December 25th 2024.
As the holiday season approaches, we find ourselves in a state of chaos. We're exhausted, broke, and on the brink of madness. The weather is freezing, and the days seem to turn into a dreary, colorless film by mid-afternoon. It's a harsh reminder that winter is upon us. And to top it all off, Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" seems to be on repeat everywhere we go.
It's no wonder our eyes are red and our brains feel like mince pie. The stress of the holidays has taken its toll on us, and even the Elf on the Shelf, with its constant surveillance, has returned to its desk job. We all know the feeling of horror at this time of year. It's a tradition that dates back to the prehistoric, pre-Christian era of the winter solstice.
But we rarely associate Christmas with horror. Yet, if you listen closely to the lyrics of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," you'll hear a line that may make you raise an eyebrow. "There'll be scary ghost stories." Since when did telling tales of terror become a holiday tradition? Well, it goes back to Victorian England, about 180 years ago. That's when Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was first published, reviving the old English tradition of sharing spooky stories during the holiday season.
Nowadays, we take for granted the ghosts, chains, and doomed characters that make up the classic tale. But for Jessica Thebus, who has directed the Goodman Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol" for several seasons, it's important that the story remains dark and scary. Some may argue that it's not in the spirit of the holiday, but she firmly believes that it's a scary story and should be treated as such.
In fact, the link between winter celebrations and frightful feelings goes back even further, before Christianity and the establishment of any Christian holiday. It's not surprising, then, that modern holiday traditions include opening a new horror movie or finding demonic Krampus dolls at the Christkindlmarket in Chicago. The image of a miserable, child-hating Santa Claus may seem like a sick joke, but it's actually perfectly in line with the holiday.
Allison Sansone, program director at the American Writers Museum, remembers feeling confused by the line in "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" when she was younger. She couldn't understand why scary stories were associated with Christmas. But as she delved into the history of the holiday, she realized that there are many reasons why it makes sense. Even the classic poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" starts with a home invasion and a mysterious figure on the roof. It's no wonder that our first thought wouldn't be "Santa!"
Embracing the connection between horror and the holiday season, the American Writers Museum hosted an evening of scary Christmas fun, including an open mic for people to share their own frightening holiday tales. The following night, the Driehaus Museum in River North featured actors performing Victorian ghost stories set during Christmas. Maria Burnham, cofounder of Chicago's Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre, developed the one-night-only show, which sold out within days. She had the idea for the event because of her own tradition of reading Victorian ghost stories on Christmas. She's even known for pitching horror stories with a holiday twist, from Krampus tales to a "Nutcracker" where the dolls are zombies.
The evening was a success, with guests enjoying the thrill of being scared during the holidays. James Sparling, Sydney Ray, Khnemu Menu-Ra, Hannah Perez, and Allison McCorkle were just a few of the talented actors who brought the spooky tales to life at the Driehaus Museum. And as they say, sometimes all we want for Christmas is a good scare.
As the holiday season reaches its peak, you may find yourself feeling a bit out of sorts. Exhausted, broke, and overwhelmed, it's no wonder you're starting to feel a little crazy. The days are short and cold, making you feel like you're in some bleak European art film. And on top of all that, Paul McCartney won't stop singing about having a wonderful Christmastime. It's enough to drive anyone to the brink of madness.
Your eyes are tired and your brain feels like a mince pie. Even the Elf on the Shelf, who has been watching your every move for weeks, has returned to his mundane desk job in the surveillance state. It's no wonder we often associate the holidays with feelings of horror and discomfort. In fact, this is a tradition that dates back to ancient times, long before Christianity and the modern Christmas holiday.
But despite this long-standing connection between the holidays and fear, we rarely think of Christmas as a spooky time. However, if you really listen to the lyrics of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," you might start to wonder why there are scary ghost stories included in the list of holiday activities. It turns out, this tradition can be traced back to Victorian England, specifically to the publication of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" over 180 years ago. This classic tale of ghosts and redemption not only revitalized the holiday, but also revived the tradition of telling scary stories on Christmas.
So next time you're feeling a little unsettled during the holidays, just remember that it's all part of an age-old tradition. And with the popularity of horror movies and creepy Christmas decorations like demonic Krampus dolls, it's clear that our appetite for spooky holiday tales is as strong as ever. In fact, some might argue that a miserable, child-hating department store Santa is the perfect embodiment of the holiday spirit.
But where did this tradition come from? According to Allison Sansone, program director at the American Writers Museum, it may have something to do with the darker themes often found in classic Christmas stories. In "Twas the Night Before Christmas," for example, the story begins with a home invasion by a mysterious figure on the roof. It's no wonder that our minds might jump to something more sinister than Santa Claus.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in reviving this old tradition of scary Christmas stories. Events like a spooky Christmas open mic night at the Writers Museum and a performance of Victorian ghost tales at the Driehaus Museum have sold out quickly, showing that there is a demand for this type of holiday entertainment. Maria Burnham, cofounder of Chicago's Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre, even has a reputation for pitching horror stories set during Christmas, including one where the Nutcracker dolls are zombies.
So the next time you find yourself feeling a bit scared or unsettled during the holidays, just remember that it's all part of a long-standing tradition. And who knows, maybe all you really want for Christmas is a good scare.
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