O, HOLY FRIGHT

Ok, I wish they'd been focusing on something a little more important, but this NY Post cover story is a sick hoot!


By MARLENE NAANES and ANDY GELLER

OPEN SLAY: Joel Krupnik's bloody Christmas tree yesterday on East 18th Street.

Photo: Luiz C. Ribeiro


December 13, 2005 -- EXCLUSIVE

Ho, ho . . . no!!!!!

Slay bells are ringing outside a $3 million brownstone on East 18th Street in Manhattan, where, rather than your typical jolly St. Nick, a skinny, bloody-bearded Santa holds a knife in his left hand and the severed head of a doll - blood gushing from its eye sockets - in the other.

This 'tis-the-season-to be-creepy display - which has drawn no small amount of community ire - can be found in the front yard of Joel Krupnik, 58, and his wife, Mildred Castellanos, 43, who said they are protesting the commercialization of the Yule season.

In another touch of Christmas jeer, the Santa dummy is standing behind a tree whose bare branches are adorned with beheaded Barbie dolls.

"Christmas has religious origins. It's in the Bible. Santa is not in the Bible. He's not a religious symbol. Santa Claus has become a piece of Americana," Krupnik explained yesterday.

Krupnik, who dabbles in real estate, said if anyone was offended, they could simply cross the street. Some children have done just that.

Other people have called the cops - only to be told there was nothing they could do. And one woman chased Castellanos down the block, screaming epithets at her.

Outside the home - also decorated with gargoyles, lizards and dragons - there were many who accused the couple of dreaming of a fright Christmas.

"This is like a nightmare before Christmas. These people are possessed," fumed Laure Levinson, 50. "I thought it was very gory and bloody. Christmas is not supposed to be gory," said Jimmy Crevier, 9, who was passing by. "It's bad," agreed Sean Conlon, 5. "Santa's face and hair are red - Santa shouldn't look like that."

His brother, Ryan, 9, chimed in, "Santa makes toys and he lives in the North Pole. He doesn't have a haunted house like that."

"It's weird," said Javin Bose, 7, who lives next door.

The Krupniks, who have three children and have owned their home for 16 years, are nonpracticing Jews who don't celebrate any holidays, but like putting up decorations for them.

"We definitely have holiday spirit," insisted daughter Darla, 16.

The couple introduced their kids to horror films at an early age - and Darla and her brothers, Ariel, 18, and Charleston, 20, love them.

In fact, Darla came up with the idea for the bloody Santa - basing it on the movie, "Silent Night, Deadly Night," in which a teenager goes on a murderous rampage dressed as Santa.

The beheaded dolls came from Castellanos, who has a collection.