Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! God Jul! Feliz Navidad!

I wish all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May all your days be filled with peace, harmony, joy and creativity!

Perchtnlauf - "Perchtn"-run

To get an idea of what I'm writing about, you can go here.

This is an ancient tradition in Bavaria and many Alpine regions: young men (nowadays women, too) dress up as scary, creepy monsters with heavy, wooden masks. They are called "Perchtn" or "Perchten" and go from house to house, from farm to farm. They dance old dances, tell stories and sayings while they go and make an unbelievable noise with their drums, rattles and (cow) bells. This should chase away evil spirits from house and home. Every mask symbolizes a different character: the main is the "Percht" or "Berchta" who goes from house to house with her huge crowd of other characters. This happenes during the months of December and January

The "Percht" is - according to ethnic study reseachers -a pagan goddess, related to an unknown celtic goddess, maybe related to the famous "Frau Holle" ("Mother Hulda ).

The Percht punishes laziness but rewards dilligence and helpfulness. She expects that housework is at standstill between the 23rd of December and the 6th of January...

award

I got an award from Sukipoet; thank you so much!

This award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. (I got it for my artwork).

And these are the rules:

*Show the image of the award on your blog.
*Link back to the blog that gave the award.
*Nominate 15 other blogs that you consider deserving the same.
*Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve selected.

As this award is actually for writing, I will pass it on to

Britt-Arnhild for her wonderful essays and stories about life.

new skis and a wooly hat