A petition of support is circulating for the owner of Coven House in Strathroy, after a local church issued a letter of disappointment and outrage regarding a Krampus float that was a part of this year’s Strathroy Lions Club Ricco Foods Santa Claus parade. Several dozen people from the Church signed a petition as well, citing demonic influences included in the float. We talked with Tanya Griffin, who owns Coven House.
Griffin, tells myFM the last thing they wanted to do was offend anyone.
Griffin admits Krampus is a scary figure, but she’s heard a lot of positive things about their float, which placed 2nd in the parade.
Many others in the community are also pointing out the folklore side of Krampus, rooted in pre-Christian German traditions and known as the dark counterpart to Santa Claus. He punishes misbehaving children instead of giving the good ones presents like Santa. Griffin says they’re hoping to keep him around next year.
myFM has also reached out to both the municipality and Lions Club, both of whom according to church sources received the letter last Wednesday, a day before a Lions member meeting and before this past Monday’s town Council meeting. So far, we have yet to hear back from the Lions Club.
Mayor Colin Grantham did respond Thursday morning saying under the Procedure By-Law under Petitions and Submissions Section 9.23 – written submissions stating “written correspondence needs to be submitted 10 days before the Council meeting”. The deadline was missed.
Section 9.24
Part B – “Petitions shall be on a matter within the jurisdiction of Council” Mayor Grantham stated the Santa Claus parade is not a Municipal event as such it is not a matter for Council
Written by: L. Dickson