Win tickets to Morbid Anatomy’s open gin bar/Krampus party!

Between the eponymous feature film that’s currently in theaters and the previously released anthology movie A Christmas Horror Story starring one Mr. William Shatner, Krampus is having a moment. To that end, Brooklyn’s own Morbid Anatomy Museum would like to cordially invite you to celebrate Santa’s evil little helper at their annual Krampus party on Saturday, December 19.

But who is this Krampus guy, anyway? According to Joanna Ebenstein of the Morbid Anatomy museum, “Krampus is like an evil counterpart to the jolly, gift slinging bowl full of jelly that is Saint Nicholas.” She told us she first encountered a cardboard cutout of the “Christmas Devil” in a Burger King in Hungary, next to his decidedly happier. It makes sense she saw him first there, since she tells is that “the two go hand in hand in many parts of Europe, because balance: Where Santa gives, Krampus takes.” Krampus is said to collect all the naughty little children in a large basket made of reeds, then scamper back home to the netherworld. Good ol’ wholesome Christmas fun.

Krampus is an integral part of Christmas in a number of European countries, but largely swept under the rug on these golden shores (unless, of course, when used as a plot device in a blockbuster Christmas themed horror film). This makes him the perfect candidate for the Morbid Anatomy Museum, a very Brooklyn place dedicated to preserving the darker, weirder, more interesting bits of human history that are so often swept under the proverbial rug. Plus, Joanna says, “he’s better for Brooklyn than Santa, for the simple fact that Krampus is more interesting.” And there are goat horns involved. That’s a thing these days, right?

Ebenstein says that sometimes the best way to educate people about a thing is to have a party dedicated to it, so that’s what they’re doing – and we like their style. Though it’s a bit rich for our blood at $30 a ticket, party goers can expect an open bar sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin that will last from the start of the party until their ample supply of booze runs out. There will be a singalong with Matt Lake, author of children’s book Night of the Krampus – though we would maybe recommend leaving the kiddos at home, lest they be snatched up by the Yuletide “devil” himself. Add to that performances from local monster-musical kiddie variety show Ghoul-a-go-go, photo ops with the man of the hour (you can get in his oversized basket, specifically), a Krampus costume contest, plus the general creepy coolness that is the Museum itself, and you’ve got yourself an evening.

If you like the idea of a Christmas costume event, but not the idea of Santacon, we’ve got a few tips for a low budget Krampus costume. Apparently people sell goat horns on eBay for pretty cheap, because the Internet, but you could always go the papier mache route and make your own if you’re crafty. (Or, you know, wire coat hangers and masking tape could do the trick if you’re really crafty.) Joanna says horns are not totally necessary, though- it’s more about the attitude. That said, fur coats and baskets definitely help a lot.

So if you’re in the mood for the dark, complicated side of Christmas, but you weren’t ready for the drunken hellscape that calls itself SantaCon, head on over to the Morbid Anatomy Museum for a spooky good time. Plus, if you sign up for our email list, we’ll give you a chance at two tickets FO FREE!

We’ll be putting the entry form in our Friday morning email, so you’ve got until then to sign up. Gruß vom Krampus, y’all!