Rolling Hells and Land-Ships

Rolling Hells and Land-Ships

During the 15th-century, citizens of Nuremberg, Germany, experienced spectacular Carnival parades highlighted by the appearance of floats known as “hells.”  Featuring immense figures, including dragons, ogres, and man-eating  giants, these hells were also peopled with costumed performers and enhanced with mechanized effects and pyrotechnics. In this episode, adapted from a chapter of Mr. Ridenour’s new …

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Book Trailer

Book Trailer

Here’s a new book trailer I put together for A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old-World Carnival.  This one’s slanted toward who may have been interested in my Krampus book.  The book is available in the US at better bookstores, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, directly from the publisher, Feral House,  and …

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Happy May Day!

Happy May Day!

Your favorite podcast is now seven years old!  As a birthday gift to our listeners, we decided to try a super short, experimental video podcast. For your pleasure, Mr. Ridenour yesterday edited together this vide0, entitled “The May Queen”.

The Unknown Carnival

The Unknown Carnival

Mr. Ridenour introduces his new book “A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old-World Carnival,” explaining how the project grew out of his research for “The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas.”  In this episode, he sketches out chapter themes and topics, from ancient Rome to modern Bulgaria, focusing particularly on cultural …

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NEW: “Carnival King” Rewards on Patreon

NEW: “Carnival King” Rewards on Patreon

In celebration of Mr. Ridenour’s new book on folk-Carnival traditions, Bone and Sickle is making available the new ultra-super deluxe CARNIVAL KING Patreon Rewards Tier celebrating the release of my book on Carnival traditions. CARNIVAL KING Rewards are available either on an annual or monthly basis. BILLED ANNUALLY – $204 ($17 month, 15% savings) Annual …

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The Sin-Eater

The Sin-Eater

The Sin-Eater was a figure associated with funerals of the 17th – 19th century, mostly in Wales, and the English counties along the Welsh border. According to tradition,  he was invited by grieving families to transfer the burden of sins from the deceased to himself by consuming bread and  beer in the vicinity of the …

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Mélusine, the Serpent Fairy

Mélusine, the Serpent Fairy

Mélusine is a female fairy of medieval legend. who suffers under a curse transforming her once weekly into a monstrous form. In various tales she becomes either a serpent or fish from the waist down, or fully transforms into a dragon. Mélusine can only break this curse via marriage to a mortal who is obliged …

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Announcement: Show Delay

Announcement: Show Delay

Unfortunately, release of the episode scheduled for this month has been delayed thanks to the Eaton Wildfire in California. Your hosts are safe and sound, but complications from the fire temporarily halted production. The episode in question should be available in February. Thank you for your patience!  

A Christmas Ghost Story VII

A Christmas Ghost Story VII

The Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas has been celebrated by Bone and Sickle since 2018.  This year is no exception as we share two stories in this episode, one comic, and one frightening. We begin with the Introduction to the 1891 anthology, Told After Supper, by the British writer, Jerome K. Jerome, …

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La Befana, the Witch of Twelfth Night

La Befana, the Witch of Twelfth Night

A short extra episode on Befana, the gift-bringing Italian witch associated with Twelfth Night, the end of the Christmas season.  Included in the show is material from the book, “The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas,” traditional music of the season, audio from actual celebrations, and a few pop songs associated with la Befana.