By Chloe Ellefson
From Heritage of Darkness, 4th in the Historic Sites series by Kathleen Ernst
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa…most of us dream of a cozy holiday season. We want the glowing candles, the scent of mulling cider, the taste of special holiday foods. Peace on earth sounds pretty good, too.
If the coming season does evoke negative vibes, they are likely about familial disharmony, crass commercialism, and tight budgets.
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| The Wild Hunt - Åsgårdsreien (1872) by Peter Nicolai Arbo |
Consider, though, what our ancestors experienced centuries ago. Uneducated people living in remote areas faced the shortest, darkest, coldest days of the year with trepidation. Folklore from many cultures recounts efforts to stave away the evil spirits howling through the skies, sometimes known as The Wild Hunt. Anyone careless enough to be caught outdoors after sundown would suffer dire misfortune or be kidnapped by the dead. Farm families painted symbols on their outbuildings to keep evil at bay. Employers and workers slept on the floor, huddled together for protection.
I’m a museum curator, so most of the time, exploring folktales and old ethnic traditions makes me happy. I’m not happy when I get pulled into murder investigations, but sometimes my knowledge of folklore and history is key to solving crimes.
So when I discovered a body in an antique immigrant trunk at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, I wasn’t totally surprised when the local police chief asked me and my cop-friend Roelke to keep our eyes and ears open for anything suspicious.
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Goat Head, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum collection
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I was also asked by the museum director to interview elderly Norwegian-Americans about Christmas traditions. Although I love talking to seniors and hearing their stories, I had some trepidation about this particular project. The winter holiday season is upon us, and some of the tales give me the willies. (At least the creepy goat heads carried to ward away evil are carved from wood these days, and not the real thing.)
Then I started experiencing the vestiges of ancient rituals once observed in the name of protection against evil spirits. And I’m finding some pretty dark secrets hidden in the roots of pleasant ethnic traditions. I’d like to leave the whole mess to the police, but I’m starting to fear that the killer’s next victim might be my mom…or me.
So take my advice: This December, do not delve into the ancient past. Stick with the modern cozy aspects of holiday traditions.
In fact, I’d like to hear about your favorite traditions. What customs are important in your family?
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| Author photo by Kay Klubertanz |
Visit Kathleen Ernst at kathleenernst.com, sitesandstories.wordpress.com, and www.facebook.com/kathleenernst.author
And if you leave a comment, your name will go into a drawing for one of the Chloe Ellefson mysteries—winner’s choice! Be sure to leave an email address so Kathleen can contact you if you are the lucky winner.
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Yikes, Chloe! After seeing that picture of the Wild Hunt, I'm not sure I'll ever feel safe walking home from work in the December dark again. I'd love to get together and talk historic textiles with you sometime, though. Christmas traditions? My favorite is exchanging home made treats with friends - and making enough extra to take to the Haven of Mercy for the folks staying there. Good luck at Vesterheim!
ReplyThanks, Kath! You and I definitely need to talk textiles one day. And maybe do some baking, too!
Baking - yes!
I'm not venturing outside after dark without my fuzzy pooches, Sally-Forth and Tally-Ho! Not that they would frighten anyone or anything... I like making things, usually sewn and/or machine embroidered for friends and family.
ReplyI'd feel much comforted if pooches named Sally-Forth and Tally-Ho were along! And homemade gifts are the best, aren't they?