Published December 23, 2024
Haunting Holidays
“We’ll tell scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.”
Modern audiences often find these lyrics in “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” confusing — nowadays, ghost stories are reserved for Halloween and camping trips.
But in Victorian-era England, the holidays were all about visits from beyond the grave. And at Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, they still are.
The Victorian era originated and popularized many traditions that are still considered hallmarks of the holiday season: Christmas trees with ornaments, decorating with holly, sending cards to loved ones, gift giving as a central part of the season and, yes, tales of ghosts haunting the living.
But how did horror and death become grouped in with the magic and wonder of the modern holiday season?
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, storytelling was going through major changes that made the art form more accessible — literacy was rising among the general public and technological advances made printing easier than ever.
People of all walks of life were reading books, periodicals, magazines and local newspapers. And regardless of where they were published, ghost stories were always sure to sell.
While “A Christmas Carol” is one of the most well-known stories of festive phantoms, Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novel was actually one of the later adopters of the trope setting ghost stories during the holidays.
Ghost stories were bestsellers year-round but were especially popular as the nights grew longer, and people gathered for the most wonderful time of the year.
Dickens pulled from a widespread cultural understanding that the holidays were a time for visits from specters. Everyone from anonymous writers to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were publishing pieces that focused on spirits.
Spooky storytelling was a tradition the whole family could enjoy. Listeners of all ages gathered around the fire and recited stories that had been passed down or curled up with the latest magazine for an eerie evening.
This beloved tradition eventually made its way to parlors and fireplaces around the United States, including the home of William Culbertson, a millionaire and philanthropist who worked his way up from clerking at a dry goods store to owning one.
Every year, visitors continue to gather in the parlor at Culbertson Mansion to hear spine-chilling tales at the Spirits of Christmas program, featuring excerpts from Valencourt Books’ five-volume collection of ghost stories, as well as some of the lingering legends of the mansion itself.
By Devin Payne, southeast regional director and site manager for Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site.
