Krampus

In Alpine and Germanic folklore, this horned, goat-legged companion of Saint Nicholas punishes misbehaving children, in stark contrast to the saint's rewards for the good.

Tradition: Germanic folkloreAlpine folklore
Region: European Alps (place of origin)
Trait family: The Doom-Howlers
Symbols: BasketChain

Near this figure

Buggane Chains dragging sound heralds approach
Koerakoonlased Hairy giant wildman
Uhepono Hairy giant wildman

Symbols

Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.

Basket bears image-domain The basket denotes woven containment and harvest fertility, cradling the infant god or hero and gathering the scattered limbs of the dismembered one.
why
He carries bundles of birch branches (Ruten) for switching naughty children and often totes a woven basket or washtub strapped to his back for hauling away the very worst offenders.
Chain bears image-domain The chain denotes linkage in both senses: the bondage of fate and servitude, and the supporting ladder joining earth to heaven link by link.
why
Krampus is typically depicted as a large, hairy, demonic figure with the cloven hooves and curling horns of a goat, a long pointed tongue lolling from his mouth, and a chain-draped body hung with bells.

Traits

Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.

Form

Hairy giant wildman
why
a large, hairy, demonic figure

Sight and sound

Rattling sound precedes supernatural approach
why
His arrival is heralded by the clatter and clang of his chains and bells
Chains dragging sound heralds approach
why
His arrival is heralded by the clatter and clang of his chains and bells, a sound folklore holds is meant to frighten children into good behavior.

Roles

Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.