The Supernatural Side Of Christmas

Traditions, Legends, And Tales Of The Supernatural

When we think of Christmas, the images that spring to mind are often warm and cosy: family gatherings, festive meals and laughter by the fire. However, beneath this cheery exterior lies a darker, lesser-known tradition—one steeped in the supernatural. For centuries, Christmas has had a spectral, mystical side, interwoven with tales of ghostly apparitions, eerie customs, and folkloric beings. Long before modern commercialism reshaped the holiday, Christmas was considered one of the best times to tell ghost stories and celebrate strange, otherworldly traditions. Let’s explore the supernatural undercurrents of the Christmas season and uncover some of its haunting legends and customs.

1. Christmas As A Time Of Spiritual Thinness

The winter solstice, which falls around December 21, has long been considered a time when the veil between the living and the dead is thin. Ancient cultures marked the occasion with rituals meant to honour the spirits and, in some cases, ward off evil forces. The long, cold nights leading up to Christmas were filled with an eerie stillness that many believed allowed spirits to walk the earth. It’s no wonder that even today, many Christmas customs include a touch of the otherworldly.

2. Telling Ghost Stories On Christmas Eve

Long before Halloween became the season for supernatural tales, people gathered around the fire on Christmas Eve to share ghost stories. It was an opportunity for families and friends to reflect on mortality, the afterlife, and the mysteries of the spirit world. On these dark winter nights, tales of haunted houses, restless spirits, and strange apparitions were passed from one generation to the next. This custom thrived, especially in Victorian England, but can be traced back to even earlier traditions when Christmas was still closely linked to midwinter festivals.

The notion of Christmas Eve as a night of ghostly gatherings and eerie tales connects deeply to the season’s overall feeling of wonder and mystery. In some parts of Europe, it was believed that spirits who had unfinished business would appear on Christmas Eve, unable to rest until their stories were heard or their business was completed.

3. Folkloric Beings Of Christmas: More Than Just Santa Claus

While Santa Claus has become the dominant figure in Western Christmas folklore, many regions in Europe have their own supernatural beings associated with the season, each with unique and often unsettling characteristics.

The Krampus (Austria, Germany, Central Europe)

In Alpine folklore, the Krampus (pictured together with Saint Nicholas) is a terrifying, horned creature that serves as a kind of anti-Santa. While St. Nicholas rewards the good children, the Krampus punishes the naughty ones. With his fangs, horns, and chains, he is said to roam the towns, whipping misbehaving children and sometimes carrying them off in his sack. Krampusnacht, celebrated on December 5, sees people dressing up as Krampuses, creating a genuinely unsettling spectacle and reinforcing the supernatural side of the holiday.

Frau Perchta (Austria, Germany)

Another eerie Christmas figure is Frau Perchta, a witch-like being from Germanic folklore. Known as “The Christmas Witch,” she is said to roam the countryside during the 12 days of Christmas. In one version of her legend, she rewards industrious, hard-working people, but she punishes the lazy. Her punishments are severe: if she finds any sign of untidiness in a home, it’s said she’ll slit the stomachs of those who live there and fill them with straw. This harsh spirit reflects the old belief that winter was a time for atoning for the past year’s shortcomings.

The Yule Lads And The Yule Cat (Iceland)

In Iceland, Christmas traditions include not just one but a whole cast of supernatural characters. The 13 mischievous Yule Lads visit children over the 13 nights leading up to Christmas, each performing pranks or small acts of kindness. But beware of the Yule Cat—a gigantic, menacing feline that prowls the countryside during Christmastime. According to legend, the Yule Cat will eat anyone who hasn’t received new clothes before Christmas Eve, a story likely used to encourage industriousness and generosity in Icelandic communities.

4. Christmas Eve’s Midnight Mass And The Spirit World

For centuries, it was believed that Christmas Eve’s midnight Mass was an opportunity for spirits to attend church alongside the living. In parts of Scandinavia, for instance, there’s a legend that if you were to attend midnight Mass in certain remote churches, you might see spirits from the past—family members, neighbours, or even strangers—sitting among the congregation, only visible to those who dared to look closely. These spirits would vanish as dawn broke, their presence a reminder of the otherworldly connections that still linger at Christmas.

5. Christmas Superstitions And Warding Off Spirits

The idea that Christmas was a time of potential spiritual interference led to a number of superstitions and protective customs. Here are a few of the more intriguing ones:

– The Candle in the Window: In many cultures, a candle is placed in the window on Christmas Eve to guide the spirits of deceased loved ones home. The soft glow acts as a beacon for wandering souls, while also warding off darker spirits.

– Protective Ashes and Herbs: Some rural communities would sprinkle ashes from the Yule log around their homes as a protective barrier, as it was believed the ashes held special power to keep evil at bay. Herbs like rosemary and mistletoe, hung in doorways or burned, were also used as safeguards against supernatural forces.

– Animals Speaking at Midnight: According to an old belief, animals gain the ability to speak at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve. While this was considered a magical gift, it also came with a warning: anyone who overheard them would face grave misfortune. This superstition highlights the fine line between magic and peril that surrounds the season.

6. Yuletide Divination And Fortune-Telling

The 12 days of Christmas, stretching from Christmas Day to Epiphany (January 6), were considered an ideal time for fortune-telling and divination. In many cultures, people would attempt to predict the future by reading signs in nature or engaging in traditional rituals. In Scandinavia, for instance, it was common to bake special bread loaves in unique shapes, each one symbolising a different fortune. If the bread cracked while baking, it was a sign of bad luck for the year ahead.

Other methods involved divining future love or fortune by placing objects under a pillow or interpreting the shapes of melted wax. This blend of supernatural beliefs and seasonal festivities reflects the ancient idea that Christmas was a period rich with mystical potential.

The Magic Of The Dark Side Of Christmas

Today, Christmas is often characterised by warmth, joy, and togetherness. Yet, lurking in the background is a deeply mystical tradition that reminds us of the holiday’s ancient, supernatural roots. Whether it’s the ghost stories told by the fire, eerie legends of supernatural beings, or customs meant to ward off dark forces, the supernatural elements of Christmas add a unique depth to the holiday’s magic.

This Christmas season, take a moment to reflect on the mysteries that lie just beneath the surface of the festivities. The world may be bright and joyful, but just beyond the glow of the firelight, the spirits of the past, the strange creatures of folklore and the whisper of the unknown linger. It’s this shadowy charm, woven into the very fabric of Christmas, that gives the holiday its enduring and haunting allure.