we knew before the procession had even ended that we were dedicated to bringing more “grassroots festal culture”, as our friends at tuscon AZ’s many mouths one stomach say — to philadelphia.
you don't want another one of THESE christmases, do you?
children of many nations have enjoyed and looked forward to seeing krampus at christmastime for years and years. he is a fascinating component of european folklore, and haven’t we had enough of coca-cola’s version of “santa claus” commandeering our winter holidays?
or, join our participants group (THIS option provides the most timely, most loquacious updates, AND the invites to maker events throughout the season!)
KRAMPUSLAUF PHILADELPHIA is committed 365 days a year to the planning and enjoying of a safe, secular, collaborative and noncompetitive event.
photographs, manifestos, and one very clever craft. seventy pages. your purchase will help fund maker workshops, cookies and cider for KRAMPUSLAUF PHILADELPHIA 2012.
this interview was such an honor. and the greatest gift of all was “finding” MMOS and benefiting instantly from the mentorship of jhon sanders. grassroots festal culture forever!
thanks to excellent archivist and rocker michael for this video of the inaugural krampuslauf philadelphia, as well as for his blog post.
the video is so nicely edited and captures the event so well. if there’s one thing i noticed about saturday, it was that the people who seemed to have the most fun (and people were really having fun) were the people who brought something with them — physically or otherwise — to make sure that OTHERS had fun. we ALL want to find a way to make the fun last longer next year, with both maker events and the actual krampuslauf. ideas are brewing!
arun once was zygoat
abigail avon
kennie bowen
peter crimmins
janet finegar
frame fatale
allison frick
friends of liberty lands
abiezer galloza
ben levin
aaron mannino
jim mundie
national public radio
northern liberties community center
katie sweeney
lori sweeney
lisa annelouise tomer
nikki virbitsky
sue white
whyy radio
and everyone who came and made the event full of laughter and cider and cookies and pastries and KRAMPUS!
as we prepare to do this simple, short, communal thing this saturday, i, as founder and as a co-coordinator, have just a few requests to all participating.
1. BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN FUN, AND AT LEAST SOME OF SOMEONE ELSE’S. as arun, organizer of the portland oregon lauf said this week, “I enjoy the potency released when you invoke something otherwise neglected in your culture. Every force that we incarnate conveys the gifts and challenges of its influence upon us.” this is a celebration and example of what community can be, on the spur of the moment, and with relatively little direction. all the parts are important and welcome, and are not judged or quantified. do not come expecting cirque du soleil. carry a banner or a drum, or offer to stay back and tend the fire and the cider. as long as you are respectful of what others have brought to the event, i can promise there is a place for you.
2. DON’T SCARE ANYONE WHO OBVIOUSLY DOESN’T WANT TO BE SCARED. as amused as i am to know that a loyal WHYY listener thinks i should be imprisoned for child abuse, i do ask you to use good judgment. the core of this group is families, and families who know one another well; the community-owned liberty lands is, quite literally, their park. respect the park and the families. anyone who terrifies a child and doesn’t stop immediately will be sorry that they didn’t.
if either of those “rules” takes the fun out of it for you, you might just choose to enjoy another event. we know that for 99% of the people coming, they are intuitive.
there will be either a box or a bag in the park with extra costuming components – small handdrums, horns, and i think there is an extra sheepskin – as well as krampus t-shirts to put on over kids’ coats. first come, first served. see you there!
