December Pubmoot, Voryuul, Parade of Spirits 2022

 VORYUUL 2022

The Urglaawe observance of Voryuul begins at sunset on December 8, and observance of it is a hybrid event (in person in Bristol, PA and on Zoom) on Friday, December 9. The Parade of Spirits in Philadelphia on December 10. These are the darkest nights, and our tradition is one of confronting the shadowier sides of ourselves and embracing the reality of the totality of ourselves. It can be an illuminating time, but it can also shake up a lot of preconceived notions that we have about ourselves.

All are welcomed to join our hybrid event. If you live in the Philadelphia metropolitan area or in the Deitscherei/Pennsylvania Dutch Country and would like to attend in person, please contact me (Robert L. Schreiwer) directly on Facebook. 

Ritual Event Link (Facebook)

Please note that this event is preceded by a Monthly Heathen Pubmoot at the King George II Inn in Bristol, PA. The ritual itself will start at 6:30 with a walking processional (for those who are able to do so; others are welcomed to ride in vehicles -- and part of me is considering pulling the Buggy as part of the processional, but that might be consideration for next year.)

December Pubmoot Link (Facebook)

The ritual will continue from my house in Bristol, PA, at approximately 7:00 PM.

One of Voryuul's features is the Parade of Spirits in Liberty Lands Park in Philadelphia. This year, the Parade falls on Saturday, December 10, 2022. See site for more info.

Parade of Spirits - Der Geischderschtrutz - 2022

What is the Parade of Spirits?

The Parade of Spirits ("Der Geischderschtrutz" in Pennsylvania Dutch) is a grassroots, family-friendly, community-based, participatory parade that takes place in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Originally founded as Krampuslauf Philadelphia in 2011, the event has expanded its focus to include more folkloric features.

Traditionally, the time in mid-December prior to the winter solstice (Yule) was when the Pennsylvania Dutch held spooky parades and when children donned costumes and went "belsnickeling," or trick-or-treating. The Parade of Spirits is a modern expression of that old tradition. 

The Parade serves as a depiction of the Wild Hunt from Germanic mythology, and features liminal and shadow-side entities, such as Belsnickel, Krampus, and the souls of the recently departed.

At the fore of the "Schtrutz" is the Germanic psychopomp, Gedreier Eckhart, who is a hero in German folklore and who serves the goddess Holle in death just as he did in life. Pennsylvania Dutch myth places him ahead of the Wild Hunt, warning the living of the impending fury as Holle travels the realms of the multiverse, seeking out the lost souls of the recently departed and capturing them to bring them back into the human evolutionary process.

Although the basic functions of the Parade are based in German and Pennsylvania Dutch myth and folklore, this is a secular event. All shadowy-side, shady-side, and dark-side traditions from all cultural backgrounds are welcomed and encouraged (please just keep in mind this is a family-friendly event, and please be careful not to engage in cultural appropriation from historically oppressed or marginalized cultures). This is an inclusive event and welcomes participants of all backgrounds; no bigotry tolerated.

While some costumes may be commercially produced (particularly Krampus, Perchten, or other traditional Alpine costumes), most are handmade, from the simple to the complex. Simply putting green or gray makeup on your face and participating as a ghoul on the Wild Hunt is fantastic!

BRING NOISEMAKERS! THIS IS A NOISY, FUN EVENT!

Arrive at Liberty Lands Park (913 N 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123) at around 4:00 to enjoy the costumes and to talk with old friends and to make new ones. 

Just prior to sunset (16:36/4:36 PM EST), the Parade will begin with opening remarks, and then the organizers will step off from the park onto the streets. Follow Gedreier Eckhart's "Boomba" (a Pennsylvania Dutch percussion instrument that is  played primarily through bouncing) and enjoy yourself as we strut the streets of Northern Liberties.

In 2021, we will debut the Buggy in some form. We need to assess the speed at which it can be moved to see if we can have it on the street, but the Parade marchers will stay on the sidewalks.

