Throughout the 1800's until the early 1900's, Victorian tales of ghosts and hauntings were traditional fixtures during the winter holiday season. As the sunlight slowly died, tales of spirits restlessly rising from their graves were told in front of the safety of a roaring fire. It was believed the veil between the existence of the living and dead was thin enough for the spirits to cross over and visit their old homes, loved ones, and even enemies during this frigid time.
This belief has its roots in connection to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which focused upon the upcoming winter season. Due to the approaching darkness of the winter, many Celts believed interaction with the spirit world became much accessible. Large fires would be erected and costumes of animals and monsters would be worn. This was done to trick the spirits that may breach our physical world. This way the odds of being kidnapped to the spirit realm would dramatically decrease.
The Germanic holiday of Yule has also been connected with ghostly storytelling.
Traditional ghost stories we associate with the holiday season now are quite mild compared to the gory, horror filled narratives of the early to mid 1800s. Charles Dickens wrote numerous stories of spirits rising from their graves, yet he is best known during this season for Ebeneezer Scrooge's redemption after his visits from the other side.
Edgar Allen Poe, normally associated with the Halloween season by most now, wrote numerous tales associated with the holiday season and the bleakness of December. This includes one of his most iconic works, The Raven:
"Ah, distinctly I remember
it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor."
If you can spare a moment this evening, as the darkness methodically drowns out the light, ponder upon the fading tradition of Christmas Eve ghost stories.
Perhaps we can breath life back into the tales of the dead this Holiday season.
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