[nzumel]

Every Christmas season for about the last ten years, I've shared public domain winter tales on my blog, about one a week or so. I try to go for more unusual or less well known ones, when I can.

The original tradition, and most stories associated with it, is Victorian era British, but this year I'm doing winter tales from the U.S. and Canada. They're different in tone from British ghost stories, so that makes for some variety. Anyway, I thought I'd post this year's round here, in case anyone is interested in reading along.

The first one is "The Ghost in the Mill" by Harriet Beecher Stowe (of Uncle Tom's Cabin fame).
https://multoghost.wordpress.com/2023/12/01/winter-tales-2023-the-ghost-in-the-mill/

[nzumel]

Today, I have a Winter Tale from Canada --  La Corriveau is a story centered around the real-life Canadian murderess Marie-Josephte Corriveau, whose folkloric reputation is somewhat more colorful than her actual deed might imply. This story is a bit silly, but I like it.

https://multoghost.wordpress.com/2023/12/08/la-corriveau/

[bowers]

Thanks for posting these, nzumel. Both were good choices and just right for a quick and entertaining read! Holiday Cheers, bowers

[nzumel]

You're welcome! I'll be posting them about once a week, until Epiphany. I hope you all enjoy them.

Thanks for posting these, nzumel. Both were good choices and just right for a quick and entertaining read! Holiday Cheers, bowers

[nzumel]

Today's winter tale is a story of haunted technology -- from California, appropriately enough.

In Warned by the Wire, a telegraph operator’s receiver tells him things he doesn’t want to know. And here's a fun fact: the story was written by the inventor of the coin-operated phonograph, which is the ancestor of the jukebox. My post includes some pointers to more reading about that, as well.

https://multoghost.wordpress.com/2023/12/15/warned-by-the-wire/

[nzumel]

Today, a low-key, mildly supernatural Christmas tale from Mary Wilkins Freeman. It's not exactly a ghost story, but maybe it's a story about an angel. Who's to say?  Anyway, Mary Wilkins Freeman is one of my favorite women ghost story writers from the late nineteenth century. I'll have another one by her on Christmas Eve.

https://multoghost.wordpress.com/2023/12/22/the-twelfth-guest/

[nzumel]

Enjoy a Christmas Eve fairy tale from Mary Wilkins Freeman!

In "The White Witch," the title character must save the land of Polaria from monochromicity (is that a word?) and an epidemic of discontented, jaded children. It's an odd little tale, but I like it.

https://multoghost.wordpress.com/2023/12/24/the-white-witch/

Here's wishing a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and a beautiful day to all who don’t.

[paw broon]

Thanks nzumel, and a Merry Christmas to you.

[nzumel]

Thanks for the Christmas wishes, paw broom! I hope everyone had a wonderful day.

It's my custom to keep sharing ghost stories until Epiphany (the "Twelve Days of Christmas," and all that). So here's a story from Henry James: "The Ghostly Rental." Don't worry, it's early James, so it's actually readable.

On the last day of the year, the narrator comes across an old, seemingly abandoned house. He finds the owner, who tells him the house is rented out—to a ghost!

https://multoghost.wordpress.com/2023/12/29/the-ghostly-rental/

[nzumel]

Last winter tale for 2023 (but one more coming for 2024): A New Year's eve ghost story from Canada -- a sort of "reverse Christmas Carol." A man lost in the snow on New Year's eve seeks shelter at a mysterious cabin he's never seen before.

https://multoghost.wordpress.com/2023/12/31/the-misers-ghost/

Happy New Year, everyone!

[bowers]

Thanks! I'm really enjoying these. Cheers, bowers

[nzumel]

Thanks, bowers, and thanks to everyone who has enjoyed these! I ended up not doing another ghost story for the first week of January, because I got side-tracked with something else. But I do a Winter Tales series every year, and since this got a friendly reception, I will share them here on CB+ again next Christmas season.

Happy New Year to everyone!