Richard Littler
Mini #FolkHorror thread for you. This morning I found this old confectionery box from the 1940s or 50s in a charity shop.
I did some delving and found that the horned, devilish character is called 'Der Fulehung' or 'Lazy Dog'.
Jun 20 at 3:37pmWeb
Show threadRichard Littler1d ago
He was supposedly the Duke of Burgundy's jester, captured in 1476 during the battle of Murten. He was chased through the streets and alleyways until he collapsed. The tradition continued, although roles were reversed and he chased the crowd.
Show threadRichard Littler1d ago
...In the mid 1800s Der Fulehung was banned due to "The brutalisation of young people", but was eventually reinstated.
The tradition continues today and Der Fulehung chases the crowd every year during Ausschiesset, a local folk festival. It next occurs in September, so I think I'll go.
Show threadRichard Littler1d ago
Reading about Der Fulehung, I suddenly realised that I took a photo of his statue several years ago.
Show threadFemme Malheureuse1d ago
@Richard_Littler I wonder if Der Fulehung shaped Ken Hughes' character the Child Catcher in his rewrite-screenplay of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang — but instead of horns he had a top hat (perhaps to cover horns?).
Show threadRichard Littler1d ago
@femme_mal Perhaps. We also have the 'Kindlifresser' (eater of little children) here.
Show threadFemme Malheureuse1d ago
@Richard_Littler Interesting. Perhaps a mashup? I guess we'll never know, but now I know of two new-to-me figures I can use to terrify my future grandchildren into the appearance of good behavior. LOL
Show threadBennet1d ago
@femme_mal @Richard_Littler I think this is just one version of a trope/archetype that's very common at least in Europe and was widely used to keep kids in line until a generation or two ago: the bogeyman who'll show up and beat (or eat) them if they're unruly.
Show threadRik KM1d ago
@Richard_Littler he sounds like the Burryman
Show threadTony Wells10h ago

@Richard_Littler

He looks far scarier in monochrome photos.

Show threadTyrone Slothrop1d ago

@Richard_Littler Damn.

@Thunfischer you should see this!

Show threadThuni 🐟1d ago

@slothrop @Richard_Littler

I posted exactly that on Facebook two years ago, along with the harmless observation that this advertising might be problematic for people who aren't from Thun…

guess 🙄

Anyone from Thun knows the background—which is problematic, but not in the way you might think. (Google “Fulehung”)

Show threadgroff 🇺🇦1d ago
@Richard_Littler Part of a long standing germanic tradition of terrifying children with horror stories.
Show threadMarc Etienne1d ago
@Richard_Littler at first I noted the six points on the yellow star, but the other photos show that the number of points always varied, and that now 7 or 8 seem common to avoid a certain false conclusion.