It is an imbalance in this status quo that has allowed the seasons to change: the daylight hours of summer, the time of good, shortening, whilst the time of evil, the winter of night, has gained strength, the interim period, known as dusk, when both are present, becoming an all consuming battle for supremacy.

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Children who learned at grandpa's knee that the hyena is an evil, snarling beast that haunts the night are sometimes perplexed to see real hyenas placidly sunbathing.

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They send you late-night e-mails, evil howls of rage.

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The pagan Slavic holiday of Korochun, celebrated on winter solstice, was more like Halloween: Evil spirits were at their most powerful on this night, until the new sun was resurrected and defeated them.

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