THIS IS THE FESTIVAL I FOUND WHEN RESEARCHING THE PENNY DREADFUL PROJECT. I FIND THE IDEA OF A MAN DRESSED UP IN GIANT STRAW COSTUME WICH IS LATER BURNT A BIT TERRIFYING. THIS LOCALISED FOLK LORE IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM INTERESTED IN - SCARY RITUALS THAT HAVE BEEN CONTINUED BECAUSE OF THEIR ONCE SYMBOLIC VALUE BUT WHICH NOW JUST SEEM A LITTLE BIT SINISTER AND OUT OF CONTEXT.
I THINK THIS IS PARTICULARLY SCARY, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YOU KNOW THERE ISN'T STILL SOMEBODY INSIDE IT, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT THINK BUT WHAT IF THERE IS AND ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND PLAYING MUSIC ETC WHILE SOMEONE INSIDE IS BEING BURNT ALIVE......
THE WHITTLESEY STRAW BEAR IN ACTION-----((I LIKE THE WAY THE MUSIC PLAYED AT THE BURNING OF THE BEAR IS THE SAME AS THE MUSIC PLAYED AS IT WALKS ABOUT. THIS GIVES IT A MACABRE TIMELESS FEEL - AND ADDS TO THE SENSE OF FEAR THAT THE PERSON COULD STILL BE INSIDE IT WHEN IT IS SET ALIGHT....
