For the third year, Liberty Lands Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hosted the Krampuslauf. It took place yesterday, December 14, 2013. Everyone in attendance roughed it out there in the snow and then in the snow/rain mix. My gloves, hat and jacket were soaked (oddly, my shirt, tie and most of my jeans were not soaked). I made sure to go to the fire pit as often as I could.
Here is some video footage of the third annual Krampuslauf before, during and after the specific Krampus Parade. The video footage includes the introduction, some Krampus and Nikolaus memorabilia, the Parade itself, the fire pit and the fire dancers. Note: There is no sound from 10:44 to the end of this video.
Url for the above video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6aGQJJhkc8
Photographs (as you will see, some people really turned it up a notch with the creativity that went into some of the costumes) ...
This fire pit was a lifesaver for me (steam was actually coming out of my gloves when I got near the flames) ...
Seasons Greetings everyone. In the very early morning hours of this day, I filmed a video as part of the Historic Soldiers Christmas Series that I began on December 8 of this year. In this second episode in the series, I am focusing on the American Revolutionary War. As all of you know, George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River Christmas evening into the morning of the 26th in complete darkness ... much like the darkness that I was surrounded by when I filmed the video. Many of us associate Christmas Time with snow and ice. How did Soldiers navigate through snow and ice during the Revolutionary Period? They used ice creepers. I have an example of an ice creeper to show you. The individual whom I purchased the hand-forged iron ice creeper from discovered a similar ice creeper at a Revolutionary War Campsite that was in use from 1779 to 1783. Although this blog entry pertains to the American Revolutionary War, it is likely that these ice creepers were in use during the Seven Years War and perhaps even King George's War. The following video and photographs will reveal this particular ice creeper from various angles.
The url for the above video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onAZgUkEk5Y Here is a screenshot from one of the test videos: Here I am still outside in 30-degree weather for this photo with the ice creeper: Some close-up views ...
You will note the oval shapes. Straps were used with these ice creepers, and the straps were laced inside of these holes.
You can also see the points on the bottom. These were necessary for treading on the ice.
The ice creepers were placed just beyond the heel and one ice creeper was used per shoe so someone walking through the snow or someone walking on the ice would use two ice creepers. Christmas was not widely celebrated in the Colonies. The celebration of Christmas was largely frowned upon and stores were kept open on December 25. This is why I thought to present an object that was in use during the winter seasons throughout the Revolutionary War as opposed to a specific Christmas-related item. I thank all of you for reading and I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas.
It is December 9, 2013, and today marks the two year anniversary of the announcement of the results of the disputed presidential election in the Democratic Republic Of The Congo. I still think about the crisis in the Congo quite often. I would like to see a resolution as soon as possible. I wanted to tell all of you out there that I have still not forgotten. I will continue to follow the story on the situation in the Congo and I hope to attend another demonstration soon.
Seasons Greetings to you! Today is December 8, 2013, and I am representing a Union Army Soldier. This is my first video and blog entry in a new series titled Historic Soldiers Christmas. In this episode, I am showcasing an issue of Harper's Weekly postdated January 3, 1863 so it was on the shelves in late 1862. The cover of this issue features a Union Army Camp with what is believed to be the very first appearance of Thomas Nast's Santa Claus. Today, there happened to be some heavy snow coming down, and it gave me an excellent idea. I was planning on beginning my Historic Soldiers Christmas series with this video last week and I am glad that I waited because this day's scenario was perfect. As a matter of fact, I wanted to make a video and blog entry for this specific issue last year since it was the 150th Anniversary of its publication, and I never got around to doing it. Once again, I am glad that I waited. This also ties in with the American Civil War Sesquicentennial Observance. Video: Url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GeCZG9dHuo Here is a screenshot from the video (no need for concern - the issue is in a protective sleeve): Photographs of this enormously historic issue ...
You will note that Santa is in Patriotic Attire here: I posted two of this area of the issue due to the lighting differences ...
The back page featuring advertisements, two of which are fitting for this blog entry: As previously stated, this is the first video and blog entry in my series titled Historic Soldiers Christmas. I hope to post a few more videos and blog entries this year and many more in subsequent years.
Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania once again held its annual early December World War II reenactment today. It fell on the exact day as the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack. The Battle For Schmidt was specifically reenacted. Video of the battle:
Url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63SG3Z8fdfE Photographs ...
I conducted an interview with some reenactors/living historians after the "Battle For Schmidt World War II Reenactment" held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 7, 2013. This segment includes a weapons demonstration, and even I got involved. As you will see, I certainly was not wearing my Saturday best in this video, hahahaha.
Url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yorlfko3P4
Major Thomas Leonard, a Veteran of King Philip's War (1675 - 1676), passed away on this day 300 years ago. November 24, 1713 to November 24, 2013 ... a full three centuries since Thomas Leonard passed on. He is certainly a little-known military Veteran from an extremely overlooked conflict. In honor of this day, I went into the archive and dug out a court document from the year 1698. Thomas signed it twice. The court case involved a guy named Jabez Pratt. His crime? A little bit of fornication prior to marriage. A very hard to find item from Colonial Massachusetts in the era referred to as the "Pilgrim Century". American documents from the 1600s are exceedingly difficult to locate.
The url of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaG_L4sHVGk
I transcribed it exactly as it was written:
Bristoll Memorandon that on the ffirst day of September 1698 in the tenth year of his majesties reign Jabez Prat of Taunton in said County came before me Thomas Leonard Esquire one of his Majesties Justices for said County and acknowledges himselfe Indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King his heirs & Successor the ffull sum of ten pounds Lawfull money to be levyed on his Estate, Goods & chattels if default herein be made. The condition of this Recognizance is such that if the above bounden Jabez Prat do make his personal appearance at the next Session of the peace to hold at Bristoll on the second Tuesday in October next to then and there Answer before his Majesties Justices for himselfe and his wives committing ffornication before marriage, and abide and per= forme the sentence of the Court then this present Recognizance to be voyd and of no force, or else to remain in its ffull fforce strength and virtue. The said Jabez Prat was bound as above said Coram me Thomas Leonard Justice
Jabez Pratt above named confessed matter of fact Two Notes: 1.) Coram is Latin for "Before" or "In The Presence Of". 2.) The final sentence was written in another hand.
