Mari Liwid is a decorated horse skull displayed on a pole. This is part of the Welsh Christmas holiday tradition of groups carrying totems from house to house.
“At each house, a group of mari liwids will knock on the door and start a rhyming contest, essentially asking, ‘Hey, can I come in?'” said William Ransom of the Krampus crew. says. “People react in rhymes and come up with all sorts of reasons why they can’t come. When Mari Liwid comes in, it gets into all the food and beer and moves on to the next house. It’s like Carol. ”
Ransom will lead the Mali Liwid group in this year’s Krewe of Krampus parade, when a procession of terrifying figures hits the streets of Bywater on Saturday, Dec. 2.
The crew’s namesake is a figure from Alpine legend who appears during the holiday season to scare or punish children who misbehave. Krampus is often depicted with horns and goat hair. Krampus dolls, or similar-looking characters, are commonly found in Northern Europe and Scandinavian countries. Another of his common figures appearing in parades is Balbeghazi, a shaggy bearded gnome.
Mike Esoldi founded Krewe five years ago, and the parade features many figures from European folklore, as well as Krewe’s own creations. One of his subgroups of the Crew is the Sisters of Sea. All of the women in the group wear ghostly white and silver clothing, often wearing horned headdresses. They walk in front of Krampus and announce that he is coming.
Ransom is in charge of the crew’s “Y’ules,” a collection of ghosts from different cultures. One of the most popular is his Yule cat, which is based on the Icelandic tradition.
“Yule cats eat people who don’t get new clothes,” Ransom says. “You’re supposed to buy new clothes for Christmas. It seems unfair to those who can eat because no one gave them clothes, but it’s meant to make sure they give clothes to others for the holidays.” I think.”
Japanese ghosts will also appear in this year’s procession. A yuki-onna is a spirit that appears during a snowstorm. She often carries babies and asks her victims to hold them. But it’s usually a no-win proposition: kill the victim or leave them out in the cold to die.
The parade will also feature several guest groups, including drum groups Skins N Bones, Aerial Space Squad and Crescent City Faye.
In “The Man in the Red Beret,” Acers talks about his professional accomplishments and travels, including his love of chess and life in the French Quarter.
The pride of the parade is lumps of coal. This year, Krampus will be distributing chunks made from recycled glass by Glass Half Full.
The parade begins Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Royal and French streets and heads toward the French Quarter. There is a two-block Accessibility Row on Independence Street, where crews are providing quiet zones with sensitive trailers, sign language interpreters, viewing areas for people with disabilities, and more. Last year, local weather forecaster Carl Arredondo broadcast the parade for the visually impaired. This year, he will march in the parade as Saint Nicholas.
There are two post-parade parties with music, one at Bratz Y’all and one at Bud Lips.
The crew fills the calendar with events, including a summer alpine luau and a Swampass event during the Halloween season. This year, a collaboration event with “Krewe of Joan of Arc” will be held. This party highlights the change from the dark season of Krampus to the light of the carnival season.
For parade and krewe information, visit kreweofkrampus.com.