Some New Bedford residents were surprised to see a quirky new addition to the city’s holiday display in Clasky Common Park the morning of Dec. 11.
Where once stood a Frosty the Snowman ice fishing shack, a colorful Baphomet — a gnostic deity recognized by pagans and occultists — was painted on plywood looking over the wooden snowmen skating in front of it. The Baphomet was removed by the end of the day. According to the City of New Bedford, city workers took it down.
“During the past week, an unknown person or persons breached protective fencing installed around a municipal holiday display in Clasky Common Park and left behind the item in question,” a spokesperson from New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell’s Office said in a statement.
Source: The New Bedford Baphomet: City removes pagan art added to holiday display