Christmas ghost stories were once a tradition on Christmas Eve, and sharing them was a way to celebrate the season with a touch of spookiness.
Residents of Block Island, Rhode Island, report seeing a mysterious light every year, believed to be the ghost ship Palatine, which sank in 1738 with many passengers dying in a tragic event.
The film had high production costs, stiff competition, and a sentimental story that didn't resonate with audiences immediately after World War II, leading to poor box office performance.
Dorothy Walpole was imprisoned by her jealous husband in Raynham Hall, where she eventually died. Since then, her ghost, dressed in a tattered brown dress, has been seen wandering the halls.
The Lord's Resistance Army attacked five villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing over 600 people during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day using axes, bats, and machetes.
A clerical error in 1974 caused the film to enter the public domain, allowing TV stations to air it freely, leading to its widespread popularity and eventual status as a Christmas classic.
Visitors to Roos Hall in England have reported seeing a headless man on a horse, often accompanied by a phantom coach and four horses, especially on Christmas Eve.
Anne Boleyn's spirit is said to haunt Hever Castle, her childhood home, appearing only on Christmas Eve, drifting silently over the bridge where she once knew happiness.
The Palatine Light is believed to be the ghost of the ship Princess Augusta, which sank in 1738, with many passengers dying. The light is seen as a haunting reminder of the tragic event.
A train in New Zealand slid off wet rails and plunged into the Wanganui River, killing over half of the 285 passengers and making it one of the worst train accidents in history.
Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate)Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream)Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV)IN THIS EPISODE: I’ll share a few ghost stories that all center around the Christmas season. (True Tales of Christmas Ghosts) *** We’ll look at a haunting in Rhode Island, where people claim to see a mysterious light every year at Christmas – and many believe it to be a ghost ship with a dark history. (The Christmas Light of Block Island) *** Even without ghosts, you can still have some terrible things take place at Christmas time – more than you might realize. You’ll never hear the word “Christmas” the same way again after hearing some of what happened in history during the Christmas season! (Horrible Happenings at the Holidays) *** What is for many their favorite paranormal Christmas movie of all time was, in fact, a bust at the box office. It wasn’t about a ghost though – it was about a desperate man, and an angel without any wings. (It Really Is a Wonderful Life) *** (Originally aired December 21, 2021)SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“True Tales of Christmas Ghosts” by Chris Woodyard for The Victorian Book of the Dead:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p96mdkd), and Kellie Kreiss for Ranker’s Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yn6vdj8j)“Horrible Happenings At The Holidays” by Laura Allan for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/45xwcn7k)“The Christmas Light of Block Island” by Ellen Lloyd for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8snn7m)“It Really Is A Wonderful Life” by Troy Talor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4ye7w6me)Visit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsors)Join the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate)Advertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: https://weirddarkness.com/advertise)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t)), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ)) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu)), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7)), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8)) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =OTHER PODCASTS I HOST…Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag)Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors)Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio)Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =https://weirddarkness.com/true-tales-of-christmas-ghosts/)