BS: Kris Kringling -- Shen. Valley Folklore

Subject: Kris Kringling -- Shen. Valley Folklore
From: Fortunato
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 02:29 PM

My mother is from near Luray in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She told us of a tradition when she was a girl, 1920s, called "Kris Kringling". At Christmas time young people would dress up in a sheet, or in costume, to hide their identity. They would make a circuit of homes and knock on the door, calling "Kris Kringling", "Who am I". If the folks at home could not guess, or even if they could, the 'Kringlers' were invited in for refreshments.

Has anyone ever heard of this folk tradition? Where?

Subject: RE: BS: Kris Kringling -- Shen. Valley Folklore
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 02:48 PM

Google search: Kris Kringling returns a lot of sites.

~Masato

Subject: RE: BS: Kris Kringling -- Shen. Valley Folklore
From: Fortunato
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 03:02 PM

Masato, I appreciate the link. I hadn't thought to do that. You are, as always, a great help. Cheers, Chance

Subject: RE: BS: Kris Kringling -- Shen. Valley Folklore
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 09:46 PM

By far the more sites with Kris Kringle.

~Masato