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...
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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. Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham/Facebook
2. Did you see any scary creatures in Sherwood Forest at the weekend - was it a Krampus?
Two of the scary Krampus spotted lurking in Sherwood Forest during the Spirits of the Forest and wassailing weekend which was held at Sherwood Fores over Saturday and Sunday, January 15/16. Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham
3. Sherwood Forest was blessed for a good year ahead at a traditional wassailing ceremony
The Sheriff of Nottingham (Richard Townsley) leads the wassailing and blesses the trees at the Spirits of the Forest and wassailing weekend held at Sherwood Forest. Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham/facebook
4. Watch out there was a Krampus about at Sherwood Forest!
An unsuspecting dog walker encounters one of the terrifying Krampus creatures during the Spirits of the Forest and Wassailing weekend at Sherwood Forest Photo: Sheriff of Nottingham/Facebook