We are off to a great start of the 2023/2024 Ski Season, even Krampus can't keep us away!

The ski season has officially started, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. Julie and Wayne have gone out to greet our very first school groups of the season. This wonderful first school group has been busy finding their ski feet, beginners and more experienced alike doing brilliantly with their lessons. It's hard to believe this week has come to an end but roll on the ski season we are ready.

The charming alpine village of Zell am See is dreamy at the best of times but its Christmas dressing with decorations and lights gives it that extra Christmassy alpine winter wonderland oomph. 

Christmas in Zell am See

Advent and the leading up to Christmas bring to town the Alpine equalient to Father Christmas, St. Nicholas himself but he brings with him his best buddy (some say evil twin), Krampus. 

Krampus is a scary beast; half goat and half a demon born in the folklore of the Alpine countries. He punishes misbehaving children during the Christmas season or stuffs them in his big bag and takes them away. Having this nightmare looming over would definitely push the most daring of children into behaving impeccably. Even the name is scary, it is derived from the Italian word grampa which means claw. I’m scared already and have decided to stay on my very best behaviour even though I’m safe in here in the UK keeping the Creigiau Tours and Ski for going! Who knows Julie and Wayne might bring him back with them! 

Krampus comes to town

It is thought that Krampus was a part of pagan supernatural rites and festivities for winter solstice and to scare away the dark spirits of winter. These celebrations date back to at least the 6th or 7th century AD. As Christianity spread the catholic church tried without success to eliminate the celebrations of Krampus ... so they assimilated him the Christian devil.  You've got to loose some to win some, right?

To this very day Krampus still visits each and every alpine town on the eve of December 6th, St. Nicholas arrives on his very own special day, St. Nicholas Day. The latter will leave presents and sweets for children while the wicked Krampus brings chains and branches, looking for those children who weren’t as good as they ought to have been in the past year. Then he swats the naughty children with birch branches and leaves coals for them. 

Although I am very sure that the school group will be perfectly safe from the wicked claws and chains of Krampus as I had this of Julie: 

“The group is really good, very quiet, polite and you wouldn’t know there was a school group in the hotel.”

What a fine credit to their parents and school they are! And just look at them learning and getting ready to ski!