A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old-World Carnival

by Al Ridenour

Al Ridenour, creator and host of the popular podcast Bone and Sickle and author of The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas extends his study of Winter folk celebrations to the Spring, exploring the Old-World Carnival in A Season of Madness.

Sumptuously illustrated with over one hundred historical and modern images, Ridenour ushers readers into cultural hinterlands where celebrations still echo the cruel realities of the old, agricultural world, and medieval Christianity intertwines with pagan practice.

From ancient Rome to modern Bulgaria, readers encounter a holiday at once beautiful, strange, and savage. Spring is welcomed by clowns waving inflated pig bladders. Stalking sheepskin monsters brandish clubs bristling with hedgehog spines, and plows are dragged over cobblestone streets by celebrants wearing masks painted with cow’s blood. Folk horror fans take heart as the Old World welcomes Spring!

Ridenour’s first book, Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil (2018) is considered by critics the definitive authority on pagan winter celebrations. Aside from his books and podcast, Ridenour is a sought-after expert and lecturer.

Genres: History

304 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Ridenour's academic background includes BAs with honors in German and English, interests recently combined in the 2016 publication of his second nonfiction book, The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas. My previous book Offbeat Food, Adventures in an Omnivorous World was written in 2000 for Santa Monica Press, after articles contributed to the LA Times, LA Weekly, and New Times Los Angeles caught the attention of the publisher.

Prior to working as a writer, he had pursued work toward an MFA in animation at UCLA, but was hired out of school before completion of that degree after a screening of his school project attracted attention at a 1989 animation (SIGGRAPH) convention.

Reviews

[Thomas Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always. Ridenour’s scholarship is vast and incalculable. The humor and wit are present, but subtle… And of course, his choice of subject matter is endlessly fascinating. He has in me, a fan for life…

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and respectful account of a variety of Old-World Carnival traditions, while also managing to be humorous and practical (warning tourists away from the more anarchic events and towards the more public oriented ones, for example). It can be viewed as a continuation of the author’s previous book, The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas. I particularly liked the parsing between rumors of pagan origins versus real evidence for such on rare occasions, crediting our ancestors with the ability to throw a good party over simply being fearful and superstitious.

[Paul Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and fascinating book. And the photos are simply marvelous.

[Emily Posthumus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly fascinating, really engaging writing and great photos. Very interesting! One of my fave non-fictions this year.

[Cicely · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must have book for those who are fanatic about folk customs that have a hint of paganism. It’s gutsy, with marvelous photographs, and is well researched.