"Most people in Germany associate the feast of Saint Nicholas with a harmless tradition: Children leave their cleaned shoes next to the front door on the night of December 5, and the next morning, they expect to find their footwear filled with small presents and treats brought by Nikolaus. There are, however, regions in Germany, such as in Bavaria, where the Father Christmas-like character has a dark sidekick, the Krampus."
"Similarly, the Klaasohm festival on Borkum, an island with a population of 5,000 people, follows in this darker tradition. As part of the annual tradition on the night of December 5, women were spanked on the buttocks with a cow's horn. The tradition created major controversy following a video report by public broadcaster NDR at the 2023 festivities in which "Klaasohms," young men wearing traditional costumes of sheepskin and bird feathers, "chased" down and hit women as part of the celebration."
"Safety was already stepped up and the practice banned in 2024, and the authorities want to assure people that the same goes for this year. This year's celebration will also be "a safe and unifying festival for the people of Borkum," according to a report in the Borkum island magazine Borkum erleben, which the town also published on its website."
Most people in Germany associate Saint Nicholas with children leaving shoes on December 5 to receive small presents. Some regions preserve darker companions such as the Krampus, a hairy devil present in Bavarian and Austrian folkloric processions. The Klaasohm festival on Borkum follows that darker tradition, with young men in sheepskin and bird-feather costumes who, during the night of December 5, chased and hit women and spanked some with a cow's horn. A 2023 NDR video report sparked controversy. Safety was stepped up and the practice was banned in 2024. Officials promise a safe and unifying festival this year.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]