I just visited a "Buttnmandl Lauf" in Loipl near Berchtesgaden in Germany. St. Nicholas was accompanied by a group of men wearing fur masks with a red tongue hanging out, large straw "costumes" and carrying cow bells on their back. There were also a smaller number of men wearing leather costumes and masks who carried whips, with which they would try to hit onlookers.

This is similar to the Krampus parades in other parts of the Alps, except that the men wore straw and their masks were not as ornate.

What is the origin of these traditions and what do they mean? It seems likely that they are pre-Christian winter festivities, but is this documented anywhere? Is there a consensus on this?