{"title":"Al Ridenour","description":"Al Ridenour: A native of Pasadena, California, Al Ridenour holds BA's in German and English literature, has worked as an author, journalist, animator, and artist, and has been a fixture in the West Coast underground art community since the mid-1990s.","products":[{"product_id":"the-krampus-and-the-old-dark-christmas-roots-and-rebirth-of-the-folkloric-devil-paperback","title":"The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe dark folklore behind Krampus, St. Nicholas, and the\u003cbr\u003ewinter traditions that survived beneath Christmas.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e by Al Ridenour explores the shadow side\u003cbr\u003eof the winter holidays, tracing the folklore, rituals, and seasonal customs\u003cbr\u003ethat predate and coexist with modern Christmas. Moving from Alpine Krampus runs\u003cbr\u003eand masked parades to wassailing, mumming, and other pre-Christian winter\u003cbr\u003etraditions, Ridenour uncovers a seasonal world filled with devils, spirits, and\u003cbr\u003esymbolic reversals of social order. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBlending cultural history, folklore research, and\u003cbr\u003econtemporary fieldwork, the book examines how figures like Krampus, Perchta, \u003cbr\u003eand other winter spirits evolved over centuries--and why they continue to\u003cbr\u003eresonate today. Ridenour documents the revival of these traditions across\u003cbr\u003eEurope and North America, placing them within a broader history of winter\u003cbr\u003efestivals, public spectacle, and communal ritual. Richly illustrated and\u003cbr\u003egrounded in both scholarship and firsthand observation, the book offers a\u003cbr\u003edetailed look at how the \"old dark Christmas\" persists beneath modern holiday\u003cbr\u003eculture. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn essential seasonal title for readers of folklore, \u003cbr\u003eEuropean history, Christmas traditions, and contemporary festival culture.\u003cbr\u003eRidenour's \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels, of the Old-World Carnival\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e (2025) explores the winter festivals and celebrations that begin \u003ci\u003eafter\u003c\/i\u003e Christmas. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Delightfully informative and beautifully illustrated...a must for anyone curious\u003cbr\u003eabout the darker side of the holidays.\" -- \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A lively tour through the strange and ancient roots of Christmas.\" -- \u003ci\u003eLos\u003cbr\u003eAngeles Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Engaging and meticulously researched.\" -- \u003ci\u003eAtlas Obscura\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Perfect for readers who like their holiday traditions with a little mischief.\"\u003cbr\u003e-- \u003ci\u003eBoing Boing\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51367566541023,"sku":"9781627310345","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/Od6xBDwbop9781627310345.webp?v=1789109841"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/al-ridenour.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}