In case you wonder why I did not post any art for... ages: Well, super busy with rl work, inventarisations &c., and next to that I reworked a publication which got published last year, just to be told that first the prmeier edition has to be sold alltogether. At least that gave me the perfect book I had in mind until great rush by the publishes somewhat lowered my standards. These images are illustrations drawn by myself for specific chapters.

The book follows the whole Catholic Advent season as it traditional in the European Alpine region, starting from 11th November (St. Martin) to 2nd February (Presentation of Jesus). Each chapter is dedicated to one specific day and its traditions - many are still a vital part of my local Christmas season.

1. Paradaiserl (Little Paradise): Old light pyramide, an ornament used before the Advent wreath got overwhelmingly popular

2. Branches of Saint Barbe: Isntrument of fortune telling: Cut from a Cherry tree at the 4th of December, attach letters with wishes or just wish something and write your name in a piece of paper. Put in water, those branches which will blossom at Christmas Day will assure the attached wishes will come true.

3. Ship of Saint Nicholas: Lokal tradition in my town. Poor children would build ships and leave them in front of wealthy people's homes, who will fill them in the night to the 6th December with candy and toys.

4. (out of place) Christmas Tree with Little Paradise as base: A memory that in the Middle Ages the tree was a symbol for life and represented the Forbidden Tree, as the birth of Christ is the patron's day of Adam as well (christian mysthicism).

5. Nasty Luz: Witch-like creature of folklore, the dark side of Saint Lucia. Will hunt children who are misbehaving with her sharp sickle.

6. Christmas Saluting: Evening of 24th December, Mountain militia salutes the birth of Christ by special salutes.

7. Perchten: From 25th December to 6th January, the Rauhnächte are nights considered to be "without time" by Germans and Celts, where the worlds of men and spirits collide. Perchten, good and evil, roam the settlements in rural areas and banish the ghosts, cause harm, ask for booze, or will simply dance around huge fires.

8. Celtic Horse-Coin: 26th December is the feast of St. Stephen, when large processions on horseback will climax in the blessing of horses by the local priest. Horses were considered holy animals by the Celts who even worshipped their own goddess of horses, Epona, on that same day in ancient days.

9. Saint Blasius: On 3rd February, after candles had been purchased and blessed the day before, the special blessing of Saint Blasius witht he crossed candles will guarantee a healthy throat and finally end the Christmas season. Spring is soon, a new circle of life started.

10. Sign of the Star Singers: Children dressed as the magoi will collect money for charity. As a symbol of their cisit they will leave with blessed chalk the said inscription at the door frames. Commonly read as "Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar" it reads Christus Mansionem Benedicat", "Christ may bless this house".