An Atmospheric and Informative Journey into Alpine Lore

 

Krampus, Witches and the Wild Hunt

By Christian Bruner, Sophie Reyer and Wolfgang Liemberger

Krampus, Witches, and the Wild Hunt is an incredible book filled with holiday lore, history, and traditions. Written by Christian Brunner, Sophie Reyer, and Wolfgang Liemberger, the text benefits immensely from the authors' unique perspectives. Each grew up in a different part of the Alpine mountains, allowing them to beautifully combine personal memories with deep historical research.

The book explores the "dark half of the year," beginning on November 1 with All Souls' Eve. Rooted in ancient pagan holidays, this is a time when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest. I loved reading about the unique traditions from the Alpine regions of Germany and Austria, such as carving out turnips, leaving out meals for the dead, and the children who go door-to-door asking for traditional All Souls' pastries.

A major focus of the book is the Wild Hunt, the intermediate nights between the winter solstice and January 6 (though the dark half of the year stretches all the way to April 30, culminating in Walpurgisnacht). Led by the goddess Perchta, the Wild Hunt is a chilling procession—legend says if you sit in a cemetery at night to watch it pass, you will see who dies in the coming year!

My absolute favorite section covers Krampus, the horned deity with one human foot and one hoof who punishes bad children on December 5. The book explores him not just as a monster alongside St. Nick, but as a cleansing, protective entity that sweeps away sin and keeps other evil entities at bay.

Beyond the fascinating folklore, each section offers practical value, including recipes and rituals (like incense cleansing and symbolic scourging) to incorporate into your own spiritual practice. The book even ends with a delicious dessert recipe featuring prunes, cream, and chocolate. If you love winter folklore and practical folk spirituality, you need to read this book!