Book review: The Old Magic of Christmas

The Old Magic of Christmas

Yuletide traditions for the darkest days of the year

Author:                                Linda Raedisch
Artist:                                  Ellen Lawson

Type:                                    Soft Cover

Pages:                                   248

Genre:                                  non-fiction

Published:                            2014
                                              Llewellyn

ISBN:                                   978-0-7387-3334-0

Source:                                Independently purchased 

The book is a nice size seems well made and has a smattering of black and white illustrations. It will stand about 8 inches tall on the shelf, is 5 1/2 inches deep and almost an inch thick.

Don't be put off by the introduction, for while it does seem to pander slightly to christian sensibility's, it in no way alienates Pagan readers.

While the term christmas is used thought, it is clear that the subject of the book is not the December holiday but the winter solstice commonly known as Yule.

Subjects addressed include Goddesses, witches, elves, spirits, The Krampus, ghosts, werewolves, The Mari Llwyd, Saints, The Wild Hunt, vampires and The Julbock. 

There are interesting crafts and recipes to make through the book. Though the main focus is on the history, folklore and mythology's of Yule.

There is a long and through examination of the herbs associated with the season, as well as notes, calendar, glossary index, and bibliography.
Bonus points are given for using the correct CE, BCE terms.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover the true meaning of christmas, or wants to experiment with some new (old) Yule traditions. Those interested in mythology, history and folklore will find this book an entertaining and informative read.
The only thing that would have made this book better would be color pictures, and maybe replacing the term christmas with Yule or winter.

Yule 2015

Australian Yule

In Australia Yule falls somewhere around the 20^th to the 23^rd of June, as we are in the Southern Hemisphere. Yule is the shortest day and longest night. It marks the return of the suns warmth, and light. 

We celebrate this season with candles, fires, dressing the home with greenery and feasting. Yule logs are burned a Yule tree is placed in the home with a Pentagram at its highest tip. Gifts are exchanged and many Pagans stay up all night to welcome the return of the sun.
The Great Rite is performed with the Oak king taking the Projective, dominant role for the first time.

In actuality we have had a very odd winter so far, it’s been very hot and very cold, but hasn’t stayed one way or the other. I suppose this will get more prevalent as our climate changes, and will create whole new dilemmas for Pagans to come. Do we continue to turn the wheel as it should be in hopes of righting it, or do we try to adapt to the unseasonable and chaotic weather.

This Yule we will have a look at the Krampus.

The Krampus

 

He is a magical being a nature spirit for sure, but he may have indeed once been a powerful Pagan god. The Krampus visits children on Yule night. Adults often leave tribute out for him, usually alcohol. The Krampus will lash naughty children, and sometimes adults, with his birch rod and threaten to put them in his sack and carry them away, if they do not behave better.

The homes of adults who gave proper tribute to Krampus will be warded against evil spirits; good children were rewarded with small treats and gifts by the Krampus. 

Krampus himself is said to be a horned and hoofed goat man similar to the god Pan.  He has dark skin and his eyes glow like hot coals in the darkness. The Krampus carries a magical sack, a birch rod and sometimes even a trident or a chain.

After being demonised and ignored by the Christians, The Krampus is coming back, and he has a lot of Yules to catch up on. So when you hear that clipity clopping on the roof this Yule night, spare a cautious thought that it may not be Santa’s reindeer that you hear. You may be getting an unexpected visit from the true lord of Yule, The Krampus. Have your parents left him proper tribute? Will he reward you with a treat or lash you with his cane like branches?

 Blessed Yule

Book Review: KRAMPUS, The Yule Lord

  KRAMPUS

The Yule Lord

 

Authors:                                Brom

Design:                                  Paula Russell Szafranski

Publisher:                             HARPER Voyager           

Type:                                     Hardcover

Pages:                                   357

Genre:                                  fiction

Published:                            2012

ISBN:                                    978-0-06-209565-7

Source:                                 Independently purchased 

What happens when The Krampus decides he wants his holy day back?

The Krampus for those who don't know, is a Yule nature spirit or possibly even an ancient Pagan deity. Krampus travels door to door at Yule, rewarding good children and giving naughty children a swat with his birch stick. He is hairy, with a long tongue, goats horns and hooves.

The book itself is beautiful, the pages have a kind of corrugated old manuscript feel, almost like the edges are ripped . The dust cover was bright and colourful.

The book is lavishly sprinkled with black and white pictures, there is even a section in the middle where the main characters of the story have full colour glossy pictures.

Though it doesn't specifically say anywhere i could see, i believe all the art is done by Brom the author. Whom you may remember from the art in the Dark Sun setting of D&D.

The book is a good read, it has mystery, action, adventure a bit of horror and sort of romance thrown in for good measure.

 Your probably wondering if i enjoyed the book on an artistic level and thought it a worthy read, that 3 1/2 eucalyptus leaves seems a little low.  You would be right, as two things bothered me about the book.

The first thing that bothered me was the main character, he just was not very likable, he also made homophobic jabs at a coworker whom he disliked so that didn't endear me to him or make me root for him at all. I understand that a character can be flawed but the character didn't seem to grow, the homophobia just kind of happened and was not really addressed again.

The second thing was the biggest for me, Krampus is pre-christian, he is thought by some to be a remnant of the ancient god of the witches, that would make him my god. 
In one part the Krampus has a conversation with a priest, christian or catholic, Krampus taunts the priest about the state of the world and its evils, he mentions homosexuality along with some actual evils, in the same sentence, as if they were like things. Now Krampus may have just been listing things the priest thought of as sins, but it didn't really read  that way.

Krampus as a pre-christian entity wouldn't (doesn't) have anything against homosexuality, most deity's through history have accepted homosexuality as a normal form of human sexuality, some even considering homosexuals sacred because of their unique perspective.

I may have read far to much into that conversation, and after the comments of the main character, i may have been on the defence, and alert for any signs of homophobia by the characters. Like i said the conversation is ambiguous, it isn't clear if the Krampus puts homosexuality with those evils or if he just knows the priest does.

So to be fair without taking those two issues into account, i would give the book a lot higher rating. If you can overlook those things, and knowing they are there might dampen the shock. If the main characters homophobia was further addressed and the Krampus acceptance of homosexuality stated clearly, the book would get a better score, as it was otherwise a very enjoyable read and is physically beautiful.

To be clear i am in no way implying that the author is homophobic, in fact i believe he is not. It is simply the character that makes offensive comments (and doesn't seem to learn the error of his ways) and a (non homophobic) god whose meaning isn't exactly clear.

 Brom is an experienced artist, who has art books published and has also written The Child Thief, The Plucker and The Devils Rose novels.

Have you read it? What did you think of the issues i had, did you even notice? Which way did you interpret The Krampus comments? Was the paperback just as beautifully designed?