Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old World Carnival: A lecture & book signing with author Al Ridenour

Based on his book, A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old-World Carnival (Feral House, 2025), Ridenour’s lively and immersive presentation employs slides, video, props, and other surprises to illustrate a history reaching back to 4th-century Rome and widespread from Sardinia to Bulgaria. A Season of Madness focuses primarily on old (yet still extant) Carnival traditions echoing the customs of village life, medieval Christianity, and paganism. Much of this revolves around the activities of costumed groups visiting homes or interacting with spectators in public spaces. Their behavior is often chaotic or intimidating and their appearance bizarre, even monstrous, yet contact with them is said to bring luck and fertility. Often costumed in shaggy sheepskins, horned masks, and almost always wearing bells, these figures invite comparison to the Krampus.First encountering them while researching The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas (Feral House 2016), Ridenour was intrigued and began studying the historical intertwining of these traditions. Tonight’s presentation will explore that connection and provide an overview of the regional celebrations detailed in A Season of Madness, a volume described by Dr. Paul Koudounaris (Empire of Death, Heavenly Bodies, Faithful unto Death) as "sumptuously illustrated and written with clarity, eloquence, and wry humor.” Al Ridenour is the founder of Krampus Los Angeles, mask-maker, and creator/host of the popular history and folklore podcast Bone and Sickle. Help fuel a strong and resilient MAH by becoming a MAH Member or making a donation. Your contribution directly supports the future of the museum and connecting our community through art, history, and culture.