain, in detail, who this demonic character is (you can read even more about him here):

Krampus is the dark companion of St. Nicholas, the traditional European winter gift-bringer who rewards good children each year on December 6. The kindly old Saint leaves the task of punishing bad children to a hell-bound counterpart known by many names across the continent — Knecht Ruprecht, Certa, Perchten, Black Peter, Schmutzli, Pelznickel, Klaubauf, and Krampus. Usually seen as a classic devil with horns, cloven hooves and monstrous tongue, but can also be spotted as a sinister gentleman dressed in black or a hairy man-beast. Krampus punishes the naughty children, swatting them with switches and rusty chains before dragging them in baskets to a fiery place below.

Here’s a short video that provides a quick Krampus recap:

And here’s a disturbing parade of Krampuses that was filmed in Graz, Austria, back in 2010:

Thankfully, Krampus wasn’t a part of my own Christmas tradition growing up. He’s enough to scare any mischievous child back onto the Nice List with ease.

(H/T: Gawker)

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Comments (118)

Rational Man
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:09am
People used to complain alot about how commercialized Christmas was getting. Then how secular it was getting. People talking more loudly about the real reason for the season. No Christmas in public. Scrooges on TV telling kids there is no Santa Clause. Now it’s off the charts. I hate all the really dumb Christmas shows that are endlessly replayed on TV. They all stink. The one with Will Ferral as an elf is probably the worst. Not sure because I can’t bring myself to watch it and even turn away from the commercials for it. Now we have demons? It just makes me focus even harder on Jesus than I did before. And I find myself impatient for the Christmas season to be over. Very sad!

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- Eliasim
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:22am
  That’s because there really is demons. For example: a demon would only want someone to believe everything is supposed to be sun-shine and lolly-pops, and that way people fall much harder at the end.
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:25am
  It’s not “now we have demons”. Per the article:
  
  “He took the Austrian legend of Krampus, a mythical demon-like creature who accompanies Santa and punishes children who land on the “Naughty List,” and attempted to bring it to the small screen.”
  
  I was familiar with this as well at least back to the 1980′s. A friend of mine from Finland explained a very similar custom/tradition that goes on in Finland that sounds identical to the Austrian one (I think the Finns got it from the Swedes). I’m also fairly certain that many Germanic nations have this myth, in addition to the Austrians.
  
  These are Western traditions, the imp is *supposed* to be scary in order to provide kids with something other than “participation trophy” motivation to be good. Learn your history.
  
  Report this comment
- Herndo
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:40am
  RATIONAL MAN – Dude! The movie “Elf” with Will Ferrell is AWESOME! You admitted you hadn’t watched it yet, and yes it does look dumb, but it’s a really good holiday story, with a cool ending. It’s one of the better Christmas movies to have been made recently.
  
  Report this comment
- MySacredHonor
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:07am
  One of the reasons we have the entitlement culture we have today is we coddle our children WAY too much in this country. Now some of this is a bit too far over the line for my taste, but a dark side exists to EVERYTHING. and children need to know this as soon as they can handle it. so i dont really see this as being that bad. I probably wouldn’t have shown it to my kids without sitting with them, but its really not that bad. and it is part of the traditions. its not like some propaganda minister just made this up, the legend of Krumpus has been around for centuries.
  
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- atlantaguy111
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:20am
  Get a grip my man.. Sound like you are living on the edge of a break down. Unplug and go join a community group.
  
  Report this comment
- Rational Man
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:26am
  @Herndo
  
  What actor plays Jesus in the movie Elf ?
  
  I get that Christmas is a national holliday and that most public displays are secular. I actually don’t have a problem with that. Though it is not what I would prefer. Some Christians are wound too tight about Christmas and how it is celebrated. Traditional Christmas celebrated by secular or “Christian lite” folks is no big deal to me because it is still a nice holliday when most people think of sharing with others and is generally a happy time. Eventhough it is not the real reason for the season. Which IS my prefered celebration. Not bashing anyone else, (except maybe atheists radicals).
  Besides, I really can’t stand the sight of Will Ferrel. He and his movie characters are obnoxious to me. Thats one reason why I don’t get past the commercials. I don’t watch them either. Just personal preference.
  
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- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:03am
  A form of terrorism?
  
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- miren
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:01pm
  Originally there was a demonic looking figure associated with Christmas. He was the one that dealt with the naughty kids while Santa dealt with the good kids. Think their names are Belsnickel and Krampus.
  
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- Walkabout
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:20pm
  GhostOfJefferson
  
  It is a legend & I don’t have a problem with it. More than 40 years ago I would have taken it for face value & said grotesque.
  
  But now I am really creeped out by it.
  
  Report this comment
- TH30PH1LUS
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:49pm
  TO THE AUTHOR: the parade video is “disturbing” to you – yet the kids and adults look entertained. Most were laughing. Sure, the costumes are grotesque (hello, they are supposed to be demons).
  
  If anything, I almost think that the playful banter, the cute girl (victims?) dressed in all white took away from the fear factor.
  
  What’s MORE disturbing? the gay pride parade in San Francisco. No one there is pretending – that’s all real nasty stuff.
  
  What’s MORE frightening? the fact that there is a real Hell and real demons.
  
