Putting Ghosts Back Into the Holiday Season

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Ready for a new holiday tradition? 

Since it’s Friday 13th, an ill-fated day according to some, I thought I would bring up the old British custom of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve. Charles Dickens was just continuing a centuries-long tradition when he published “A Christmas Carol” in 1843, a tale in which Ebenezer Scrooge is plagued by four apparitions.

Sadly, the custom never caught on in the U.S., and it’s been mostly forgotten in Britain. However, there is no reason why we can’t incorporate the custom into our own holiday traditions. 

Set aside one night during the holiday season (it doesn’t have to be Christmas Eve) to read ghost stories, or to share creepy tales with close friends. The stories could be true, or fictional. Personally, I would recommend Gothic ghost stories set during the holidays, written by the likes of M.R. James, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, etc.

“A Christmas Carol” was, after all, an example of Gothic literature. Another perfect example? “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James. Also note that M.R. James intended for many of his ghost stories to be read aloud to his friends on Christmas Eve. 

You can’t beat Gothic horror for atmosphere—think flickering candlelight, rattling chains, a howling wind outside, and spindly tree branches scraping against your window pane. 

One of my favorite books for the season is “Ghosts for Christmas.” This anthology edited by Richard Dalby contains 30 stories released from 1837 up to the present. I make sure to read one or two of my favorite stories from it every year around this time.

It sure adds that extra chill to my December.  


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