More Krampus Activities

     We left our lovely little hotel in Prague and traveled by train (and bus partway, and standing room only on a train partway) to Salzburg.  We arrived after dark and headed straight to a Krampus run, where we saw the most amazing performance by a group with elaborate masks and costumes.

   They ran through the crowd capturing naughty people and giving them a thrashing with their birch twig bundles.  Dad got a good walloping after intentionally provoking the ugliest Krampus he could find, and Allie got her head shoved in a beast's armpit and the backs of her knees beaten.

   The Krampusses weren't sure what to make of our hats.  One of them tried to put one on, but his head was even bigger than Marc's and it didn't fit.

   Luckily, St. Nicholas and his angel were there to drive the wild spirits away.

   It was an incredible experience, unlike anything we have ever done before.  Here is a picture of the Krampusses from their group's website.  The only way last night could have been better is if it had been snowing.  Maybe next time!