  Report this comment
- mindstruct
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:47pm
  I like the Venture Brothers version of Krumpus, it’s at least funny.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:59pm
  But now I am really creeped out by it, because of all the pedophilia there has been going on.
  
  Report this comment
V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:09am
You’re idiots for turning this story into a bludgeon against the OWS protestors. Completely stupid.

The sky is blue…it must be because the OWS protestors. Grow up.

“whips and licks naughty children with his 12-inch tongue”… sounds like something that goes on at Bohemian Grove. Krampus would fit right in there.

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Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:08am
This is like SNL’s old skit of rearranging the letters of S-A-N-T-A to spell S-A-T-A-N

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objectivetruth
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:07am
I’ve heard of the counterpart of kris kringle.It was used rather extensively in the old days.I can believe that he made it and posted it.I’m truly surprised he attempted to have the travel channel air it.Sort of the hansel and gretel of christmas.Can’t say I remember a huge tongue being a part of it though.It was explained to me by my parents.I found a very very old picture of the ugly creature.It isn’t used or even very well known here in america.My parents knew about it as it was relagated to ancient folklore.
It was used two to three hundred years ago here as an example of what european tradition that shouldn’t be carried on.

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- whit30
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:10am
  haha so true. you have to admit kids were probably more well behaved then than now. you dont hav parents telling u youl get beat with switches and licked if your naughty
  
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- DeVain
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:56am
  Krampusnacht
  
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whit30
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:05am
my mother lived in Germany as a child. we celebrated this holiday as a child and i cont it with my children we call it kris kringle night we leave our shoes out Dec 5th night he comes and fills ur shoes with candy if u good and switches if u bad. yes the story was scary as a child it scared me now it scares my kids

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- encinom
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:28am
  Dec. 5th for Catholics in Germany is not Kris Kringle night, but the Feast of St. Nikolas.
  
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garyM
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:00am
I think the advertising world has hired all the OWS people to write their commercials! There aren’t any good commercials anymore or very few!

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Susie
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:00am
The specter of Occupy Wall Streets to come.

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Godzgrl247
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:59am
LOL, I actually have a story that I was working on that has the mythical Krampus in it. I think the History Channel should’ve aired this. I’d get a kick out of it. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season so, insulting the fat boy doesn’t bother me. Santa is as symbol of greed.

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:27am
  Santa is a symbol of a Christian saint who was famous for his generosity. He lived and was imprisoned in Turkey I believe. Santa Claus = Saint Nicklaus.
  
  And why giving gifts to other people is a sign of greed I’ve not yet heard one person explain to me adequately?
  
  Report this comment
KickinBack
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:58am
Creepy..sure. But OMG I loved that parade video! Very creative costumes, don’t know about bringing the kiddies though. Maybe that’s why Europeans are so messed up.

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- LeadNotFollow
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:39am
  If this parade was an adults only Halloween exhibition, I might could understand it.
  This is a Christmas parade. Bringing kids to a parade like this, is child abuse.
  
  Report this comment
- smokie
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:41pm
  I love the parade. There’s another parade in which they ‘sweep away the winter’, some of the masks are carved from wood and have been in the family for generations. Beautiful artwork.
  
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willnotsubmit
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:56am
It may be disturbing, but that is how the pagan celebration of xmass started. Here is a video of how our so called Christian christmas became and where we got our traditions.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/weareisrael/videos/69/

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Mandors
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:56am
And we wonder why Europe is so f’d up?

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Steveaustin1971
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:56am
hmmm, a story about an imaginary evil supernatural being that will drag you away to hell if you do bad? And your seriously upset about it? LOL! No one sees the hypocrisy here?

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- Ansetekh
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:08am
  Great comment, spot on.
  
  Report this comment
- BoomSlander
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:12am
  Users here will shortly inform you that you will one day answer to god and spend eternity in hell.
  
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:56am
.
I think it’s a college Basketball Coach in disguise……….

But which one?……….

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waicool
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:53am
I don’t know who’s creepier, Anthony Bourdain or this Krampus character.

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Waterlylys
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:53am
YIKES!!! They pulled it because of the Penn State debacle? Not because it will scar kids for life?

I’m beginning to agree with Dudley Moore’s movie “Crazy People” we need real truth in advertising!

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Jubarnes87
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:51am
Looks like Bourdain was extremely intoxicated….nothing new.

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lukerw
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:50am
Another “chick flic”!

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Phyliss
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:49am
Why?

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UlyssesP
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:49am
I don’t know about “sinister gentleman dressed in black” but I can name a sinister black gentleman.

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- NOBAMA201258
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:36am
  ULYSSESP You are half right about that “gentleman”
  
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Angelteam02
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:46am
Very Ugly

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Angelteam02
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:46am
Glad They Pulled It….Very Ugly

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SLARTIBARTFAST
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:45am
OMG! What were they thinking? Hollyweird at work again.

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Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:44am
Whips and licks small children with his 12 inch tongue ? Really…. Ok that is just wrong on so many levels.

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- biohazard23
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:47am
  Sandusky in disguise? Oh Lord, did I just think that out loud???
  
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KickinBack
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:43am
I’m confused, is that supposed to be Anthony Bourdain playing Krampus?

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- KickinBack
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:49am
  …Because the horns were a little too short..
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:59am
  And the tongue isn’t forked.
  
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biohazard23
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:41am
Yikes…..

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