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Krampus, Austria

From Wikipedia: The Companions of Saint Nicholas (or Father Christmas) are a group of closely related figures who accompany St. Nicholas in many European traditions. The tradition is particularly strong amongst the Germanic peoples, with some regional expression in America (largely from European ethnic groups).

The most recognized companion, especially outside of Europe, is Knecht Ruprecht, which translates as Farmhand Ruprecht or Servant Ruprecht. Other companions include Krampus (Austria), Klaubauf (Bavaria), Bartel (Styria), Pelzebock, Pelznickel, Belsnickel (Pennsylvania), Schmutzli (Switzerland), Rumpelklas, Bellzebub, Hans Muff, Drapp or Buzebergt (Augsburg), and Père Fouettard (Northern France). These servants are often associated with, but are distinct from Saint Nicholas' blackamoor slave helpers, called Zwarte Piet or Zwarte Peter in the Netherlands and Flanders, and Black Peter most other places.

"In Lower Austria the saint is followed by a similar figure called Krampus or Grampus; in Styria this horrible attendant is named Bartel; all are no doubt related to such monsters as the 'Klapperbock' (see Chapter VII.). Their heathen origin is evident though it is difficult to trace their exact pedigree. Sometimes St. Nicholas himself appears in a non-churchly form like Pelzmaerte, with a bell, or with a sack of ashes which gains him the name of Aschenklas ... Sometimes a female bogey used to appear: Budelfrau in Lower Austria, Berchtel in Swabia, Buzebergt in the neighbourhood of Augsburg. The last two are plainly variants of Berchte, who is specially connected with the Epiphany. Berchtel used to punish the naughty children with a rod, and reward the good with nuts and apples; Buzebergt wore black rags, had her face blackened and her hair hanging unkempt, and carried a pot of starch which she smeared upon people's faces."
Clement A Miles, Christmas In Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan, T. Fisher Unwin, London, 1912

Christmas characters

Festival of Klausjagen, Küssnacht, Switzerland

In the villages of Arth and Küssnacht, especially, the festival known as Klausjagen draws many visitors – about 20,000 people flock to Küssnacht by the Lake of Four Cantons. The event is celebrated with a procession of about 200 Iffelträger wearing gigantic (up to six feet high) mitres (iffelen) illuminated from the inside, followed by the noise of as many as 1,000 'chasers' of Klaus – St Niklaus, or Nicholas, whose feast day is tomorrow.

The ritual goes back at least to the Middle Ages and echoes pre-Christian pagan rites of chasing away evil spirits with the din of cowbells and cows' horns. The practice, which originally ran for about three days prior to St Nicholas's day, was banned by the government in 1732, apparently because it got out of hand, but we note that in the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th Centuries, right across Europe, it was not uncommon for authorities to ban ancient ceremonies of this kind. 

The Roman Catholic Church had a history of co-opting pagan festivities, but the rise of Protestantism, and its extreme variety, Puritanism, added a new dimension of intolerance throughout the West. In the 1920s, some Küssnacht villagers decided to bring the Klausjagen back and since 1928 the St Niklaus Society has arranged the procession and other activities. About 700 men process by in rows of five, ringing bells, followed by 180 horn-blowers. Whip cracking is another loud feature of the Klausjagen.

In Zurich, too, and other parts of Switzerland, children wander the streets wearing illuminated masks, but Küssnacht is the place where the real action is to be seen and enjoyed. The festival begins at 8:15 pm and may take place on a day close to December 5 rather than St Nicholas Eve proper.

