Adventures in Advent: Advent 2024, Day 19

Today's Advent features a location that is very near and dear to my heart. I've never visited it. But one year in high school (sophomore year, I think), I spent 31 class periods drawing an intricate landscape of this legendary locale: Neuschwanstein Castle.

Built from 1869-1886, the castle is located in the Alps of Southern Bavaria. This was intended to be the most ornate palace of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He never officially lived at Neuschwanstein dying shortly before it's completion, drowning in a nearby lake. Ruled a suicide, there's debate that he might have been murdered by enemies, due to bruises on the body or if he died suddenly of a heart attack brought about by the frigid conditions of the water.

If Neuschwanstein Castle looks familiar, that's probably because you've seen it in movies. Spaceballs and Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang are among some of the films to have used the location as a set. The castle also served as inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland and was recently an inspiration for a palace in a Pokemon animated feature.

When I drew Neuschwanstein, the scene was set during the spring or summer. In the Advent calendar I found, the setting is Christmas. Based on a famous image from a set of Bavarian beer steins of all things, the painting is of a snowy landscape at Christmas time with a sleigh arriving presumably for the beginning of a great feast. It's evening and the hundreds of windows of the royal residence is illuminated by candlelight.

The calendar is made of double thick cardboard. On each corresponding day, you open a tiny door to reveal images of the interior of Neuschwanstein and the surrounding area. There's also a portrait of King Ludwig II to discover. Speaking of discoveries, let's see what I got from my Batman Advent today...

Santas From Around The World: Bavaria- Krampus (Advent 2020, Day 13)

I’ve grown to become a fan of Krampus. A holiday staple of Central Europe, Krampus is the antithesis of Santa Claus. A half-goat, half-demon creature, Krampus kidnaps bad little children on Christmas Eve and takes them to clean in his workshop. Whether Krampus returns the children to their homes after they make his work area spotless is up for debate as some nations traditions state that Krampus eats the kiddies afterwards.

The legend of Krampus has been around since before the birth of Christ. Folklorists consider the character to be a sort of boogey man cautionary tale to naughty children. Then in the 17th century, Krampus was added many European holiday traditions as the yin to Santa’s yang as part of the Festival of St. Nicolas which occurs every December 6th. 

Krampus’ time almost came to an end in the middle of the 20th century. Far right regimes sort to eliminate the evil influence on the holidays. And their plan almost worked until Krampus began a sort of renaissance around the turn of the 21st century.

A series of comic books, horror movies and pop culture kitsch has brought Krampus back into the forefront. Now a European holiday season isn’t complete without the soot hued monster.

There’s a number of countries I could glean a cookie recipe from. But when I think of Krampus, my mind goes straight to the Black Forest of Bavaria. So for my Advent gift for you today, enjoy this delicious Gingerbread cookie recipe that can double as an ornament or decoration!

Enjoy!