Day XXV - Faun

Horny hedonist,

Panpipes and wine aplenty,

Hailing to Bacchus.

Romping through the woods in a wild frenzy, Fauns are the fun half-goat-half-human creatures of Roman mythology associated with drinking, dancing, music and all other assorted forms of free merriment. With the horns and hind-quarters of a goat, the Fauns are the panpipe-blowing followers of Bacchus (the androgynous good-time god of wine, theatre and mad carefree abandon) and are pretty appropriate figures for December 25th: also the Roman winter solstice feast day of Brumalia dedicated to the free-loving deity. Inspiring art through the ages and making appearances all over the place - from Narnia books to Guillermo del Toro movies - Fauns are associated with outdoor orgies, sexual liberation and, in general, all-out ecstasy and excess. The pre-eminent party animals are righteous mythical creatures for a Merry Winter Celebration Day, so to the randy goat revellers of the forest: cheers!