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Perchten masks

In the olden times, plenty of ghosts and demons were active during the long and cold nights in mid-winter of the alps. The origins of this belief are probably rooted in various Germanic traditions based on a female divinity. Frau Perchta (Ms. Perchta) was a demonic creator, half god, half man, who appears at the end of the old year / beginning of the New Year, accompanied by various evil figures. She cared for the people and protected them against bad demons.

 

These masks belong to the Doana-Gsindl, a group of people celebrating the tradition of Perchten in Regensburg.

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Uploaded on January 8, 2016
Taken on January 6, 2016