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The Demonic Omen of Disaster at Mödling Castle Hill

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Sometimes called the Devil’s Stone, the ruins of the former Mödling Castle is said to be haunted by a demonic bird-like entity, screeching at night as an omen of death and disaster. 

Just 30 minutes from Vienna lies the ruin of Mödling Castle, once Austria’s largest castle complex, where the Babenbergs lived in 1177, but history of the place on the hilltop stretches much further back.

Read More: Check out all ghostly tales from Austria

Throughout the years, the once noble castle was often dubbed by its other name, Devil’s Stone. Although the old castle is now in ruins, there are local legends about demonic spirits said to never have left, and never will. 

In the Ruins of Castle Mödling

Once upon a time, this now ruins was one of the largest castle complexes in Austria. In the 12th century, a branch of the Babenberg family resided here. The ruins remaining is actually a 19th century reconstruction of the much older castle that originally was. 

After the Hungarian victory at the Battle of Pressburg, the Bavarians retreated as far as the Vienna Woods, resulting in a two-hundred-year gap in records and only a few noteworthy archaeological finds from this period. 

The next record of a castle in Mödling dates from 1137 and mentions a “castellanus” who presumably already resided on a hill overlooking the town. Around 1150, the Babenbergs, under Duke Henry II Jasomirgott, began construction of a stone castle. Today, only the foundation walls and a few imposing arches remain.

The Demon Stones

Another nickname for the Mödling Castle is actually Teufelstein, meaning Devil’s Stone. It is uncertain when people started to refer this place as such, but in the play Der Teufelstein in Mödling (also Die Zauber-Rose) from 1800 it is referred to as such. Although a folktale romantic comedy, could there  be something the writer drew inspiration for? 

Because there have been several legends referring to the Devil’s Stones. In these tales, people often talk about something demonic happening on the castle hills, like wicked goblins causing mischief, or even demonic birds screeching in the night as a bad omen of oncoming danger and death. 

The Cries of the Demonic Bird Udl

One of the enduring legends of the Schlossberg or the castle hill near Mödling, is the call of the demonic bird Udl. It is said to sound eerie and hoarse, filling everyone hearing it with dread, because they know what it means. 

Demonic Bird Lore: The Udl is thought to be connected to the Eurasian eagle-owl as many other demonic bird stories are. According to historians, people of olden times believed that when the eagle owl let its sinister scream sound in European forests or along the coast, it was a sign of ghosts, accidents, or other terrible things to come. In Asia, especially for the Mongolians and the Turks, the owl is seen as sacred instead.

No one can scare the creature away, and no one dares to kill it. It always returns to its forest and is said to never leave. And its voice heralds war and famine, sickness and death. And attacks from the Hungarians, Ottomans and even Romans, the attacks were plenty on these hills.

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References:

http://www.moedlingkleinestadtganzgross.at/heimatbuch_1958.htm

https://www.burgen-austria.com/archive.php?id=1943

Mödling – Wikipedia

Burg Mödling – Wikipedia

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The Dark Side of Christmas: The Haunting Legend of Krampus and Krampusnacht

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By Santa’s side, you will sometimes find his evil companion, Krampus, finding children and punishing them if they have been bad. But who really is this monster, coming after you on Krampusnacht.

When we think of Christmas, images of jolly Santa Claus, reindeer, and brightly wrapped presents come to mind. Family gathers for meals by the Christmas tree and it is all around a jolly festivity. However, nestled within the festive cheer of December lies a darker, more sinister figure from Alpine folklore: Krampus. This half-goat, half-demon creature is said to haunt the Christmas season that starts early in December in some parts of Europe, offering a chilling contrast to the joyous celebrations.

Origins of Krampus from the European Alps

Krampus’ origins can be traced back to pre-Christian Alpine traditions, stretching through many European countries, where he was believed to be a pagan entity associated with winter and inspired by the mythological creature of Perchten or Straggele. The tradition of Krampus has often mostly been celebrated in Austria, Hungary and Germany, but there are also cases in the surrounding alpine countries.

Krampus is thought to come from either Bavarian: krampn, meaning “dead”, “rotten”, or from the German: kramp/krampen, meaning “claw”. Where does he come from? Some say that he is the son of Hel in Norse mythology, popularized by an American artist, and it also shares some things with satyrs and fauns from Greek mythology. Krampus is typically depicted with long, curved horns, a lolling tongue, and a body covered in fur. Chains and bells often hang from his body, symbolizing the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church.

As Christianity spread through Europe, Krampus was incorporated into Christian traditions, specifically as a counterpart to Saint Nicholas and this is really where his popularity and lore took off. Perhaps losing a bit of his pagan touch like a pan-like creature, morphing into something more devilish.  

While Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus punishes those who have been naughty, beating them with a stick, stuffing them in a sack and taking them away. A sort of St. Nicholas helper. This duality embodies the balance between reward and punishment, good and evil, that pervades much of folklore.

