Children who have been naughty for the year receive more than just a lump of coal for the holiday season from Krampus. He is known to chases bad children around with sticks or chains, hitting them and even kidnapping them as punishment, depicted in this 1910 postcard.

Nicholas are said to arrive on the evening of December 5 (Krampusnacht; Krampus Night ). While St. Nicholas rewards nice children by leaving presents, Krampus beats those who are naughty with branches and sticks. In some cases, he is said to eat them or take them to hell.