I encountered this austrian pre-alp tradition for the first time at the Christmas market in Birkfeld, Steiermark this year. It scared the shit out of me! Uh, I’m not a fan of this tradition. Like meeting real orchs! I’ve heard that the tradition is that the devil comes late autumn and takes over the village with his darkness and that he’s kicked out again when the light comes in the spring.

http://twitter.com/kreaWERFT (Elke B. Bachler) also provided me with this information, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Christian_Alpine_traditi… Thanks!