Ghosts of Christmas Past

Class Description

Ages 10+ with parent or guardian supervision. A signed waiver is required at the time of registration for all participants under 18.

Location & Meeting Information

Class meeting locations are tentative and may be adjusted based on permits, weather, or other logistical considerations. Registered participants will receive a confirmation email before each session with the final meeting location, directions, and any important updates.

Have you heard of Krampus? Have you ever wondered about the lore, legends, and history behind his name?

As the days grow shorter and winter settles in, join us for a four-part lecture series exploring the darker side of winter folklore and holiday traditions.

From the lost tradition of the Christmas ghost story to the reasons Charles Dickens helped make ghosts synonymous with Christmas, we’ll uncover the eerie tales, forgotten customs, and supernatural figures that haunt the winter season. Explore the shadowy side of Christmas folklore, including mysterious figures like the Winter Witch, and discover the chilling stories that linger beneath the festive cheer.

Step beyond the familiar traditions of the season and discover the strange, spooky, and sometimes unsettling folklore that has shaped our winter celebrations.

Week 1. The lost tradition of the Christmas ghost story

Tuesday December 1st 6-7:30

Why are ghosts primarily associated with Halloween, but centuries ago, stories of Christmas spirits were told by the fireside? Join us for a journey into the shadowy side of Christmas as we explore fireside storytelling, Victorian fascination with the supernatural, and the cultural changes that caused this once-beloved custom to fade. Along the way, we'll discover why Christmas ghosts weren't simply meant to be frightening. They could also remind listeners of the past, mortality, generosity, family, and the possibility of transformation.

This lecture explores the forgotten relationship between Christmas and the supernatural, examining why stories of ghosts, mysterious visitors, death, memory, and redemption once seemed perfectly at home beside the Christmas fire. We will look at the rise of the Victorian Christmas ghost story, its connection to older winter storytelling traditions, the role of inexpensive printing and popular periodicals, and why the custom largely faded from modern Christmas celebrations.

Week 2. Why Dickens haunted Christmas

Tuesday December 8th 6-7:30

Why is one of the world’s most famous Christmas stories also a ghost story? In this lecture, we’ll look beyond the holly, turkey, and “Bah! Humbug!” to investigate the supernatural heart of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Dickens uses Ebenezer Scrooge’s encounters with the dead and supernatural to create what is essentially a journey through memory, conscience, consequence, and redemption. The spirits compel Scrooge to reassess his life and responsibilities, ultimately making possible his moral rebirth.

We’ll explore how the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come turn time itself into a haunting experience: the past awakens regret, the present demands empathy, and the future confronts Scrooge with the consequences of remaining unchanged. We’ll also place the story within its Victorian context and consider Dickens’s concerns about poverty, social responsibility, and society’s treatment of the vulnerable.

Week 3. The dark side of Christmas folklore

Tuesday December 15th 6-7:30

Step into the candlelit parlors of the Victorian era, where Christmas was a season not only of celebration, but also of memory, mystery, and the supernatural. Explore the fascinating connection between Victorian holiday traditions and the rise of Spiritualism, from séances and mediums to the enduring tradition of telling ghost stories by the fireside. Discover how mourning, remembrance of the dead, and a fascination with the afterlife shaped the holiday imagination, creating a Christmas that was both merry and mysterious—when the boundary between the living and the departed seemed especially thin.

Week 4. Blood donation evening

Tuesday December 22nd 6-7:30

Before twinkling lights and cheerful holiday traditions, winter was a season of shadows, mystery, and supernatural tales. Join us as we explore the eerie side of winter folklore, from ghostly visitors and strange creatures to ancient beliefs and fireside stories passed down through generations. Discover how these chilling tales entertained, frightened, and brought people together during the darkest days of the year, and how traces of these mysterious traditions continue to haunt our holiday celebrations today.

Price

Single Lecture Ticket:

Members $15, Non-members $25

Full 4-Part Series Pass:

Members $50, Non-members $85

Dates & Times

This class meets on Tuesday’s December 1st through 22nd, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

Materials Required

No materials required