Tis the season for Christmas songs but that does not mean ghost stories cannot be told. In the classic song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” there is the line “…there will be be scary ghost stories…” What does that mean? Where ghost stories a Christmas tradition? What was the reason to tell scary stories during Christmas?
To sum all the research up we have found:
The song possibly refers to Charles Dickens’ story of A Christmas Carol wherein Ebenzer Scrooge was visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. It is also possible it refers to the long lost tradition of telling ghost stories during the Christmas season. This tradition lasted until early 1900’s but was phased out by the popularity of Halloween and Santa Claus. Christmas ghost stories were meant to be a parable to guide readers on a righteous path or warn them against social dangers. Being scared by ghost stories with morals on Christmas eve lost its luster and usefulness. Children began to fear Santa’s naughty list and confined the scary things to Halloween.
Knowledge is power.
Here are some lost Christmas Ghost Stories:
“Between the Lights,” by E. F. Benson (1912)
“The Kit-Bag,” by Algernon Blackwood (1908)
“Christmas Re-union,” by Sir Andrew Caldecott (1912)
If you want more stories you can do a Google Search for “Christmas Ghost Stories.” You will not be disappointed and a little frightened from what you find.
References:
A Plea to Resurrect the Christmas Tradition of Telling Ghost Stories