The first ever and first annual Krampuslauf was held in and around Liberty Lands Park in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 10, 2011. I gave a brief explanation of who Krampus is a few days ago (Link: http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/12/nikolaustag-featuring-old-bishop.html). I was hoping that some kind of Krampus event would happen here in the U.S.A. for years now. I did dress up as Krampus, with a mask I purchased in Salzburg, at family parties in years past. That was the closest that I ever got to some kind of acknowledgement of Krampus in this country. That all changed yesterday. I wondered how this was going to turn out. Of course, I was hoping that it would be a success. It, in fact, was a success - a great success. The Krampuslauf brought out a nice crowd of interested people. Furthermore, many of these people went to certain lengths to make their own costumes, masks and props. The organizers did a fine job putting this together. They brought a very unique event to Philadelphia, and it was a real treat for the local community. Truly outstanding. I am really looking forward to next year's event. I know that it will be bigger and better. Here is a video showing the Krampuslauf:
This is my fourth review for a MARS Converters transformable action figure. The toy's name is Earthmover. He transforms into a work truck/plowing vehicle. I bought this at Walgreens in October or November. Earthmover, Bio-Mixer and Spot Explorer have been difficult-to-impossible to find. I saw the aforementioned three at a Walgreens in, if I remember correctly, January of this year. I went back to the store later, and they were all gone. Earthmover is now being distributed regularly in Walgreens and Walmart. He appears to be in the same case as Accelerator and Drifter so Earthmover has replaced Valve Charger. Earthmover stands on his own with no problems. Although a little bit bizarre, he is alright. The company that released it is Hap-P-Kid/Cybotronix.
Once again, here is the M.A.R.S. Converters experience showing the step-by-step process: taking the figure out of the box and transforming it:
Today is Nikolaustag (Saint Nicholas Day). This is the day when the Bishop (Nikolaus was never truly canonized as a Saint) delivers presents to the good kids in Germany, Austria, other countries in Europe and some parts of Pennsylvania. What happens to the bad kids? The answer is below ...
Nick's helper deals with the bad ones. He has many names: Krampus, Knecht Ruprecht, Klaubauf, Hans Muff, Hans Trapp, Ruhklas, Schmutzli, Aschenmann, Bartl, Nickel, Boozenickel, Belsnickle, Pelznickel and Pelzmärtel among others. He either looks like a horrible old man or a devil. Krampus beats the bad kids with switches (branches) and throws them into a sack or bucket and takes them away. My Mother went to a Bavarian all-girl school in Augsburg in the mid-to-late 1940s, and she remembers when Knecht Ruprecht came into the classroom and took a naughty girl away, kicking and screaming the entire time. In December of 2004, in the mountain town of Tannheimer Tal in Austria, I myself was face-to-face with Krampus. As for today, I have not seen either one stop by my house yet ... although given my track record this year, I think Krampus is going to be paying a visit!
The parade featuring the Coming Of Krampus takes place on December 5. I am combining both events in this entry.
This link here, which has an arrow at the bottom right, will give you a lot of historic information: http://www.weihnachtsmuseum.com/e/gaben.asp?spr=e&a=10
Krampus, in his different forms, is discussed here: http://www.weihnachtsmuseum.com/e/gaben06.asp?spr=e&a=10 Here are two pieces of paper, depicting Nikolaus and Krampus, that were once on top of Lebkuchen that I purchased in Salzburg in 2003 or 2004 (you will note the children and the bucket) ...
By the way, just from searching on the internet, I discovered that people have organized a Krampus Parade (Krampuslauf) in Philadelphia!!! The date is set for December 10, 2011 from 4:00 to 5:00 at Liberty Lands Park! The information can be found at these links ...
Once again, Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hosted the annual Battle For Saint Vith World War II Reenactment. The living historians present set up some displays in various rooms, and there were two battles (at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM). The footage posted in this blog entry is from the second battle.
I did my best to get as much footage as I could while handling the camcorder and camera. The battle itself was just a few minutes long, and shorter than usual (to me at least), so I only have a few photographs and some brief video footage.
Chiyono Hasegawa, born on November 20, 1896, passed away today. Her life spanned literally three different centuries. She had been Japan's oldest living person and is recognized as Japan's second oldest undisputed Super-Centenarian ever.
Chiyono's passing means that there is only one person left from the year 1896 ... American Besse Cooper who is currently the World's Oldest Person and one of only 34 people, still living, who were born in the 1800s. Less than three dozen people on this planet can say they experienced life in three centuries.
Basij members and their followers recently organized two events: a demonstration and a protest. The demonstration was in "solidarity" with the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the protest was actually an attack on the British Embassy in Tehran. The people involved in these two events were referred to as students. They are not students ... they are members and followers of the Iranian regime's Basij militia. Unfortunately, a number of American bloggers and the media overall have referred to these people as students. I find that to be very sad because not only are real Iranian students fighting an uphill battle concerning their quest for freedom against a despicable regime, they are now being associated with these two absurd acts orchestrated by the Basij forces. Furthermore, I would not be surprised if some people are bussed in and even lured with food to participate.
On October 23 of this year, my friend Potkin Azarmehr reported on the Occupy Wall Street solidarity rally that the Basij held (Link: http://azarmehr.blogspot.com/2011/10/solidarity-with-wall-street-protesters.html). I am glad I saw his blog entry before any other report concerning this demonstration because it succinctly and effectively sets the record straight (in a very humorous way too - excellent work, Potkin). On the following day, I looked at many websites and blogs that reported on the event and I was saddened to see so many people calling these goons "students". The people participating in the comment sections of these websites and blogs did more of the same if not worse. This was a demonstration NOT in solidarity with the USA's ubiquitous Occupy Movement. It was an opportunity for the regime to air its grievances on a number of topics. The following hilarious video features scenes from the Basij rally. Observe ...
Of course, they had to burn an Israeli Flag. Regardless of the topic, people like this bring up Israel and Zionism all the time [I know that just from my own dealings with people online (when I posted my video in support of Saudi Arabian Women with their driving campaign back in June, someone, in response to my video, brought up the Zionists ... typical and tired)].
This now brings us to this week and the storming of the British Embassy. Once I read a headline for an article claiming that students stormed the Embassy, I neither believed it nor vaguely considered it for one second. I was right. Once again, the Basij militia was at work. Here are two videos ...
Not a bad singer (ha):
Yet again, the burning of an Israeli Flag (along with the Stars And Stripes and the Union Jack) which has nothing to do with this matter:
To the real college/university students in Iran: I realize you were not a part of this nonsense and I have been telling people that repeatedly. As always, I remain in solidarity with you and your cause. Azadi!
