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Krampus: The Devil Who Walks At Christmas

Long before Christmas became a season of warmth, lights, and goodwill, something darker stalked the winter nights.

In this episode of The Eclectic, we delve into the chilling folklore of Krampus — the horned figure said to punish the wicked while Saint Nicholas rewarded the good. Rooted in Alpine tradition and pagan mythology, Krampus embodies fear, morality, and the uneasy balance between reward and punishment.

We explore Krampus’s origins, his evolution through European folklore, the rise of Krampusnacht, and how this terrifying figure survived religious suppression to become a modern cultural icon. From ancient winter rituals to masked processions and devilish imagery, this episode asks why societies have always needed monsters — especially at Christmas.

Because sometimes, the most unsettling traditions are the ones meant to keep us in line.

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All sound effects used are from pixabay

Krampus - Wikipedia

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

Meet Krampus, the Christmas Devil Who Punishes Naughty Children | HISTORY

Christmas Traditions: Krampus – The German Christmas Devil

Elizabeth Stride: The Interrupted Killing

Elizabeth Stride’s murder on 30 September 1888 stands apart from the other canonical victims of Jack the Ripper. Unlike the killings that came before and after, Stride’s body bore none of the extensive mutilations that had come to define the terror stalking Whitechapel.

In this episode of The Eclectic, we examine why.

Was Elizabeth Stride truly a Ripper victim — or was her killer interrupted before he could complete his ritual? We walk through the events of the infamous “Double Event” night, reconstructing Stride’s final movements through Berner Street, the disputed witness sightings, and the political and social tensions surrounding the International Working Men’s Educational Club.

From conflicting testimony and medical evidence to the uneasy atmosphere of East End radicalism, this episode explores how Elizabeth Stride’s case complicates everything we think we know about the Ripper’s pattern.

Because sometimes, what didn’t happen tells the most disturbing story of all.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts — search “The Eclectic Podcast.”
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Princess Alice disaster: The Thames' 650 forgotten dead - BBC News

Elizabeth Stride - Wikipedia

Elizabeth Stride • Jack the Ripper's Berner Street Victim

Elizabeth Stride the Ripper's Third Victim

Torslanda Church - Wikipedia

Microsoft Word - Paradox2008.doc

The-funerals-of-the-victims-of-Jack-the-Ripper-PART-1-December-2018.pdf

Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Elizabeth Stride

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Annie Chapman’s murder on 8 September 1888 didn’t just deepen the terror gripping Whitechapel — it changed the investigation forever. Brutal, swift, and unnervingly precise, her killing marked a shift in the pattern of violence and gave police their first real glimpse into the escalating cruelty of the killer who would become known as Jack the Ripper.

In this episode of The Eclectic, we follow Annie’s final hours, explore the cramped courtyards and lodging houses of Spitalfields, and break down the evidence left behind in Hanbury Street. We look at who Annie was beyond the headlines: her struggles, her relationships, and the socio-political world that shaped her life and her death.

From eyewitness contradictions to the medical testimony that shocked Victorian London, we examine how Annie Chapman’s case reshaped public panic, press frenzy, and the police strategy moving forward.

Because to understand the Ripper’s shadow, we must first understand the woman caught within it.

(All sources are historical and publicly accessible.)

🔍 Primary Historical Sources

• The Times Digital Archive (1888) – Reports on Annie Chapman’s murder and the Ripper investigation.
• The Illustrated Police News (1888) – Contemporary newspaper accounts and illustrations.
• Metropolitan Police Files – Statements from officers including Inspector Abberline and Dr. George Bagster Phillips.
• Coroner Wynne Baxter’s Inquest Proceedings (1888) – Testimony of witnesses and medical examiners.

🔍 Secondary Sources

• Begg, Paul — Jack the Ripper: The Facts
• Sugden, Philip — The Complete History of Jack the Ripper
• Evans, Stewart P. & Rumbelow, Donald — Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard Investigates
• Marriott, Trevor — Jack the Ripper: The 21st Century Investigation

🔍 Academic & Contextual Materials

• Walkowitz, Judith — City of Dreadful Delight: Narratives of Sexual Danger in Late-Victorian London
• Whitechapel Society Articles & Historical Briefings
• The National Archives (UK) — Victorian policing and social context