The connection of ghost stories and Halloween is not a surprising one given the proximity of Halloween to all sorts of lore and macabre symbolism. However, few people know the link between the Christmas holidays and the tradition of telling ghost stories. In the Victorian Era, ghost stories were as commonplace on Christmas Eve as milk and cookies for Santa are now.
By now, we’ve all had some experience with Dickens’ classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol. We’re often so overwhelmed with the transformation that Ebenezer Scrooge experiences, that we forget this story has all the trappings of a classic ghost story. Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by spirits, on Christmas Eve, thus leading to his massive change of heart. Written at a point when Christmas celebrations were dwindling, Dickens story is said to have revitalized the spirit of Christmas.
Many think this is uncommon that an author would include ghosts in what we think to be a Christmas story, but the history of telling stories around the fire on Christmas Eve goes back a long way. There are several mentions in classic literature referencing tales of ghosts and goblins during the holidays of the Victorian Era. There is even a line in a classic Christmas song that stirs memories of traditions past, in which the singer croons “there will be scary ghost stories, and tales of the glory of Christmases long, long ago.”
Most historians believe that the tradition of ghost stories on Christmas Eve can be dated back to late 1800’s. The tradition is associated with the winter solstice, when the barriers between the dead and the living were thought to be the thinnest. It was during this solstice that many believed that the dead could come back to attend to loose ends.
While this Victorian tradition seems to have fallen by the wayside in current culture, some people still choose to embrace the celebration of ghosts and goblins during the holidays. Considering that a remarkable amount of people claim to see or hear the ghosts of their relatives as the holidays grow nearer, it should come as no surprise that the holidays and ghosts have long since been linked.
If you’re one of the many people in the world who believe in ghosts, why not bring back the classic tradition and combine your holiday festivities with a little ghostly tale-telling? In the coming season, join us on one of our fascinating haunted tours where history meets horror; if you dare!
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