Holiday Edition
Spooks, Specters and Superstitions of Christmas Yore
Snow drifts hiding the forces of darkness? Spiteful spirits on the loose, hunting for a soul to swipe? All this and more in this special holiday edition of Beyond the Veil.
Christmas Day, a day filled with wonder and good tidings and great joy. But is there is a darker, more mysterious side to the season of giving? Indeed, in days gone by and in countries all over the world, the Christmas season has harkened more than just those blessed herald angels. The magical season was thought to begin on December 21st (or sometimes, the 22nd), also known as the Winter Solstice. It was during this 12-24 hour period that people believed the fabric between the spirit realm and the living changed. This alteration allowed the boundaries in place, ones that separated the mortal world from the sphere of the dead, to became thin…thin enough to allow for the passage between worlds. This meant that during the Solstice, the odds were fairly decent that a malicious demon could slip through the veil and snatch up an unwary victim. For this reason, people would gather in large groups, attempting to even the odds, hoping against hope that some other unfortunate soul would be taken in their place. Someone older…heavier… slower.
Savage times.
But, I digress. Back to the magic of December 25th and the fascinating facts in this blog. Here is one for you…were you born on Christmas day? If so, don’t fret…it isn’t all bad. Sure, you probably spent your life lurking in the shadows of what may be the biggest Christian celebration of the year. And, instead of birthday cake and Disney-themed parties, you probably spent your day attending midnight mass or visiting a nursing home to sing Christmas carols and drink bad eggnog. No doubt, you felt the sting and shame of feeling like an afterthought, silently screaming as you received far more combination birthday/Christmas gifts than your siblings did.
Not to mention it’s pretty tough to stand out in a crowd when you share your day with the Son of God.
But, is there an upside? Of course! There are definitely some perks to being a Christmas baby if you look hard enough. For one, according to legend, you are more likely to see —and communicate— with spirit if you are born on Christmas Day. So, maybe you will be the hero of your family and finally find out where Aunt Agnes hid the money! Wouldn’t that be nice? As an added bonus, those born on the 25th enjoy more protection from evil spirits than the average Joe and cannot die by hanging or drowning!
Groovy.
Also—and this is soooo cool— a child born on Christmas is more likely to possess the ability to speak to animals (don’t test this theory, though— it is considered bad luck!)
All this birthday talk has got me thinking of candles. Ever wonder why we put those glowing tapers in the windows? Centuries ago, a lit candle displayed in a window was said to protect the household. But careful! A candle that extinguishes before dawn is considered bad karma. (I’m sensing a pattern here.)
Some interesting beliefs around the globe originated in the U.K. In Scotland, ornamental Christmas balls were worn around the neck to keep away pesky witches. It was thought that if a sorceress attacked a person who wore the ornament, the hag’s soul would be sucked into the ball, keeping it trapped for all time. (After learning this, I admit I checked all the ornaments on my tree, although I’m not sure what a trapped soul might look like.)
Scary stories were a big part of the holiday celebration long ago. (I know, I know…I never knew this one either.) Tales about ghosts, witches and warlocks were apparently huge while sitting around the hearth with a chalice of grog and some rabbit stew. Perhaps one of the creepiest of these stories centered around Krampus, the nefarious and dark character said to accompany St. Nick on his visits around the world. Krampus was a seedy fellow with matted hair, a snake-like tongue, and cloven hooves. People believed that, while the good little children received candy and gifts, the naughty little imps got a nasty beating from Krampus and a one-way ticket to the fiery pits of Hell.
Talk about your tough love.
But, alas, all is not dark and dreary! The Irish have given us a sprinkle of hope (because we are fabulous people) and tell us that the gates of heaven open at midnight on Christmas Eve. So, if you happen to keel over dead on the 24th, you get to go straight to heaven! (Meaning no hanging out in purgatory, waiting for St. Peter to punch your ticket to eternal bliss.) Now, that’s a legend I can get behind!
So, what’s left? A few suggestions to stay in fate’s good graces this holiday season:
It is bad luck to try and duck out of that mistletoe kiss (although if it’s coming from a sleezy neighbor or your creepy Uncle George, I’d risk it;)
Never gift your loved ones a pair of shoes (dang, I’ve done this more times than I can count!) as they may ‘walk out of your life’.
Open the door on Christmas morning and shout ‘Welcome Father Christmas!’ for everyone to hear. It not only lets out the evil spirits that may have gathered there but you’ll give those nosy neighbors something to talk about.
And there you have it! Your guide to enjoying a Christmas free of evil spirits, the Krampus demon, and witches. Now, go forth, spread cheer and know that, if you’re old and feeble, you are always welcome to gather with me on the Winter Solstice.