Grimm Episodes 7-8 Recaps: Child: Mommy Why Does Santa Have Horns? Mother: Because Hes a Krampus And He Plans To Eat You Dear

I don't know where I've been but I didn't even know there was such a thing as a "Krampus" (which is German for claw). And he seems much more feisty and fun than Santa. Per Wikipedia, "a Krampus is a beast-like creature from the folklore of Alpine countries thought to punish children who had misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards well-behaved ones with gifts. Krampus is said to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair... Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus in Austria, southern Bavaria, South Tyrol, northern Friuli, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, and Croatia during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December (the eve of Saint Nicolas day on many church calendars), and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten".

The first part of the episode "Cold Blooded" was about a Wessen named Gelumcaedus (well there were actually 3 brothers) living in the sewer eating people. They all have lizard heads I think they were supposed to be alligator-ish.

Renard goes on a vacation (or that's what he wants everyone to believe). There's some other stuff about the Royals but I don't really care. The Gelumcaedus served as the Praetorian Guard during the Roman Empire. "Decapitari" is apparently Latin for Grimm and means "he who cuts heads off". Said with a deep voice, it sounds very menacing. My heart wasn't really into this episode though since I just wanted to see the Krampus.

In "Twelve Days of Krampus" the Krampus is doing what a Krampus does, which is find misbehaving children, beat em with a switch, bag em, leave a lump of coal and stick the kids in the tallest tree in the tallest spot. He leaves them there till he eats them on the eve of the winter solstice. And we have finally found the cure for juvenile delinquency people! I can guarantee that if I knew about the Krampus when I was little, I would have been MUCH better behaved.

Nick and Hank go through a bunch of Santa's looking for the Krampus. They beat down one Santa who runs (causes he's a Wessen) in front of shocked children and parents (who are recording the incident). That was funny. Anyway the crew finally finds the real Krampus and his tree and save the kids. Krampus tried to strangle Nick but he goes all zombie on him and knocks him out. Turns out the Krampus is 42 year old photographer from Salt Lake City that blacks out every December but doesn't know why. Uh wouldn't you maybe think something was wrong? After they capture them they're not sure what to do with him so they give him to the Wessen Council.

There's a B story about Munroe decorating his ENTIRE house for Christmas (with Juliette's help). Unfortunately he didn't realize that Rosalee's favorite aunt and uncle were killed on Christmas so she's not feeling too festive. He takes em down and then she puts em back up. Ain't love grand?

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I'm delightfully happy to learn about the Krampus. Next year I'm sending Krampus cards to everyone I know!