Christmas Hauntings

What is your most vivid image of a Christmas ghost? Scrooge and his unearthly visitors? Maybe even a phantom santa and sleigh?

Wonderful as these created images are they remain within the realms of fiction. But what about the 'real' Christmas ghosts? Not only do we have ancient traditions of Christmas spirit visitors, but these creepy happenings are still with us today and it would seem no place is safe.

Christmas ghosts and other supernatural events are recorded eveywhere from lonely cottages, pubs and inns, to the Royal residences of our present Queen. So why is there such a tradition of festive spookiness? Is it the lure and magic of Christmas or does it have to do with much older energies and the beliefs that spiritual doorways are wide open at this time of the year?

Many people might be puzzled by the idea of Christmas ghosts,  after all, isn't Halloween the time for every thing spooky? The fact is that spirit visitations and hauntings tend to proliferate at certain times of the year. It is believed that the 'veils' between the physical and spiritual realms are thinnest around certain points of the seasons - the equinoxes and solstices for example. Halloween is one of the big occasions for ghosts, but around Christmas, especially at the solstice/yule, is also a time when both worlds are closer. In addition, spirits tend to be attracted by activity and energy. There is certainly a lot of exertion around the festive season, more than enough to attract the attention of occupants of the netherworld.

The ancient spirits of Christmas should actually be placed at the time of the Winter Solstice. These spirits are different from the general 'walking of the dead' known to the old Celtic peoples. The spirits of the solstice or yule would tend to be of a more mystical nature rather than of human form. One of these mystical spirits that has survived today is the Christmas fairy, placed by many of us a the top of our tree. She was a very benign figure often giving the gifts of prosperity for the coming year. Another ancient spirit that is still with us in many guises is the 'wandering stranger' who comes unannounced to our door. Sometimes they bring gifts (similar to Santa Clause/Father Christmas) but more often this stranger would bring a deeper meaning into the lives of those affected. For example a poor person offers the stranger what little food he has and shelter from the winter storms. The stranger thanks his guest and leaves. The poor person goes to bed, only to wake up on Christmas morning to find many gifts of food, gold or other riches lying at his doorstep. A gift from the mysterious stranger.

However not all visitations from the past were thought to be always benign. Take for example Berchta. Originally a Nordic goddess she was then transformed into a Yuletide witch. She certainly could be benevolent but if crossed she became a terrifying foe. At times Berchta is also known to have lead the 'wild hunt' during the storms of winter creating havoc across the countryside. Many traditions from the past tended to personify nature and the seasons. One such character was King Winter - a spectral, mystical king who was followed by his servant, Jack Frost, who leaves beautiful patterns on your window pane to let you know he has visited.

Most of us might just cope with a spectral visit from a loving Mum, Dad or other family member. And we would not get too hysterical over a glimpse of a 'Jack Frost' like figure. However many of the modern stories people relate, suggest that not all Christmas hauntings are friendly. Quite a number of experiences relate stories of shadow figures and poltergeist activity directly involving symbols of Christmas. For example the royal residence of Sandringham House in Norfolk, supposedly has a poltergeist that begins activity from Christmas Eve onwards. The activity is centred on the servants quarters and would seem to have a particular dislike for Christmas cards. The cards are frequently scattered, thrown and generally moved around.

Other phenomena centres around Christmas trees. Quite a number of poltergeists seem to dislike them - real or artificial. Numerous families who have experienced hauntings at Christmas, relate terrifying incidents of the trees shaking violently and in some cases being thrown across the room. Along with poltergeist like activity, many people have also reported the phenomena of shadow people . These ghosts usually take the shape of a human but there are no distinctive features other than a black outline resembling shadows. Other accounts relate hunched, un-human like shapes skulking around the Christmas tree, poking at presents and pulling at decorations. It is true that this kind of activity can be witnessed at any time of the year. But perhaps it is more disturbing at Christmas time because of the general goodwill that people try to live by. The last thing they expect is a malevolent spirit playing havoc with the Christmas decorations.

It seems that many famous ghosts favour the festive season to visit the physical world. Emily Bronte is said to walk in the gardens of her former home between 19th December and 2nd January. She is said to be deep in thought but vanishes if anyone approaches her.

Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England has also been seen on numerous occasions at her home of Hever Castle in Kent. She has regularly been seen on Christmas Eve walking peacefully across the bridge away from the castle.

Ironically the man who made Christmas ghosts so popular may himself be a ghost. Charles Dickens is reported to walk past his old home in his beloved town of Rochester. When Charles was dying he wished to be buried in the town quietly. However the nation demanded, on his death, that he should be buried in Westminster Abbey as befitted his status as an author of genius, this is where his remains now lie. Perhaps it is because his wishes were not carried out that he feels the need to visit his home and at the festive season that he popularised so much.

At Hampton Court Palace in London - a famous all year long haunt for the unfortunate queens of Henry VIII - has it's own Christmas haunting. Security guards working at the palace were totally confused about the amount of doors that were being left open after they had closed them. The cause was caught on CCTV and is still a mysery today. The doors can be seen flying open. No one physical is present, then the footage shows an eerie robed figure stepping out to pull the doors shut again. No one has yet worked out the identity of the Christmas robed figure and the incident remains unexplained. However some have speculated that it is the disgruntled figure of Cardinal Wolsey one time friend of Henry VIII.

In addition to all this paranormal activity previously mentioned. Researchers have discovered numerous cases of ghostly happenings that would seem to have a distinctive Christmas theme. The most popular being phantom carol singers and eerie Christmas bells peeling. These hauntings are interesting in that many of the reports are of the sound only, no images being seen.

Although not directly associated with Christmas symbolism one of the most reported forms of haunting at Christmas time is of horse and carriages. They have been seen thundering along many a lonely country lane on Christmas Eve or Christmas night. Sometimes these carriages have drivers but in many instances they seem to be driven by an invisible presence.

Another Christmas ghost that involves a horse is said to be that of a Colonel Sidley and his horse Black Jezebel. This manifestation is witnessed on Christmas Eve at Ranworth Hall in Norfolk, the colonel's former home. Many people have reported  hearing pounding hooves thundering past them and the sound of plunging water in the nearby broad.  It is believed that Colonel Sidley, who was by all accounts an evil man, was taken by the devil one Christmas Eve a long time ago because of his wicked ways.  He returns to haunt and terrify the country around his home every year on the 24th December.

Christmas does seem to evoke many forms of paranormal experience - some unique to the festive season. Why some spirits should choose this time of the year to visit or play havoc may never be known. Whatever the reason there is something cozily spooky about sitting around a fire in dark December. While listening to the winter winds howling around the chimney we spark our imagination with eerie images of ghosts lurking in every shadow. Perhaps this is the reason why so much paranormal activity does occur at Christmas - the spirits are simply giving us our wish.

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore..."  from "The Raven" By Edgar Allan Poe