The Boggart
Hailing from England and Scotland, the boggart is more commonly known as a household pest rather than a demon. They often break items such as pots and glass, rearrange the furniture, and are responsible for the "bumps" one might hear at home in the middle of the night. They have strong ties to a particular family, as they will follow the family wherever they flee. Similar to the common characterization of the boogeyman, boggarts do not have a defined figure, allowing them to vary remarkably in size and shape. As a result, the way one family viewed their boggart might differ from another family. For example, one boggart may be "a squat hairy man, strong as a six year old horse with arms almost as long as tacklepoles" (Saga Book). On the other hand, a boggart may appear to be "a fearsome calf, with long shaggy hair and eyes like saucers" (The Boggart of Longar Hede). The picture to the left is simply another interpretation of a boggart. However, classifying the boggart that resides in your home could be a grave mistake. According to beliefs in Northern England, as soon as a boggart was named it would become uncontrollable and unreasonable. These creatures are less like the common depictions of the boogeyman in that they are more mischievous than horrifying.
El Coco
El Coco is the equivalent of the boogeyman in Spanish-speaking countries, a monster only characterized by its brown and hairy figure. Originating in Portugal and Spain, El Coco is known to steal and possibly devour children who disobey their parents. The painting to the left is Goya's Que viene el Coco (translated Here Comes the Boogeyman), which depicts a shadow creature draped in a cloak who has come to take the children, presumably for misbehaving. The legend of El Coco varies from region to region, as he is more commonly known as El Cuco in Latin American countries and El Cucuy in Mexico. Regardless of the location, parents have told Juan Caxes' rhyme Auto de los desposorious to their children as they prepare for bed:
"Duermete nino, duermete ya...
Que viene el Coco y te comera.
Sleep child, sleep now...
Or else the Coco will come and eat you."
"Duermete nino, duermete ya...
Que viene el Coco y te comera.
Sleep child, sleep now...
Or else the Coco will come and eat you."
Krampus
Krampus, as seen in German folklore, is a horned and hoofed goat-like creature much resembling a satyr or faun from Greek/Roman mythology. Created as a counterpart to Saint Nicholas, Krampus visits the homes of naughty children during the Christmas season and punish them by dragging them to his lair, giving him the name "The Christmas Devil". Unlike the boogeymen seen in other corners of the world, Krampus is regularly celebrated. The night of December 5th is traditionally known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, in which Germans throw parties and dress as Krampus. After the dressed celebrants have consumed large quantities of alcohol, they commonly participate in a parade called a Krampuslauf, stopping to scare onlookers and take photos. A clip from the 2014 event can be seen here. The history of Krampus is not entirely known, although some anthropologists such as Maurice Bruce believes that Krampus stretches back to pre-Christian traditions. Bruce also states that the chains commonly seen around Krampus "could have been introduced in a Christian attempt to 'bind the Devil', but again could be a remnant of pagan initiation rites" (The Krampus in Styria). Regardless of its origins, Krampus has transformed from an evil demon to a beloved and celebrated character, in contrast to the traditional boogeyman.
Namahage
Namahage, seen in Japanese folklore, acts much like the boogeymen of other cultures by traveling door-to-door and punishing children who are guilty of misbehaving. Similar to Krampus, Namahage has evolved from of feared demon to a celebrated character. On New Year's Eve, men dressed in traditional Namahage costumes (such as the one seen to the right), will go door-to-door in their village and ask if any naughty children live there. In response, family members will "protect" their children by assuring the Namahage that the children are polite and well-mannered. One very obvious purpose for this festival is to encourage children to obey their parents, which is a fundamental aspect of Japanese society. However, other interpretations of the role of the Namahage exists as well. For example, some believe that the practice welcomes great deities who in turn bring good fortune into the new year (Namahage Museum).