The nice thing about solar holidays is that there are so very many global traditions around them. I recently stumbled upon a picture book about some such customs. It’s not quite new, but I’d certainly never seen some of these before!
The Bizarre, Eye-Popping Costumes of Europe’s Wild Men
Every winter, something strange happens in the snowy mountain communities across Europe. Between December and Easter, tiny villages spanning all the way from Romania to Portugal become overrun with humans who shed their human form completely. Dressed like bears, goats, stags and monsters, the people of the village jump, shout and reenact wild hunts as part of the annual festivals that celebrate the winter solstice and beginning of spring.
Over the course of two winters, France-based photographer Charles Fréger visited 19 countries and more than 50 villages to document these strangely dressed animals.
The photos, which are available on Fréger’s website, show an impressive diversity of costumes and characters. So as you make your way through the longest night of the year, be thankful–or sad?–that you are (probably) not having to sit next to one of these things.
Both pictures copyright Charles Fréger.
Open thread!
Duane
Balloon Juice after Dark could give a person nightmares.
Major Major Major Major
@Duane: Behave, or the Krampus will get ya!
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
Yikes! Seeing those things, especially the first one, reminded me of the Fresno nightcrawlers.
How have you been M4? Haven’t seen you round these parts lately. Ready for Christmas?
Pogonip
I recommend Brom’s novel Krampus, The Yule Lord.
Duane
@Major Major Major Major: Santa Claus is watching me, a Russian stooge runs the WH, and the woods are full of krampus. Before you go to sleep, look under the bed.
Major Major Major Major
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: ah, life happens, ya know? Lots going on right now.
I’m with my parents in Denver for a bit. Christmas Eve is when we do our Xmas stuff, and then I’m going home on actual Christmas (great day to fly btw).
Oh, I totally forgot to send you that short story, did you still want to beta read it?
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??Imagine driving along and seeing one of these in front of you!
Major Major Major Major
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: iiii’ve seen weirder.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Major Major Major Major:
That sounds nice. There’s no place like home for the holidays, so they say. That bit about the flying made me chuckle. Y’know you’re going to need a special ID to fly starting in 2020 (a compliant driver’s license for example) where you need to present your birth certificate, Soc Security card, proof of residency to get one etc just to fly domestically? REAL ID Act of 2005. 9/11 and the Bush Admin are the gifts that keep on giving.
Go ahead and email it to me. I promise I won’t be too harsh ^^.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Major Major Major Major:
Looked in a mirror lately? //
You opened yourself up to that one.
Major Major Major Major
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
My DL is already compliant, so there.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Ugh. My birthday is the 27th, and my California driver’s license is expiring, and I’ve run out of renewals by mail. So, I bit the bullet and have a DMV appointment on the morning of the 28th to get the f****ing REAL ID. Thanks for the reminder that I have to get my documents in order (luckily, I have all of them relatively easily to hand). Happy birthday to me, and may GWB and all his kindred burn in hell. Grrrr.
oatler.
“Come, it is time you kept your appointment with the Wicker Man.”
?BillinGlendaleCA
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
That’s not a nice thing to call jl.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Major Major Major Major:
Ah, but is it a NY license? Take that libturd.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Does ji live in Fresno? I hadn’t thought about the Fresno nightcrawlers in like a year. I first learned about them in a compilation video by blameitonjorge about unexplained videos on the internet.
They’re more than likely fake, but they still look eerie when they walk.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice:
Don’t mention it and happy early birthday!
Major Major Major Major
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: nope, so?
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@oatler.:
“Not the bees, not the bees!”
Sister Golden Bear
I know it’s after Krampusnacht, but is it really asking too much for the horned one to appear, bind and scourge the Mango Mussolini, and then drag him down to Hell?
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Major Major Major Major:
I was just trying to be silly. I got your email and I’ll beta your short story within this coming week.
Major Major Major Major
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: awesome.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
I’m off to bed. Catch you all on the flip side.
SectionH
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice:
Happy Birthday! Happy Solstice too! Which is early/late, good wishes
Steeplejack
Some seasonal music:
A Winter’s Solstice II, Windham Hill artists.
George Winston, December.
SectionH
@Sister Golden Bear: Probably. Excellent idea though.
Yutsano
@Major Major Major Major: Talk about creepy stories…medieval Europeans were sure damn mean to their children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12_Z93KZnfA
Major Major Major Major
@Yutsano: best not to get too attached to the wee ones in such an environment anyway.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: jl, has mentioned that he’s from the Central Valley around Fresno.
Major Major Major Major
Well, I’m off to bed.
I should note that there were much freakier Krampus pictures to choose from (not to mention some of the other beasties in the gallery), you’re welcome.
SectionH
@Steeplejack: My favorite for the winter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfEUBJLZSHw
Yutsano
@Major Major Major Major: #FurriesRuinEverything
Sab
I can imagine that krampus trotting down the hall in the White House between thos red xmas trees.
PST
I’m on the road to Chichen Itza, but I think all the action there during the equinoxes, not the solstices.
skyweaver
Those costumes are amazing. I love them!
debbie
I woke up this morning and the Solstice ritual candle hadn’t burned the place down, so that’s a good sign.
Ohio Mom
Love the Wild Men — many thanks for the link.
MMMM, have you seen the Bergdorf Goodman Christmas windows? Worth a trip uptown, they are Manhattan’s version of Wild Men.
Joe
Does this work?
Hon
Those pictures are great. I presume they would include s’Urtzu if he weren’t 1. off the coast and 2. in February.
J R in WV
The Wild Men of Japan, like 167 different costumes, probably each one with a different local folk tale of horror. Amazing!
Krampus coming to GET you!
Everywhere, every culture.
Now if he would only come for Trump some late night in the White House, or in the Presidential suite at Mar-a Lago.
Nancy
My solstice gift to myself was finally going to the Memorial Art Gallery Monet exhibit in Rochester. I want to go again before it closes on January 6. Rochesterian and area (NY) Balloon Juice readers, if you haven’t been, please consider it. Eight paintings of a bridge on the Thames in London fog. Sounds dull but the results are transcendent. All my words read as trite so I’m writing and deleting. I was immersed in the experience and I can’t recommend this enough.
And wonder if anyone in the area would care to meet up again. Before or after we are all snowed in.
Urlhix
Late to the party, as usual, but thanks for sharing these. Fantastic stuff!