After the Parade returns to Liberty Lands Park, please tarry around the bonfire for some fellowship (please have a face mask on hand and follow Philadelphia's covid-19 guidelines on outdoor interaction) until the performance begins.

In 2021, we are delighted to present a fire performance by bellydancer, Lorenda, and her partner, Aly Louise!

There is no cost for this event, but it is PARTICIPATORY, so... make yourself look dead and come out to the 'Schtrutz!

#geischderschtrutz
#paradeofspirits
#pennsylvaniadutch
#firebellydancebylorenda

Parade of Spirits 2020 (Philadelphia) Notice

PARADE OF SPIRITS 2020: INFO

Since its inception in 2012 as Krampuslauf Philadelphia, the Parade of Spirits has become a beloved grassroots, community-led event. 

I’m sure you’ve all heard this phrase before: “Due to covid.” Yes, due to covid, we are going to have to scale the parade down significantly.

- The “official” parade will consist of just the three organizers (Janet, Linda, and I). If others choose to don a costume and to follow the official parade, they themselves will be responsible for maintaining proper social distancing.

- We (or at least I) plan to use videoconferencing and to record our march.

- The first half of the parade will be in total silence (the Silent March in English or der schweiyend Marsch in Pennsylvania Dutch). This is to honor the many people whose lives were lost or drastically impacted by the pandemic. It is a moment to look back on 2020 and to recognize what we have lost and to try to find ways to take lessons learned from the lack of preparation and compliance and to use them to make, as a society, better decisions on the future.

- About halfway into the parade route, the Germanic psychopomp, Gedreier Eckhart (played by me) will begin the noise making, and everyone can begin to chant and to cheer as usual. This is symbolic of hope and the ongoing cycles of the ages. Ironically, the depiction is of dead beings affirming life. During the latter half, anyone around and on videoconference or Facebook Live, should set their intentions on making 2021  better year. What that will look like will vary from person to person. In my case, I had let a series of bad news (not the least of which was getting covid and later being designated as a longhauler) define my year for me, so my life was centered around those things. In 2021, I am still going to have to deal with those things, but they will not define me. I also plan to ritually hex the virus, but that’s a different post.

- This is the sucky part. We won’t have the bonfire or any entertainment in the park. We will also have to miss out on the vibrancy that the Philadelphia Women’s Slavic Chorus has imbued the march with over the last few years.

- The official parade still will start and end at Liberty Lands Park. The step-off time for the parade is 16:40/4:40 PM on Saturday, December 12, 2020.

Thank you for your time and support for this event.

Gedreier Eckhart - Germanic Psychopomp?

Gedreier Eckhart is one of the more interesting characters in our folklore. For me personally, this is partially because Eckhart is a family surname and also because, somehow, much of my family was aware of the connection between Eckhart and Holle while I somehow did not make the connection until I fully identified as Urglaawer. Weird.

There is not a huge volume of oral lore on him from Deitsch lore, but what we do have makes him an important player in the Urglaawe view of the Wild Hunt. Our lore is consistent with much of the lore of other German lands as well.

Eckhart’s roots run deep in Germanic lore. He is of the war band of Dietrich of Bern. He appears as Eckewart the Margrave in the Nibelungenlied, and in a Heldenbuch appendix, he is said to stand before the entrance to Holle’s realm to warn or to frighten away anyone who wished to enter. He also appears in the Middle Ages tale of the Tannhãuser, and Grimm (936) postulates that he was perhaps functioning as a Heathen priest. In our lore, he may have been an incarnation of die Weisskeppich Fraa  (but that sense appears to be an outlier).