The Night of Krampus: Krampusnacht

On the night of December 5th, known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, the demon emerges to roam the streets. In towns across Austria, Germany, and other parts of Europe, men dress up as Krampus and participate in parades known as Krampuslauf, or Krampus Run. During these events, the costumed figures terrorize onlookers with their ghastly appearances and playful, yet alarming antics.

This is based on the old legend of how the young men with their cow bells and sticks disperse the winter’s ghosts.

According to legend, Krampus carries a bundle of birch sticks to swat naughty children and a sack or basket on his back to cart off those he deems particularly bad. The threat of being caught by Krampus is meant to encourage good behavior among children, serving as a dark reminder of the consequences of misdeeds.

Read More: Check out all haunted legends from the Christmas Season

Although the tradition has started to pick up again, it wasn’t always like it. After the first world war they started to ban Krampus traditions and for a time, they almost disappeared entirely. 

Krampuslauf: From the Krampus run in 2010 where around 300 scary, dark figures strolled around the Grazer Krampuslauf and were accompanied by a heavy snowfall and numerous visitors through the Grazer Herrengasse.

The Modern Krampus

In recent years, Krampus has experienced a resurgence in popularity, crossing over into mainstream culture. Why? Is it how Europeans are connecting more with their pagan roots? Perhaps because of how modern society is diverting more and more from its classic christian and religious connotations? Perhaps throughout the years he has turned more devil-like than goat-like, especially in popular culture. 

Horror films, books, and television shows have introduced Krampus to new audiences, solidifying his role as a dark counterbalance to the merriment of Christmas. While many still celebrate Krampusnacht with traditional parades and festivities, the legend of Krampus has also sparked a fascination with the more macabre aspects of the holiday season.

Krampus Postcards: For a time it was very popular to send Christmas cards of Krampus, in his usual habitat where he was punishing children. There were also many grown up themes with having Krampus as a boyfriend and the likes.

A Throwback to Ancient Christmas Times

Krampus stands as a stark reminder that Christmas is not solely a time of joy and generosity. His haunting presence and the eerie stories that surround him add a layer of complexity to the festive season, blending ancient folklore with modern traditions. 

Whether viewed as a cautionary figure or a symbol of the darker side of human nature, Krampus continues to captivate and terrify, ensuring that the spirit of Christmas is never taken for granted. To appease him, it is said you should offer him some Schnapps. As the night of Krampusnacht approaches, remember to be on your best behavior, for you never know when the demon of Christmas might pay you a visit.

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References:

Who is Krampus? Explaining Santa Claus’s Scary Christmas Counterpart 

Krampus – Wikipedia 

The Origin of Krampus, Europe’s Evil Twist on Santa | Smithsonian 

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The Cemetery for the Nameless

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In an old cemetery in Vienna for the victims of the Donau river, these nameless dead ones rest in one of the most haunted places in Friedhof der Namenlosen. 

Tourism in graveyards is not an uncommon thing. Most people seek out the gravestones of famous names we still remember. And in Vienna, tourists seek out names like Beethoven, Brahm and Strauss. But there is a place to visit for those who bear no name on their black iron crosses. The inscription says only Namenlos (nameless). Because in the Friedhof Der Namenlosen, the cemetery of the nameless, the people put in the ground there have no names. 

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It is frequently cited as one of the more haunted places in Europe, which is saying a lot and several paranormal investigators insist that the place is indeed haunted. However, the story behind the cemetery is more than not a sad one rather than a scary one. 

The Drowned in Danube

Namenlos: The crosses in this cemetery bare no names and the graves are marked with ‘Nameless’.//Photo: Rokun

Hidden away from the classy and timeless city of Vienna, an industrial site with Silos and warehouses surrounding the place, there is a graveyard of the victims claimed by the Danube river that bares no name, and those killed by their own hand and therefore turned away from the catholic burial grounds like the Vienna’s Central Cemetery, Zentralfriedhof. 

The cemetery opened in 1840 to be a place for the dead that had no family claiming their bodies to give them a final resting place. Before building around the river changed its current, drowned people used to wash ashore near this cemetery. Up until 1900, no less than 478 nameless bodies were buried in this place. Most drowned in the Danube or by suicide. 

Today, the nameless are buried together with the people in the Central Cemetery, but the graves that are already there are taken care of and remembered. Tourists and passersby leave small gifts and flowers for the graves that would otherwise be left alone with no family and friends  to visit them. 

Remembering the Nameless

Every year on All Saint’s Day there is a small ceremony by the local fishermen to the unknown dead. They float a raft down the Danube, decorated with flowers, wreaths and with a commemorative writing both in German, Hungarian and Slovak. 

The raft drifts down the river to bands playing and follows the current of the river, just like the nameless first came to the place. And on the raft it is written with a request to gently push the raft onwards if it gets stuck on the riverbank.

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References

Featured Image: Wikimedia/HeinzLW (Cropped)

Friedhof der Namenlosen: Die Toten, die die Donau freigab

Cemetery of the Nameless – Vienna, Austria – Atlas Obscura

Cemetery of the Nameless

der friedhof der namenlosen | story.one