Krampuslauf Philadelphia

Krampuslauf Philadelphia is a family-friendly, community-based, and community-oriented event held annually in Liberty Lands Park and open to all.

Community Preparation Workshop, December 7 

Krampuslauf preparations are already underway, but the first official Krampuslauf event is the community workshop at iMPeRFeCT Gallery in Germantown on Sunday, December 7 from 12:00-4:00 PM. This workshop features Tucson artist Mykl Wells, who brings his artwork to Philly to help to inspire the 'Laufers as they engage in their own craft work. The workshop provides an opportunity for the community to come together to make lanterns, decorations, and costumes or costume elements for the parade. 

As a clumsy person who is not good with crafts, I can attest to learning a lot a these workshops. They are a lot of fun! Over the course of the last year, I have learned how to make the lanterns and how to make masks.

Banner for the Heathen Contingent

At the workshop, members of the Heathen Contingent for Krampuslauf Philadelphia will also assemble a banner constructed of patches representing the various Heathen traditions. Heathens from all over the country (and farther!) have been invited to send a patch to get added to the banner. Each year, more patches will be added to it, thus creating a living banner. The Pennsylvania Heathens blog has all the details, so folks are invited to send a patch in. 

Costumes for Krampuslauf Philadelphia

Krampuslauf Philadelphia brings together Alpine, Deitsch (Pennsylvania German), Celtic, and other Yuletide traditions that reflect the darker aspects of life and our ability to surmount them. It is a reflection of the Parade of Spirits, or the Wild Hunt, so the costumes feature the representation of the powerful German goddess Berchta and Her entourage of scary masks of the Alpine tradition, gloomy face paint, the soot-covered visage of the Deitsch Belsnickel and the call of Treier Eckhart, Manx Phynoderee and Buggane, and many others. If you do not know what to do, then just make your face up or put on your scariest costume!

Krampuslauf: The Parade of Spirits

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Liberty Lands Park, Philadelphia

3:00 PM (assembly time)

4:30 PM (parade begins)

Official Website: http://krampuslaufphiladelphia.com

Facebook: Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits

Donations

Krampuslauf Philadelphia: The Parade of Spirits is a community-oriented event. In order to increase our connection to the regional community, we are adding a new, totally voluntary feature. We invite those who are able to bring a donation to the Mazzoni Center Food Bank and/or to Forgotten Cats. These charities are beneficiaries of Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day's donations, and they have each expressed that our donations have been very helpful to their missions. 

The Mazzoni Center Food Bank provides access to healthy and balanced meals for people who are living with HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are always in need of canned and packaged food items.

Forgotten Cats is an organization that provides humane Trap/Neuter/Release services to control the feral cat population. They are in need of cat food donations, linens, wet kitten food, and even old newspapers (please, though, not wet or gross newspaper donations).

We will have containers in Liberty Lands Park at the time of Krampuslauf for those who would like to donate an item.

Krampuslauf Philadelphia is on Saturday, December 13, 2014. Folks will start gathering and getting their costumes set around 3:00, and the Parade of Spirits starts at 4:30.

Thank you!

Note: This event is not organized by Delaware Valley Pagan Network, nor it is a Pagan-specific event.

Heathen Banner for Krampuslauf Philadelphia

We have been having discussions in the Heathen Contingent for Krampuslauf Philadelphia and Urglaawe Fiber Arts Guild groups on Facebook about creating a Heathen banner for Krampuslauf Philadelphia. This project is now a go.

As a "living banner," part of the goal is to have something that can be added to year after year. As we are getting a somewhat later start than ideal, this year's banner will start with a simple design of what ever words we decide to use on a parade style banner that measures approximately 6ft wide x 3ft tall with a border of work contributed by the community. 

To keep it simple and easy this year, we were thinking about smaller "patch" style pieces consisting of decorative stitching, applique, or even painted (fabric markers or paint). These patches should be a finished size of 6in x 3in. Note: If you are using a material that might fray, please leave a 1/2-inch allowance for it to be turned under. Large enough to be seen but small enough that people may have some time to get something done in an afternoon to contribute to the banner. 

Our hope is to have the banner debut at Krampuslauf this year, which, if you have been keeping track is less than a month away! Krampuslauf Philadelphia takes place in Liberty Lands Park in Philadelphia on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Folks from everywhere are invited to create a patch that represents you or your tradition and to send it patch to us, and we'll add it to the banner.

Distelfink Sippschaft

PO Box 2131

Bristol, PA 19007

Thank you!

Ewicher Yeeger Sege - Hollersege - Railing Against King Frost

Distelfink's observance of Ewicher Yeeger Sege will take place on Saturday, November 15 at the Distelfink's Hof grounds by the Lüsch-Müsselman Graabhof. This is a public event.

1620 Mahoning Drive West
Lehighton, PA 18235
1:00 PM

Ewicher Yeeger

For some more information on Ewicher Yeeger, please see the tale of Allemaengel on the Deitsch Mythology Blog.

Holler

The oral lore we have for Holler is  scant. What we know from Hexerei lore is that He is a master hunter and a god of death and of transformation. A remnant of a tale indicates that He destroys tender plants after Allelieweziel to keep the Frost Giants from taking their energies. It is also likely that He is Holle's consort.

Ewicher Yeeger  = Holler?

Although it remains unproven, it has become increasingly accepted within the Urglaawe and Hexerei communities that Ewicher Yeeger and Holler are one and the same. Honoring Holler by name in the Hollersege will be a feature of Saturday's event.

The Frost Giant Armies

The Frost Giants are aware of Holle's departure on the Wild Hunt, and they begin their advancement toward the Hatzholz (Midgard/Mannheim: where we live) from the Northern Leaves. In some versions of the King Frost tale, the Giants' army includes some familiar names: Dreizehdax, Vatzehvedder, and Fuffzehfux. These are the Giants who come in May in an attempt to destroy the expanding fertility of the land. Their visit at this time of year prepares the way for the arrival of King Frost, who brings the killing frost to the land.

Railing Against King Frost

Regarding King Frost, we will also engage in an old mountain Hexerei tradition of railing against him and his armies. While the Giants ultimately take the land in Holle's absence, the railing weakens their ranks and allows more time for Holler to direct their souls to the Wild Hunt.

This is the first year we are holding this observance at the Graabhof. Its location on a slope of arm of the Blohbarrick (Blue Mountain) is most appropriate as it allows us to honor Ewicher Yeeger on the mountain associated with Him. 

Offerings to Ewicher Yeeger may include deer meat, rabbit meat, and scrapple.