Stuhlfelden, Salzburgerland, Austria, January 2010. Old traditons of the past live up again in the farmhouse Schwaigerlehen of Theresia and Fritz Bacher. "Krampus" is the untamed, shaggy spirit that accompanies St. Nicholas. Krampusses usually roam in larger groups. Their traditional costumes and masks are elaborately handcrafted. Krampusses can usually be encountered on and a few days before December 6th. "Perchten" are wild pagan spirits widespread throughout the...
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Stuhlfelden, Salzburgerland, Austria, January 2010. Old traditons of the past live up again in the farmhouse Schwaigerlehen of Theresia and Fritz Bacher. "Krampus" is the untamed, shaggy spirit that accompanies St. Nicholas. Krampusses usually roam in larger groups. Their traditional costumes and masks are elaborately handcrafted. Krampusses can usually be encountered on and a few days before December 6th. "Perchten" are wild pagan spirits widespread throughout the Austrian and Bavarian region. The appear alone or in groups, especially on three specific winter nights, called the "rough nights," i.e. the night before St. Nicholas (December 6th), before the winter solstice (December 22nd) and before Epiphany (January 6th). They carry bells and other loud instruments to dispel the winter. Photo by Frits Meyst/Adventure4ever.com
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