CLEVELAND — With the sound of Cleveland-style polka music playing in the background, David Karn spreads some holiday cheer.

What You Need To Know

  • St. Nicholas Day is Dec. 6

  • The holiday is celebrated in many cities with European influence

  • David and Brian Karn run a family business where they dress up as St. Nicholas and Krampus

  • Coming from a German family, the brothers said they have been dressing up for over 10 years to keep the tradition going

“All I want to say is Merry Christmas to everybody,” David Karn said.

He dressed up as old St. Nick for a brunch at Hofbräuhaus, which celebrated St. Nicholas Day, typically observed on Dec. 6 by cities around the world that have a large European population.

“St. Nicholas always comes out around December, around Christmastime, and goes through the villages and takes care of all the good boys and girls,” David Karn said.

David Karn was accompanied by his character’s evil counterpart, Krampus, who was portrayed by Brian Karn.

“Krampus is the guy that takes care of the bad children,” Brian Karn said.

In real life, David and Brian Karn are business partners and brothers. They run a business called Krampus of Cleveland and have been dressing up as their respective cultural Christmas characters for over 10 years together.

“I learned about Krampus on YouTube, and we've been doing that for, man, forever," Brian Karn said. "Whenever we go out, we take pictures, we have a good time."

The brothers said their family business is in high demand this time of year. They’re gearing up for more than 10 appearances this holiday season at various German establishments in northeast Ohio and share those responsibilities with their other relatives who are involved in the Christmas-themed company. 

“Oh, it's fantastic," David Karn said. "Krampus of Cleveland is a family tradition. There's 10 brothers and nephews that are [dressing up as] Krampus and there's a few St. Nicks out there, too."

Coming from a German family, David Karn said the business is a way for his family to carry on familiar cultural traditions in Cleveland. At the brunch, the characters gave out gold coins and fruit to those who they deemed as good and handed out coal to those who they thought might make the naughty list, according to the legend.

“It all started back when St. Nick saved a village by giving them bags of coins,” David Karn said. “Then he told them to leave their shoes out on the doorstep at Christmastime and he would fill them with fruit.”

Despite having a busy holiday schedule ahead of him, David Karn said that he's looking forward to continuing this unique holiday tradition for seasons to come with his brother.

“It's a great time that we can stay together and hang out together around the holidays,” David Karn said.