The Krampus, a gruesome half-man, half-animal figure with horns, rattles and bells, usually appears together with St Nicholas. On 5 and 6 December, the groups go from house to house, while St. Nicholas rewards the good, the Krampus is known for frightening and punishing the bad. Perchten stand for the expulsion of evil spirits, they are supposed to bring good luck for the new year and, depending on the region and origin, are divided into the "good" Schönperchten or the "bad" Schiachperchten.

In many areas, Krampus and Perchten runs have developed from the old customs due to the great interest among the population. The groups and "passes", as they are called, often perform at large spectacles with music and lots of show, displaying their elaborate costumes, furs and skilfully carved masks.

There are also numerous Krampus and Perchten runs in the Fuschlseeregion in SalzburgerLand and Salzkammergut: