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Dec 20, 2023 · Tell ghost stories, unrelated to Christmas itself but with the deep cold of winter embedded in their bones, to each other on winter nights when you’ve gathered together.
- “Dark Christmas” by Jeanette Winterson. Back in 2013, Guardian Weekend magazine published a series of chilling original ghost stories set around Christmastime.
- “Ofodile” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This story from Americanah author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie also appeared in Guardian Weekend in 2013. It’s set at a house in Nigeria, where the narrator’s younger brother—the titular Ofodile—is kept locked away in his room.
- “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad” by M.R. James. M.R. James is a master horror writer, and this 1904 ghost stories is one of his best creations.
- “Repossession” by Lionel Shriver. We Need to Talk About Kevin is one of the more disturbing novels there is, so leave it to the book’s author—Lionel Shriver—to deliver a truly chilling holiday story.
- Aoife Hanna
- 'Oh Whistle & I'll Come To You My Lad' — M.R. James. M.R. James is arguably one of the best ever British writers of ghost stories. And, according to the BFI, this particular tale of his has undergone multiple film and TV adaptations — including a version from Jonathon Miller that went out at Christmas time in 1968.
- 'Dark Christmas' — Jeanette Winterson. A modern tale written by Jeanette Winterson for the Guardian, Dark Christmas is a truly glorious take on the classic genre.
- 'The Turn Of The Screw' — Henry James. Henry James' Christmas time classic was turned into a very successful drama for the BBC back in 2009 which starred Downton Abbey's own Lady Mary, Michelle Dockery.
- 'Dubliners: The Dead' — James Joyce. This short story, a part of The Dubliners, isn't technically meant to be a ghost story but there's no denying it's an impossibly spooky tale.
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- Krampus. WHERE: Germany, Austria, Italy. Though the specific origins of this infamous beast are unknown, Krampus is…the opposite of St. Nick. Half goat, half straight-up-horned demon, this European legend loves to devour children around the holidays who have misbehaved.
- Grýla (and Her Offspring) WHERE: Iceland. Another terror to youngsters, ogre Grýla has been around since the 13th century and is said to have children (who are trolls) herself.
- Maryi Lwyd. WHERE: Wales. Maryi Lwyd is the textbook definition of nightmare fuel, and I’m sorry for providing that here. However, the iconic holiday tradition—which is said to be derived from some sort of religious rite (likely pagan) in the early 1800s—simply could not be left off of this list.
- Hans Trapp. WHERE: France. Ah, the classic tale of a man selling his soul to become rich in the 15th century. As legend has it this time around, once greedy M. Trapp did so, the Catholic Church got word of it, stripped him of his wealth, and exiled him from society.
- “Dark Christmas” by Jeanette Winterson. In this chilling Christmas ghost story from the author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, a woman and her friends head to a remote Victorian manor for the holidays.
- “A Strange Christmas Game” by Charlotte Riddell. In this 1868 tale from prolific writer Charlotte Riddell, Clare and her brother John inherit Martingdale, an obviously haunted Victorian estate.
- “The Shadow” by E. Nesbit. “The Shadow” has everything you’d want in a Christmas story — snow, good friends, partying — and a twist you’ll never see coming.
- “The Kit-Bag” by Algernon Blackwood. This ghostly short story will stay with you long after you read it. The story follows Johnson, a law assistant whose boss represents a man accused of murdering a woman.
Dec 20, 2022 · Haunted holiday tales: From Krampus to Belsnickel, here are 7 scary stories from Christmas lore. Silent night can also be a spooky night: Across Europe, Christmas monsters have been...
Dec 13, 2017 · Below are seven spine-tingling and seasonal stories of Christmas ghosts. 1. THE HAUNTED CHRISTMAS FEAST AT ALCATRAZ. Alex Light, Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0. The island of Alcatraz, off the coast...
