Mischievous spirits take to local streets

Krampus – a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Central and Eastern Alpine folklore scares children who have misbehaved – as seen in the Crestline Krampus run.

Some of the participants in the Crestline Krampus run.

(Photos by Amber Warthen)

Mischievous spirits take to local streets

By P.D. Hancock
Special to The Alpine Mountaineer

You could hear the bells way before you could see them. On Dec. 3 at around 3:30 p.m., a motley crew of Yuletide monsters sauntered down Lake Drive.
This Krampus run was organized by Ty Holifield, a transplant from Alabama who appreciates our Alpine home for its similarity to its European counterpart. He wants to put Crestline on the map for having a Krampus run each year.
Krampus and the many other “monsters” in attendance, such as Frau Perchta and Mari Lwyd, all stem from pagan traditions in the Alpine regions of Europe. Once considered Winter Solstice entities with a wide range of backgrounds, the contemporary creatures we now know were altered by the Catholic Church in medieval times in an attempt to demonize local folklore.
Holifield and Gunnar Jorgenson, who owns Akasha in town, note that these beings represent the lineage of paganism that is still woven into the holiday season.
Keep your eyes peeled next year at around the first weekend of December to enjoy this cavalcade of mischievous spirits.