Online sales have ended for the December 6 Krampus Ball, however a limited number of walk-up tickets to be released at the venue.Please arrive before 7pm doors (between 6-7pm) for best shot at obtaining tickets. Purchase price is the same as pre-sale, $20.
Today in Boing Boing, a story we provided about Krampusfest and the upcoming mingling of Los Angeles and Salzburg Krampus troupes.
A little quote from one of our overseas guests:
“…Zehentner is a member of one of Salzburg area’s oldest troupes, the Alt Gnigler. Mindful of traditionalist concerns, Zehentner says that with first online contact, he had misgiving about any transatlantic endeavors, wondering if Americans would “really understand our traditions—or will the Krampus be reduced to a Halloween horror figure?” Most Austrians, he says, are generally unaware of America’s love affair with the Krampus, or if they are, might expect it to result in something closer to “slasher movies than anything genuinely linked to our customs.” When he mentioned our efforts to bring the tradition to the US, most in Alt Gnigler regarded it as “madness—but in a positive way.”… More
Photo of Alt Gnigler troupe members © Foto Sulzer, Salzburg.
November 29, 8pm
Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
5750 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tickets $10.00 Brown Paper Tickets
(Advance purchase strongly recommended.)
Further info — email us.
Krampus, the dark companion to St. Nicholas once known only in German-speaking Europe, is quickly going global. Increasingly turning up in American books, comics, television shows, and films, the creature also now parades down American streets as part of costumed “Krampus runs.”
As LA emerges as a leading hotbed of Krampusmania, Krampus Los Angeles will be bringing it all back home with tonight’s presentation on Krampus folklore at the Goethe-Institut, Germany’s cultural embassy with offices locally and throughout the world. Assisted by costumed walk-ons by friends, Krampus LA Co-director, Al Ridenour will illustrate the talk with a festive stream of rare images and the occasional l film clip. Special emphasis will be placed on the Krampus’ lesser known cousins, diverse historic and regional folkoric figures often in danger of being swept away in the global swell of Krampusmania.
Topics in this whirlwind tour will include the magic and mummery of the “Twelve Days,” straw bears, murderous saints, ghost horses, phantom goats, and other figures that haunt the winter folklore of German-speaking lands.
Modeled upon European source images, costumes used in this presentation were individually crafted by members of Krampus LA. Most are being shown for the first time.
(Please note: $1 subterranean parking is available with Goethe Institut validation.)
Another article in a Salzburg paper about our Austrian friends from the Krampus troupe (Alt Gnigler Krampus Perchten Pass) visiting LA!
Translation:
The Altgnigler Krampuses Export the Krampus Tradition to Los Angeles
SALZBURG / LOS ANGELES. Salzburg resident Martin Zehentner and the Altgnigler Krampus Troupe are bringing a special kind of export to Los Angeles. A group of artists from Los Angeles (USA) has become aware of the Salzburg tradition of the Krampus and Perchten, and took up this tradition and by the Winter 2013 had already organized a Krampus run down Sunset Boulevard. This year the Altgnigler Krampuses were invited to Los Angeles to attend more Krampus events. “That’s actually a funny story. I’ve worked for seven years volunteering with the Gnigler Krampus run and with the Altgnigler Krampus troupe and maintain its Facebook page. Sometime in the fall of 2012, I was contacted by Al Ridenour, an artist from Los Angeles. Ridenour had witnessed this tradition in the course of a Salzburg-holiday, “says Zehentner, who in early December will be flying with his sister and nephew to Los Angeles.
“I am already excited. There is a Krampus run and a Krampus ball, which is comparable to our “Krampus Spectacles. “But can you imagine that – a Krampuslauf on Sunset Boulevard? Granted, people making something like this happen must be somewhat crazy, but hardly different from some of our fanatics who spend so much time with these traditions. We felt it was very important that these Salzburg customs would be realized authentically. As we know the Americans might confuse the customs, we are hoping to act in an advisory capacity so the whole thing runs more traditionally, but the masks are very similar, “says Zehentner, who believes that this may speed up the cultural exchange and dialogue. In the coming year one hopes the Americans might be invited to Salzburg.
Article from the Salzburger Weekly about the upcoming visit by the Altgnigler troupe-members to LA. (They’ll be at the The Krampus Ball 2014,Krampus Los Angeles at the Echo Park Parade Dec. 13th! and attending the St. Nicholas 1888: A Kinder-Horror Holiday (6pm, 9pm))
TRANSLATION: “LOS ANGELES, Gnigl. The Altgnigler Krampus and Perchten troupe was contacted in 2012 through Facebook by a group of artists from Los Angeles who wanted to organize a Krampuslauf. Member of the troupe and district troupe chairman Martin Zehentner had met with the group in March 2013 in Los Angeles and furthered contact. So it was that December the first Krampuslauf took place in the streets of the US metropolis of Los Angeles. After the start in 2013 proved promising, the Altgnigler Krampuses were also invited to participate this year. For the December 2014 dates Zehentner, will travel with his sister and nephew to LA to make the Salzburg tradition known across the pond. “By now we already prepared for this,” says Zehentner. In December 2013 the Krampus created a stir in the streets of Los Angeles.”
