Driving away the winter ghosts at the Perchten festival

A man dressed in a traditional Perchten costume and mask performs during a Perchten festival in the western Austrian village of Kappl, Austria, on November 13, 2015. Each year in November and January people in the western Austria regions dress up in Perchten (also known in some regions as Krampus or Tuifl) costumes and parade through the streets to perform a 1,500-year-old pagan ritual to disperse the ghosts of winter. (Source: Reuters)

The festival dates back to when farmers performed pagan rites to disperse the ghosts of winter to help bring a fruitful harvest. (Source: Reuters)

The farmers would wear terrifying masks with the thought that these would scare the ghosts away. (Source: Reuters)

The festival comes during the Twelve Nights and festivals which bring luck and wealth to the people. (Source: Reuters)

For many, the festival may seem like the more popular Halloween, with scary masks and costumes, but it still retains the edge of paganism. (Source: Reuters)

In the 16th century, the Perchten took two forms: Some beautiful and bright, known as the Schönperchten ("beautiful Perchten"). The other, Schiachperchten ("ugly Perchten") who have fangs, tusks and horse tails which are used to drive out demons and ghosts. (Source: Reuters)

Men dressed as the ugly Perchten during the 16th century and went from house to house driving out bad spirits. (Source: Reuters)

Even now, hundreds of people dress up in elaborate Perchten costumes in Kappl, and take part in the annual festivities. (Source: Reuters)

Each year, the festivities are made even more spectacular with pyrotechnics, fire and fog. (Source: Reuters)