For much of the world, winter is the darkest time of the year. So as this holiday season unfolds, we’re exploring the more sinister stories of Christmas, New Years, and beyond. They include a spooky ritual for hearing from the dead, goblins that emerge from the underworld, and witches that sail in from sea.
Want to know more? Put on a brave face, cozy up, and crack open these five stories.
by Kelly Catalfamo
According to Swedish folklore, the perfect way to ring in the New Year is to fast from food and social interaction all day, followed by a walk in the woods. This ritual, known as årsgång (or “year walk”), is meant to provide insight for the upcoming year. Some say the advice comes from supernatural beings and the dead, so your path should end in a church or graveyard, where spirits are most active. But be careful, as many dark entities—like a brook-horse—may try to interfere with your journey.
by Vittoria Traverso
Every year, during the two weeks between Christmas and Epiphany, Greece’s goat-like Christmas goblins (called the Kallikantzaroi), rise from the depths of the earth and wreak havoc among humans. To ward them off, you could try any number of tricks: Burn a pair of old shoes, place a colander on your doorstep, or hang a pig’s jaw over your front door. Ultimately, a polar-plunging ceremony will send the goblins back to the underworld.
by Gastro Obscura
Around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Welsh families might find a decorated animal skull (typically a horse’s) waiting for them on their doorstep. The head-on-a-stick is adorned with bells and ribbons and paraded around by human figures covered in white sheets. It’s not there to provide a thrill, but a challenge—that’s because the pagan tradition of Mari Lwyd is, at its core, a poetry slam.
by Lauren Breedlove
During the first week of January in Ilulissat, Greenland, the perpetually dark streets come alive with horror. Distorted human figures linger in the shadows, waiting for unsuspecting citizens. But no one is in any real danger. The annual tradition of Mitaarfik marks the end of the Christmas holiday on January 6th. This ancient tradition is a mix of fear and fun, inspired by Inuit stories.
by Vittoria Traverso
Every January 6th in Italy, an old lady named Befana rides around on a broomstick, distributing candy to good kids and coal to the naughty ones. In the northeastern town of Grado, holiday witches take an even more sinister approach: Every January 5th, locals gather at the town’s harbor to see row boats filled with ghost-like sea witches (called Varvuole) approach the shore.
