#theatlantic.com

[elderjourney]

[blondebrainpowered]

A man dressed as Krampus, the companion of St. Nicholas and one of Austria's unique Advent traditions, makes his way during a traditional Krampus procession in Unken, Austrian province of Salzburg, on December 5, 2010. 

AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Words Have Lost Their Common Meaning

The word "racism," among others, has become maddeningly confusing in current usage.

by John McWhorter | Has American society ever been in less basic agreement on what so many important words actually mean? Terms we use daily mean such different things to different people that communication is often blunted considerably, and sometimes even thwarted entirely...

[blondebrainpowered]

Participants who arrived by bus gather before dressing as Krampus, prior to Krampusnacht on November 30, 2013 in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria.

Photo credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

[blondebrainpowered]

A member of the Haiminger Krampusgruppe dressed as Krampus hits a fire to release sparks on the town square during their annual Krampusnacht in Tyrol, on December 1, 2013. 

Photo credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

[blondebrainpowered]

A participant who arrived by bus tries on his Krampus mask as other participants put on their costumes prior to Krampusnacht on November 30, 2013 in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria. 

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

[blondebrainpowered]

A member of the Haiminger Krampusgruppe pulls another on a fiery cart to the town square during the annual Krampusnacht in Haiming, Austria, on December 1, 2013. 

Photo credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

[blondebrainpowered]

A man dressed in traditional Perchten (also known in some regions as Krampus or Tuifl) costume and mask performs during a Perchten festival in the western Austrian village of Heitwerwang, some 90 km (56 miles) west of Innsbruck, on November 23, 2012. 

Reuters/Dominic Ebenbichler