A terrifying collection of scary 'Krampus' creatures (from the Whitby Krampus Run group) are seen gathering at the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. They are pictured with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Richard Townlsey) during the Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing weekend. The Krampus along with evil spirits of the forest, were sent on their way during a traditional 'wassailing' ceremony. The Krampus is a central European legend, concerning a half-goat, half-demon creature that punishes naughty children at Christmastime whilst ‘wassailing’ is a Twelfth Night tradition, rooted in the pagan custom of visiting orchards to sing to the trees and spirits in the hope of ensuring a good harvest. A spiced mulled cider brew is traditionally drunk from a special wassailing.A terrifying collection of scary 'Krampus' creatures (from the Whitby Krampus Run group) are seen gathering at the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. They are pictured with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Richard Townlsey) during the Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing weekend. The Krampus along with evil spirits of the forest, were sent on their way during a traditional 'wassailing' ceremony. The Krampus is a central European legend, concerning a half-goat, half-demon creature that punishes naughty children at Christmastime whilst ‘wassailing’ is a Twelfth Night tradition, rooted in the pagan custom of visiting orchards to sing to the trees and spirits in the hope of ensuring a good harvest. A spiced mulled cider brew is traditionally drunk from a special wassailing.
A terrifying collection of scary 'Krampus' creatures (from the Whitby Krampus Run group) are seen gathering at the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. They are pictured with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Richard Townlsey) during the Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing weekend. The Krampus along with evil spirits of the forest, were sent on their way during a traditional 'wassailing' ceremony. The Krampus is a central European legend, concerning a half-goat, half-demon creature that punishes naughty children at Christmastime whilst ‘wassailing’ is a Twelfth Night tradition, rooted in the pagan custom of visiting orchards to sing to the trees and spirits in the hope of ensuring a good harvest. A spiced mulled cider brew is traditionally drunk from a special wassailing.

Terrifying demon-like monsters sent running from Sherwood Forest during wassailing ceremony!

If you went down to the woods at the weekend, you were sure of a big surprise...
Dale Spridgeon
By Dale Spridgeon
Published 20th Jan 2022, 10:00 BST

Scary, horned creatures called Krampus were roaming Sherwood Forest at the weekend.

Thankfully, the curious creatures who hung around on Saturday, were sent running to the hills on Sunday when a traditional ‘wassailing’ ceremony was held to purge evil spirits and dark forces from the forest.

The strange activities were all part of the ‘Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing Weekend’.

During the ‘wassailing,’ led by Richard Townsley, the self-styled Sheriff of Nottingham, a procession led to the Major Oak and, with the help of people banging pots and pans, the Krampus and evil forest spirits were soon frightened away.

The noise was also hoped to awaken the forest ready for spring and to bring in a good year ahead.

See here some of the images from the extraordinary event...

The strange activities were all part of the ‘Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing Weekend’.

The Wassailing Bowl used at the Spirits of Sherwood and Wassailing weekend . A spiced cider brew is traditionally drunk as part of the wassailing tradition. The word ‘wassail’ is believed to have originated from the Old English ‘was hál’, meaning ‘be hale’ or ‘good health’ The wassailing brew was cooked up over a fire on Sunday before being used to bless the mighty Major Oak. This one was made in Nottinghamshire especially for the Lord Sheriff and Sherwood Forest by Trinity Court Potteries: Jim and Emma Newboult.

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The Wassailing Bowl used at the Spirits of Sherwood and Wassailing weekend . A spiced cider brew is traditionally drunk as part of the wassailing tradition. The word ‘wassail’ is believed to have originated from the Old English ‘was hál’, meaning ‘be hale’ or ‘good health’ The wassailing brew was cooked up over a fire on Sunday before being used to bless the mighty Major Oak. This one was made in Nottinghamshire especially for the Lord Sheriff and Sherwood Forest by Trinity Court Potteries: Jim and Emma Newboult. Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham/Facebook

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Visitors tot he Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing weekend at Sherwood Forest made plenty of noise to scare away the Krampus. Pots and pans were used to scare away evil spirits during traditional wassailing ceremonies like the one held in the forest. Other wassailing traditions include drinking spiced cider from a wassailing bowl, soaking a slice of toast in cider to hang on tree branches, or pouring cider around the roots of the tree, whilst chanting wassailing songs.

6. Plenty of noise in the forest as pots and pans were banged loudly to scare away evil spirits!

Visitors tot he Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing weekend at Sherwood Forest made plenty of noise to scare away the Krampus. Pots and pans were used to scare away evil spirits during traditional wassailing ceremonies like the one held in the forest. Other wassailing traditions include drinking spiced cider from a wassailing bowl, soaking a slice of toast in cider to hang on tree branches, or pouring cider around the roots of the tree, whilst chanting wassailing songs. Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham Facebook

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A Krampus - one of the scary creatures who visited the forest. They are part of a European tradition over the Christmas season. Assisting Saint Nicholas, the pair visit children on the night of December 5. Saint Nicholas rewarding the well-behaved children with gifts, while the badly behaved ones receive punishment from the Krampus.

7. The scary creature Krampus punished naughty children in Alpine folklore

A Krampus - one of the scary creatures who visited the forest. They are part of a European tradition over the Christmas season. Assisting Saint Nicholas, the pair visit children on the night of December 5. Saint Nicholas rewarding the well-behaved children with gifts, while the badly behaved ones receive punishment from the Krampus. Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham

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Sheriff of Nottingham Richard Townsley pictured by the Major Oak with the wassailing bowl which was specially made for the Sheriff, by Newark-based potters Jim and Emma Newboult of Trinity Court Pottery. It was used during a wassailing ceremony held in Sherwood Forest.

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Sheriff of Nottingham Richard Townsley pictured by the Major Oak with the wassailing bowl which was specially made for the Sheriff, by Newark-based potters Jim and Emma Newboult of Trinity Court Pottery. It was used during a wassailing ceremony held in Sherwood Forest. Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham/Facebook

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