New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Unwrap the eerie side of the holidays in this dark dive into winter folklore. While Santa and Rudolph are familiar faces, few know of Hans Trapp, the "black knight" who travels with the Christ Child in Germany, or Perchta, who inspects homes with a belly-slitting threat. And what child wouldn’t tremble at Père Fouettard, who punishes the naughty with a rod alongside Saint Nicholas?
Join folklorist Cory Thomas Hutcheson as he explores these shadowy legends. You'll meet the infamous Krampus and discover the raucous “Krampuslauf” parades, follow Italy’s "Christmas witch" La Befana, and dive into spooky holiday traditions like fortune-telling and "scary ghost stories." Learn how the festive and the fearful have been intertwined for centuries—and how you can add a dash of the uncanny to your holiday season.
Session 1 (Monday, 12/2, 7:30–9:00 PM ET)| Krampus and Friends
Session 2 (Tuesday, 12/9, 7:30–9:00 PM ET)| The Women of Winter
Session 3 (Tuesday, 12/16, 7:30–9:00 PM ET)| Dark Deeds on a Winter’s Night
| Date: | From 12/02/2024 to 12/16/2024 |
| Location: | Atlas Obscura United States |
| Website: | https://www.atlasobscura.com/experiences/christmas-monsters-course |
Cory Thomas Hutcheson (Central Pennsylvania) is the cohost of the popular podcast New World Witchery. He has a doctorate in American Studies with specializations in folklore, religion, and ethnicity from Penn State. He is a ...
