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The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas

Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil
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( 351 ratings, 68 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas explores the folkloric figure of the Krampus, a devil-like character linked to St Nicholas in Alpine Austria and Germany. The book delves into the ancient, darker roots of Christmas as a haunted season where witches hold sway and saints can be deadly. Richly illustrated, it traces the Krampus' rise from medieval folklore to modern countercultural emblem and current mainstream interest.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book suits readers fascinated by folklore, history, anthropology, and cultural studies, particularly those intrigued by Christmas traditions, medieval legends, and modern reinterpretations of ancient myths.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From elements of medieval witchcraft reworked in 18th-century folk Catholicism, the Krampus has risen to embody a new countercultural holiday.

book trailer co-op available book release party to coincide with Los Angeles's Krampusfest. active social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter author appearances in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Portland OR.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Krampus, a folkloric devil associated with St Nicholas in Alpine Austria and Germany, has been embraced by the counterculture and is lately skewing mainstream. The new Christmas he seems to embody is ironically closer to an ancient understanding of the holiday as a perilous, haunted season. In the Krampus' world, witches rule Christmas and saints can sometimes kill.

As mainstream interest in Krampus is on the rise, The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas is a brilliant, heavily illustrated primer on this medieval, devil-like character.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Al Ridenour's work for its accessible, well-researched history and captivating personal journey. Publisher's Weekly highlights its appeal to enthusiasts of folklore, anthropology, and counterculture, while Dangerous Minds commends its comprehensive content and exceptional visual design by Sean Tejaratchi, calling it a must-have for anyone interested in the subject.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781627310345

Publisher: Feral House,U.S.

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 October 2016

Country: United States

Imprint: Feral House,U.S.

Illustration: 100 Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 178.0mm

Height: 254.0mm

Weight: 772g

Pages: 200

About the Author

Al Ridenour: A native of Pasadena, California, Al Ridenour holds BA's in German and English literature, has worked as an author, journalist, animator, and artist, and has been a fixture in the West Coast underground art community since the mid-1990s.

His Krampus research has taken him to the Austrian Alps and Munich, and brought him in contact with cultural anthropologists working in Salzburg and Vienna as well as dozens of members of contemporary European Krampus groups. In 2013, Ridenour co-founded Krampus Los Angeles, an organization that's made the city ground zero for American Krampusmania.

Ridenour has translated and produced the only English-language version of 19th-century Krampus play, written articles, and lectured on the topic at the international Goethe-Institut and elsewhere, and exhibited his Krampus suits at the University of Southern California's Doheny Museum

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