Though Pagan rituals may evoke images of maypoles, casting circles 

and of course, bear-suit-clad boyfriends burning in a sacrificial pyre a la Ari Aster's Midsommar, the reality of these festivals and rites is much richer than its pop culture portrayals. Just ask photographer Charles Fréger, who spent roughly two years capturing Pagan rituals throughout 19 European countries. 

“I found myself in front of something very radical, no face," the artist recalled of his first encounter with a Wild Man, one that served as the namesake inspiration for his Wilder Mann photo series. "It was more of a character with a mask and a focus where the body is more important than the face itself." 

From bear suits to burr suits, here are 43 stunning images of Pagan rituals across Europe, as photographed by Fréger.