Prepare for a spine-tingling journey through Britain's forgotten Christmas tradition - ghost hoaxes that sparked mass hysteria across communities. In this captivating conversation on “Paranormal Yakker” with UK bestselling author Paul Weatherhead, we uncover the fascinating true stories behind his book "Phantoms of Christmas Past," revealing how seasonal ghost pranks in the 19th and early 20th centuries escalated into community-wide panics and vigilante ghost hunts.

The dark side of Christmas past emerges as Paul recounts the tragic Hammersmith ghost incident of 1803, where an innocent plasterer wearing traditional white work clothes was fatally shot by a vigilante who mistook him for a ghost. This sobering tale exemplifies how seemingly harmless pranks could spiral into violence when fear gripped communities. From simple sheet-wearing specters to elaborate apparitions adorned with luminous paint, devil masks, and metal claws, these ghost hoaxers left an indelible mark on history.

Discover the raucous Islington Graveyard Riot where hundreds of drunken revelers overran a cemetery after pub closing time, creating what Paul describes as a "spontaneous supernatural party" that police struggled to control. Marvel at the decades-long East Barnet ghost hunts that drew thousands in search of Sir Geoffrey de Mandeville's clanking ghost, complete with a fabricated romantic subplot involving a beautiful "Grey Lady" with dimpled cheeks. Paul explains how newspapers played a crucial role in spreading these stories, sometimes deliberately publishing fictional ghost accounts simply to fill column space during the Christmas season. Whether you're a paranormal enthusiast or history buff, these forgotten tales of mass hysteria reveal fascinating insights into our enduring fascination with the supernatural during the festive period.

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