MY MASK

Getting started with your own Krampus costume can be intimidating. Some options can be expensive, while others require a lot of creativity and personal artistry. I wanted to share my own mask journey, in hopes that it helps others in choosing the best option for them.

I consider myself a fairly creative person, but the thought of making my own mask was too intimidating. When I first started out, I wanted to do something fun for Bremerton, but wasn’t sure how well it would be received or if I would be able to get it going for the long term. I wasn’t ready to make a big investment without figuring out if this was something that would gain momentum.

I purchased my first mask from an Etsy shop online. There are a few U.S. based costume and mask designers who sell masks and costumes through Etsy. I figured one of these latex masks would feel slightly more authentic, without having to figure out how to purchase something from Europe.

The mask was great, for what it was. It covered my whole head and had detachable horns that we ended up having to figure out how to more securely attach to the head with wire. It worked really well, but I admit, the latex was really hot and I sweat a ton under that mask. Even in cold weather.

We didn’t do a big, announced event for the first walk. I just grabbed some friends and we strolled through downtown Bremerton on a deserted Sunday evening. We had a few people approach us and a friend took a bunch of photos. While it was a super small event, the photos caught the attention of Krampus Seattle, who gave me the most amazing costuming, organizing, and Krampus advice ever.

A few of the Bremerton Facebook pages picked up the photos and it seemed like it would be popular; so I felt like a Krampus event my have some legs. Leveraging the advice of my new friend, I decided I would invest in a wood-carved mask and upgrade my costume. I was still apprehensive about buying from a shop I didn’t know, in Austria, and couldn’t travel to Europe for a custom fitting. I decided to purchase from an Austrian shop, where they had used masks in stock that I could choose from and hopefully have shipped right away.

I knew I wanted large horns. I had watched lots of Krampuslauf YouTube videos and the horn size was important to me. I found the perfect mask, for me, and purchased a mask that wasn’t cheap. Nevertheless, I felt like it was in my price range to take a risk and have it shipped from Austria.

It took about 5 or 6 weeks to get my wood-carved mask arrive. Much of that delay, I later learned, was the result of it getting tied up in U.S. customs. I’ve learned, from others with the same experience, that this is common. When my mask arrived, on a Saturday morning, I knew exactly what the huge box was on my front porch and couldn’t contain my excitement.

I tore through the box and packing (fur scraps I had ordered, and old coffee carrier boxes ). I was so excited though, that I looked past the kinda poor packing job, and dug through it all to unveil my mask.

The mask was even better looking than I had anticipated, from the online photos. The horns were huge, and the detail incredible. It even had real barbed wire integrated into the carving details of the head and wrapped around the horns. Unfortunately, the mask broke in shipping. It had been split completely in half and was only held together by the fur at the back of the mask.

Luckily, since the mask was made of wood, it meant we could buy adhesives that could glue to back together. My partner bought some two-part epoxy, carefully applied a bead of glue along the break, and bound it tougher, leaving it untouched for two days. We thought we would have to paint it to cover up the crack, but the break was so clean, and the mask already had decorative cuts in the skull, so the fissure just blended right in. The mask is just as strong now as the day it was made. I’ve had no trouble with the crack and you would never know it had broken.

Since it was a used mask, the padding and straps (to secure it to my head) were designed for someone else. We pulled the old stuff off and repadded it using a little bit of carpet padding and soft deer skin that I ordered from Amazon. We reworked the strapping mechanism (a snowboard, locking buckle) and repadded it, to eliminate chaffing. We then drilled some small holes in the ears so I could hear. The masks was then ready for debut, and I couldn’t wait to get it out in public, and see how well it would be received.

Lessons learned:

I was obsessed with large horns. My obsession ended up working out for me, but not without consequences.

After communicating with the Austrian shop, and speaking with my Krampus Seattle friends, the horns caused problems with packing for international shipping. It was a challenge for them to pack it securely, while in a small enough box that they could actually ship it to me. I’ve learned that many mask makers have horn size restrictions for U.S. customers, for that exact reason. So the shop did the best they could, and the risk was mine. I’m glad I took the risk, but it’s something for others to consider when purchasing a mask from Europe.

The horn size means that they require a larger mask base. Mine is pretty huge. It’s also pretty heavy. It’s not bad to lift it with your hands, but having it on my head for hours, can put a strain on my neck. I’ve learned that I have to take a mask break every 45 minutes to an hour to relieve the weight on my neck. Other wood masks are super light and can be worn for hours and hours without causing a problem.

I’m super happy with my mask journey. I absolutely love my big-horned mask. It’s exactly what I wanted and I’m glad I made the upgrade. With its repair, it’s still a high quality mask that will last me a lifetime and will hopefully be an heirloom that can be passed down for generations. It’s truly a work of art and was well worth the investment. I’m sure it has many more Krampusnacht’s in its future.