Gallery: The Bizarre, Eye-Popping Costumes of Europe's Wild Men

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    01

    WM5-Schnappviecher

    *Schnappviecher*, Tramin, Italy. This costume, which Fréger says is around 40 pounds, is meant to be as scary as it looks. It's the job of the butchers and drivers of the village to protect the public from the beasts. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    02

    WM4-Strohbär

    *Strohbär*, Germany. The Straw Bear costume is inspired by Germany's rural past. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    03

    WM1-Babugeri

    *Babugeri* and *Chaushi*, Bulgaria. The bizarre-looking costumes are made from goat skin. Traditionally, they carried a red-painted rod on their belt to represent a phallic object and would brush up against women to make them fertile. Now they just carry a stick. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    04

    WM3-zezengorri

    *Zezengorri*, Basque Country, Spain. The Zezengorri is the guardian of caves and chasms who comes out every second weekend of February for the region's carnival. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    05

    WM6-berryman

    *BurryMan*, Scotland. Because the BurryMan's costume is extremely limiting in its movements, two undisguised aids must guide him throughout the streets as he goes door to door frightening away evil spirits. If you give him whiskey and money, it will bring you good luck. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    06

    Wilder Mann-Charles FREGER (5)

    *Macinula*, Poland. In Poland, these rag-covered creatures are meant to play the role of the village clown. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    07

    WM7-wilder

    *Wilder*, Austria. The Wild Man costume is made of a hood, jacket and trousers. Men also wear a wooden mask and lean on a big stick. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    08

    WM8-Boessardinia

    *Boes*, Sardinia, Italy. This animal-like creature promotes fertility in the land, cattle and women. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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    09

    WM9-Mechkari

    *MeChkari*, Poland. The costume is made from the skins of goats and sheep slaughtered during the year and worn by butchers during the three days of carival at the beginning of Lent. *Photo: Charles Fréger*
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