Criticism of customs

Injured visitors: Can the Krampus hit anyone?

There has never been so much trouble at Krampus events across the country this year - on the one hand, visitors have been beaten up to the point of hospitalization, and on the other, Krampuses themselves have been seriously injured. This raises questions about the legal situation: Where is the line between custom and criminal offense?

The rods are as much a part of every Krampus as the sack and the staff are to St. Nicholas: however, due to various complaints and lawsuits in recent years, the judiciary has now also dealt with the bad guys and determined what they are actually allowed to do. As part of our "Check your rights" service series, the two Carinthian lawyers Isabelle Reinsberger and Patrick Kröpl explain new decisions and old traditions.