This time of year always brings warm, deep memories from my childhood. I wonder how the children of Podkoren, Slovenia will remember the holidays.

Bor Slana / Reuters
Actors dressed as devils perform during the "gathering of the devils" ahead of Saint Nicholas Day in Podkoren, Slovenia, Dec. 1, 2010. On Saint Nicholas Day, a performer representing the saint goes around villages giving out presents to children, and he is usually surrounded by performers representing devils. This group of actors from Italy, Austria and Slovenia are performing in Podkoren for the second consecutive year.


A devil's pig.
... the 'running of the Krampus ... weird, wild and you really have to be there in person in Salzburg (Austria) to appreciate it! Pleasant dreams, little ones (he, he!) ....
I think I remember this thing living under my bed as a kid...(or was it the closet?)