“Whenever five or six English-speaking people meet round a fire on Christmas Eve, they start telling each other ghost stories” (Jerome K. Jerome)

Dickens is the last survivor of the once popular tradition of telling Christmas ghost stories.

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Dressed up as monsters, the Slavs used to sing songs and go trick-or-treating with a star on a stick to celebrate Koliada. Originated in our pagan past, that festival was so loved that it became part of Christmas celebrations.



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In the 19th century ornaments on Christmas trees were said to represent wishes. Owls are symbolic of wisdom and, in Celtic lore, the power of prophesy-- useful wishes!

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Art by the Surrealist and Gothic style painter, Yaroslav Gerzhedovich.

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Mari Lwyd is an ancient Welsh Yule custom where revelers carrying the skull of a mare on a stick would attempt to gain entry to homes thru song. They would be discouraged by the homeowner, thru song and a song fest commenced until one side relented

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For perhaps a few vintage cards to put you in the holiday mood.

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From a 1968 edition of H.C.Andersen’s “The Snow Queen”, etchings by Danish artist Lars Bo (1924-1999). Lars Bo moved to Paris in 1947 to study at Atelier 17 and remained there until his death. Nicknamed “Wizard”, he was known for his surreal & fantastical motifs.

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The Lady of the Cold is a character from Tove Jansson's 5th book 'Moominland (1957). She brings ice and snow to and is described as extremely beautiful. However if you look into her eyes she will instantly freeze you to death 🥶❄️🌨️

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Scrooge:“Ghost of the future, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company..."



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CALLICANTZAROS Winged demon & vampiric being confined to the underworld; only emerging for 12 days from 25th Dec to 7th Jan. The Greek Callicantzaros is uncannily referred to in English as the Christmas Vampire or Demon 🎨Bartolomé Bermejo

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“It held a branch of green holly in its hand; and in singular contradiction to that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers”

Join the Dark Queens tomorrow for with your tales and images of

Christmas Ghosts

We RT after 2 pm GMT!

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Some delightful Victorian Christmas cards to fill your heart with terror this festive season.

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Carrying on my dug out another favoured haunt of mine 'The Upper Berth' by F. Marion Crawford. Filled with claustrophobia and an unparalleled sense of isolation, Crawford's classic is packed full of tension amidst a sea of cold, black, waves.
(image Scott Plumbe)

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THE SNOW QUEEN'S MIRROR makes everything good in the world appear bad & all that is evil & worthless seem attractive; thanks to a Hobgoblin; If a fragment enters your eye you will see only faults, if a splinter enters a your heart it will turn to ice 🎨Ford; T. Pym

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Lucy's Latin name Lucia shares the root (luc-) with the Latin word for light, lux. Some traditions incorporate St. Lucy as the bearer of light, her feast day being 13 December. As some versions relate that her eyes were removed, she is the patron saint of the blind

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Some Christmas Cards by Edward Gorey

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