In this episode, we dive into the darker roots of Christmas folklore from around the world. Where winter isn’t just cozy, it’s crawling with creatures, warnings, and ancient traditions meant to keep people in line through the longest nights of the year. From Iceland’s terrifying Gryla and the towering Yule Cat to Wales’ eerie Mari Lwyd and the restless household spirits like the Tomte, we explore the legends that shaped midwinter celebrations long before modern Christmas.

Before Christmas was all lights and cheer, Victorians gathered by firelight to tell ghost stories. This episode dives into the legend of the Mistletoe Bride and the haunting of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, two of the most famous Victorian Christmas tales still whispered about today.

On Christmas Day 1929, the quiet tobacco fields of Germanton, North Carolina, became the backdrop for one of the most haunting family tragedies in American history. What began as a day of celebration ended in unthinkable violence when Charlie Lawson murdered his wife and six of his children before taking his own life. Nearly a century later, the question of why still lingers like a cold winter fog over Stokes County. In this episode, we unravel the events leading up to that horrific morning, explore the rumors and theories that have surrounded the case for decades, and trace the echoes of a family portrait taken just days before the killings. This is the story of the Lawson Family Murders, a Christmas tragedy that refuses to be forgotten.