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Nicholas of her chamber, Britain

"In convents, the lady-boarders used, on the same occasion, to place silk-stockings at the door of the apartment of the abbess, with a paper recommending themselves to 'Great St Nicholas of her chamber'.  The next morning they were summoned together, to witness the results of the liberality of the saint who had bountifully filled their stockings with sweetmeats."
Robert Chambers, (Ed.), The Book of Days: A miscellany of popular antiquities in connection with the calendar, etc, W & R Chambers, London, 1881 (1879 Edition is online and 1869 edition here with CD-ROM available; See also The English Year: A Personal Selection from Chambers' Book of Days)

In former times, children put out carrots, hay and straw for his horse, which would be exchanged for presents in the night.
Pennick, Nigel, The Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA, 1992

Avond, Leewvarden, West Friesland
The Eve of St Nicholas is called the Avond (eve). St Nicholas knocks at the door and is greeted by anxiously waiting children. He departs with a benediction, promising to bring gifts the next day. Before bed, each family member puts a shoe on the table in a room which is locked. Next morning the family enjoys bon-bons, toys and trinkets.
William Hone, The Every-Day Book, or a Guide to the Year, William Tegg and Co., London, 1878, p. 783; 1825-26 edition online)  

Romania
Children usually put the boots near the entrance door, waiting for the presents delivered by St Nicholas.

Bonhomme Noël, France
The French Santa Claus is Bonhomme Noël (Goodman Christmas), who leaves presents on the hearth on St Nicholas's Eve. He is also Père Noel (Father Christmas, as in England). Also Père Noel and his companion, Père Fouettard, who tallies how children have behaved throughout the year, come on either the eve of December 6 or December 24.

First Feast of St Lucia, Italy (see also December 13 for St Lucia's Day)
"Goddess of Birth and Light."
(Source: The Phoenix and Arabeth 1992 Calendar)

Marriage prognostication

Girls attempted to divine the name of the man they were to marry, from forcing the growth of onions in the chimney-corner, and they ascertained the temper of the man from the straightness or otherwise of a stick drawn from a wood stack. Young people went about and levied contributions.

Three weekes before the day whereon
   was borne the Lorde of Grace,
And on the Thursday boyes and girles
   do runne in every place,
And bounce and beate at every doore,
   with blowes and lustie snaps,
And crie, the advent of the Lord
   not borne as yet perhaps.
And wishing to the neighbours all,
   that in the houses dwell,
A happie yeare, and every thing
   to spring and prosper well:
Here have they peares, and plumbs, and pence,
   ech man gives willinglee,
For these three nightes are always thought
   unfortunate to bee:
Wherein they are afrayd of sprites,
   and cankred witches spight,
And dreadfull devils blacke and grim,
   that then have chiefest might.
In these same dayes yong wanton gyrles
   that meete for marriage be,
Foure onyons, five, or eight, they take
   and make in every one,
Such names as they do fansie most,
   and best do thinke upon.
Thus neere the chimney them they set,
   and that same onyon than,
That first doth sproute, doth surely beare
   the name of their good man.
Their husbandes nature eke they seeke
   to know, and all his guise,
When as the sunne hath hid himselfe,
   and left the starrie skies,
Unto some woodstacke do they go,
   and while they there do stande
Eche one drawes out a faggot sticke,
   the next that commes to hande,
Which if it streight and even be,
   and have no knots at all,
A gentle husband then they thinke
   shall surely to them fall.
But if it fowle and crooked be,
   and knottie here and theare,
A crabbed churlish husband then,
   they earnestly do feare.
These thinges the wicked papistes beare,
   and suffer willingly,
Because they neyther do the ende,
   nor fruites of faith espie:
And rather had the people should
   obey their foolish lust,
Than truely God to know; and in
  him here alone to trust.
Barnabe Googe (1540 - '94), Foure Bookes of Husbandrie, collected by M. Conradus Heresbachius, Counseller of Cleue; Contayning the whole arte and trade of husbandry, with the ambiguitie, and commendation thereof; quoted in William Hone, The Every-Day Book, or a Guide to the Year, William Tegg and Co., London, 1878; 1825-26 edition online.   More on Googe

Advent (Nov 30 - Dec 25), season of the coming of Jesus Christ

Feast day of St Sabas, abbot

Feast day of St Crispina, martyr
(Longstalked hibiscus, Hibiscus pedunculatus, is today's plant, dedicated to this saint.)

Feast day of St Nicetius, Bishop of Triers, confessor

First Feast of St Lucia, Italy

Feast day of St Galgano Guidotti

Feast day of St Gerald

Feast day of St John the Wonder Worker

Feast day of St Justinian

Feast day of St Philip Rinaldi

Feast day of St Sabbas (Sabas)