Dozens of “runs,” or parades of people dressed in horned masks and carrying whips or bells, take over towns in southern Germany and Austria from the last weeks of November to Dec. 23.

In a 2014 appearance on “The Tonight Show,” the actor Christoph Waltz explained Krampus to an American audience: the Austrian answer to Elf on the Shelf.

The Krampus, he said, does not just spy on kids and report back to Santa, but arrives with a stick, a bag and threats. “If you weren’t good, you get stuck in the bag and hit and shipped off,” he said.

Modern Krampus parades, however, are bound by strictly enforced rules, including no drinking and no hitting. Scaring children and tourists is allowed, but not sticking anyone in a bag.

Melissa Eddy contributed reporting.

_____

Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated all morning. Browse past briefings here.

If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play.

What would you like to see here? Contact us at briefing@nytimes.com.

You can get the briefing delivered to your inbox Sunday through Friday. We have four global editions, timed for the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia, and an Evening Briefing on weeknights. Check out our full range of free newsletters here.