Poor Cookie and Blackie are clearly fretting about and totting up their misdeeds this year – poor kits! – and sharing a mutual dream of this monster. Our Krampus has all of the key characteristics – a hairy beast with great lolling and pointed tongue, goat horns and cloven feet, but we’ve replaced the beating chains and sticks with lightening bolts. Cookie and Blackie – photo taken because they so rarely sleep together! Inspiration for the card. The Catholic Church at one time made an effort to ban Krampus which was, given his increasing popularity, clearly unsuccessful. Can’t say I am sorry to have missed this. The runners carry sticks, like those used to beat said naughty children, and scare onlookers. I gather that there are German and Austrian festivals (which not surprisingly involve some drinking) where the Krampus story is played out via a run through town by Krampus glad participants. While the concept of Krampus has its roots in a Norse underworld character the name Krampus is derived from a German name. It makes sense though that Santa wouldn’t be all sweetness and light – I mean, how interesting is that after all. I do find this sort of shadow Santa fascinating and the idea that not only was Santa watching to make sure you were nice and not naughty, but this dark side Santa was going to come after you if you were a very bad kid. I only learned about Krampus as an adult, although years ago now. (For those of you just joining this year some previous card reveals can be found here and here for starters.) A tip o’ the hat this year to Kim who carried the ball a bit more than usual and this one has a slightly more Deitchian appeal which is always a good thing. Pam’s Pictorama Post: Welcome to the Pictorama reveal of the Deitch Studio holiday card memorializing the year that was, 2021.

Pam note the office the microwave