Eckhart is a loyal character throughout the heroic legends, but, in Deitsch lore anyway, his title of Gedreier (“Loyal”) comes from his dedication and service to Holle. He appears with a white beard and a white staff. He is deceased, yet he continues to serve the goddess in death just as he did in life. Our lore places him as sleeping in a linden tree or in a rock until Holle has need of him. In Germanic lore, including that of the Deitsch, he precedes the Geischderschtrutz, or the Parade of Spirits (read: the Wild Hunt), warning the living to get out of the way of the impending fury and also advising the living to be prepared for Holle’s inspection.

As the Parade continues and, as Deitsch lore says, meets up with Berchta and the souls of those who have passed since the Hunt began, Eckhart guides the souls of the Parade to Holle’s Mill, where they are crushed into separate parts and reconstituted into new soul constructs. 

In this sense, it appears that Eckhart is very much functioning as a psychopomp, guiding the souls of the deceased to the end of their journey. 

I have been playing the role of Eckhart in Philadelphia’s Parade of Spirits for several years, and I have been reflecting that psychopomp role without giving it due consideration. This year, I intend to make that role more pronounced.

PARADE OF SPIRITS! (Krampuslauf Philadelphia)

This is the annual grassroots Parade of Spirits through the streets of Northern Liberties. Participants are highly encouraged to dress in appropriate "Dark Half of the Year" costumes.

This is a participatory event more than a spectator event. Interested folks are encouraged to come in costumes that reflect the Dark Half of the year, the scary characters of traditional lore of various cultures, or the shadow side of the self.

Gathering time starts at around 3:30 PM. Some folks put their costumes on in in the park; others arrive in costume. Parade kicks off at dusk.

The Heathen Contingent has a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/729157620446604/

YULETIDE SOCK DRIVE

Socks are one of the most requested items at homeless shelters, but they are also one of the least-donated items.

From December 9, 2017 (Parade of Spirits) through January 1, 2017, Distelfink Sippschaft will be collecting new, unworn socks for folks in need.

We need all sizes, from baby to adult male. Practical socks, fun socks, fuzzy socks, holiday socks, argyle socks are all needed!

Stock up stacks of socks and stockings and help to bring warmth to the feet of those in need this Yuletide!

Contact Robert L. Schreiwer (schreiwer@urglaawe.org) for collection sites.

The first location will be at Parade of Spirits/Krampuslauf in Liberty Lands Park.

Donations will be directed to homeless shelters in the Delaware Valley.

Yuletide Sock Drive

Socks are one of the most requested items at homeless shelters, but they are also one of the least-donated items.

From December 17, 2016 (Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits) through January 1, 2016, Distelfink Sippschaft will be collecting new, unworn socks for folks in need. We need all sizes, from baby to adult male. Practical socks, fun socks, fuzzy socks, holiday socks, argyle socks are all needed!

Stock up stacks of socks and stockings and help to bring warmth to the feet of those in need this Yuletide!

Contact Robert L. Schreiwer (schreiwer@urglaawe.org) for collection sites. The first location will be at Parade of Spirits/Krampuslauf in Liberty Lands Park.

Donations will be directed to homeless shelters in the Delaware Valley.

Photos from Krampuslauf Philadelphia 2015: Parade of Spirits

Most of our photos came from the preparation period because it was difficult to take photos while marching, but there were other people taking photographs of the parade along the marching route. Hopefully we will be able to share more in the future. Featured in our photos are Mike Hicks in his debut in the role of Belsnickel. Robert L. Schreiwer reprised his 2013 role as Gedreier Eckhart, the leader of the Wild Hunt from Deitsch lore. Andria Carpentier marched as a spirit in the Hunt and assisted others with makeup. Corrine Johnson delighted the crowd with her stunning handmade Yule Cat (from Icelandic lore) costume. Joe Barrett and other folks formed a group of Yule Lads. 

Photos (from Andria Carpentier and Robert L. Schreiwer)

Channel 17 has some great pics posted, particularly from the fire performers!

Photos from Channel 17 in Philadelphia

Once again, Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits has exceeded our expectations. This wondrous, grassroots, community- and participant-driven event continues to grow and to flourish in the City of Brotherly Love.