Epiphany is time for my #linocut of Perchta, also known as Frau Perchta or Berchta (or Bertha in English), a figure from Alpine folklore, who visits during the 12 days of Christmas. Her name may come from “the bright one” or the German word for the feast of the Epiphany and her history is linked to white robbed goddesses like Holda who oversaw spinning and weaving or the goddess Frigg and she emerged from Germanic and 🧵
#printmaking #folklore #Perchta #winter #Berchta #12daysOfChristmas
Celtic traditions in the Early Middle Ages. She has two forms, both shown in my print: young and beautiful and as white as snow, or an old crone with a long knife and often a beak-like nose. She sometimes has one large, possibly goose foot. Jacob Grimm (of fairy tale fame) thought this indicated she was a shapeshifter or swan maiden. She is associated with birch trees and looked over the forest and wildlife. She was said to visit homes during the 12 days of Christmas and 🧵2/
enforce cultural taboos, such as not spinning on holidays. If young people were good (and completed duties like spinning their flax or wool) she would leave a silver coin. But if not, she would slit their bellies open and stuff them with straw or refuse! Between the beautiful and ugly forms of Perchta I include a spindle. In her beautiful form she was known as Grandmother Winter, the bringer of snow.
Some legends associate her with the Wild Hunt, and claim she rides through the night sky 🧵3/
with her Perchten. In contemporary alpine festivals she is accompanied by an entourage, the Perchten, either beautiful and bright Schönperchten who bring luck or ugly Schiachperchten with fangs, tusks and horse tails (resembling Krampus) who are supposed to drive out ghosts and demons. She is viewed as the one who rewards generosity and punishes bad behaviour.
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Yes, Perchta is well known to me, and I will publish a tale about her on my Patreon in February.
What I should add is that she is also known as the guardian of the souls of unbaptized children, who do not get to go to Heaven, but who _will_ be able to play in her garden for all eternity.
And if you are curious about female leaders of the Wild Hunt, you might be interested in my recent guest article at @AimeeMaroux :
https://www.eroticmythology.com/guest-post-juergen-hubert-wild-hunt/
