HIGHLIGHT: PENNSYLVANIA
Hamilton Township: Jeff Asper’s holiday tradition is building an eerie sculpture based on folklore from other countries and displaying it on his front yard. Out front now is Krampus, a horned Christmas devil; Jolakotturinn, a giant Icelandic Yule cat; and this year’s installation, a German Christmas witch, Frau Perchta. As legend has it, Frau Perchta would roam the countryside for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. She’d leave a silver coin to nice children. But for the naughty, she’d cut open their bellies and replace all their organs with straw and pebbles. Asper uses only repurposed or recycled materials to make his unsettling sculptures.