Krampus, the ruler of the mythical Underworld makes an appearance in Chicago every year at the local Christkindlmarket, his uninviting face and black-haired body scaring kids of all ages. And then “bang”, he’s as good as gone every Christmas Eve when the market closes.

Given the state of the world today, one does wonder whether he ever left this time, or remained lurking behind, broke his chains, plotting sinister and evil schemes several thousand miles away.