Christmastide 2021/2022 - 3rd Day of Christmas: Article - How Ghost Stories Became A Christmas Tradition In Victorian England

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

How did ghost stories become a tradition in Victorian England and why did the tradition never really catch on in the United States? Click on the link below for an interesting read. 

Link: 

https://www.history.com/news/christmas-tradition-ghost-stories

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 3rd Day of Christmas: Books of the Day

Monday, December 27, 2021

An Amazon order I put in a week or so ago arrived today. A received the books from Seth's A Ghost Story for Christmas series. There are three new ones this year. Today I read The Doll's Ghost by F. Marion Crawford in which the main character has an odd affinity for  dolls. 

Holiday Season 2020 - Another Christmas Ghost Story

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

The Story of A Disappearance and Appearance by M. R. James is another ghost story I finished today. The teaser on the back of the book says: "After receiving word that his Uncle Henry has gone missing, W.R. travels to his town to join in the search, but soon suspects his uncle is already dead. After an unusual encounter with a traveling salesman, W.R. has a nightmare about a terrifying puppet show - and a ghostly clergyman. 

The story is well set up and the dream described is quite creepy however, the story's resolution leaves a lot to be desired. I have to say that before reading this I didn't know too much about Punch and Judy shows. I didn't a little research on them and have to question how they were ever thought of as appropriate for children. 

By the way, this is, I think, the only ghost story by M.R. James that actually takes place over the Christmas holiday. 

Holiday Season 2020 - A Ghost Story, A Gingerbread Man, and A Blizzard

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Drizzle and rain around 10 am. Felt stuck inside. It turned to a very blustery snow shortly after noon. Finished a ghost story I'd started a few days ago titled The Open Door by Mrs. Oliphant. The story involves a retired British officer who leases an isolated mansion in Scotland. On the estate are ruins of an older house where strange events begin to occur. The book is part of the Ghost Stories for Christmas series designed and illustrated by Seth. I rather enjoyed it. 

As I was eating the gingerbread shortbread cookie I picked up at Kowalski's a couple days ago I got a notice on my phone about a blizzard warning that extends through tomorrow morning to 6:00 a.m. It looks like we could get 7-12 inches of snow and travel is being discouraged. Looks like we're snowbound. How cozy. That cookie was awesome by the way. 

The above photo captures the whiteness of the storm but not the heavy winds and blowing snow. While sitting in the chair pictured at left I listened to the the whistling, and at times moaning, wind. Sarah Vaughn's version of Snowbound is running through my head. 

Holiday Reading

Friday, January 31, 2020

Got lots of holiday related reading in this season. Above is pictured The Story of Santa Claus by Teresa Chris. I've had this book for a while and have read it once before. It tells the history of Santa from St. Nicholas to the jolly man with the bag we know today. It's full of wonderful vintage pictures which I really enjoyed. 

Christmas Wishes by Tim Hollis is another book I've had for quite a while that I decided to read again this year. The sub-title of the book is A Catalog of Vintage Holiday Treats & Treasures. The teaser for the book says, "From plastic nativity scenes to aluminum trees, Christmas became a major marketing extravaganza in America in the mid-twentieth century. This book recalls the holiday between 1940 and 1970, courtesy of department stores, five and dimes, toy manufacturers, publishing houses, and music companies. Through catalog ads, vintage photographs, and book-cover and record-sleeve art, pop culture historian Tim Hollis takes you on a memorable journey back to your favorite holiday toys and treats, Christmas storybooks by Little Golden and Wonder, seasonal music released by Peter Pan and Disneyland records, and jolly merchandising characters such as Frosty the snowman and Montgomery Ward's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It's a joyous ride back to the best days of your life." The book delivers and is a lot of fun especially because it covers my parents era and also the early part of my own. 

'Tis the Season is a lovely collection of holiday poems, songs, and verse. Another book I've had for a number of years and it's filled with lots of vintage artwork from the early 20th century. 

I love the Ghost Story for Christmas books illustrated by Seth. Three new entries were added to the series this year. 

Illustration by Seth

The teaser on the back cover for The Old Nurses Story says, "After her parents pass away, young Rosamond is raised by her nurse in her aunt's ancestral home, where the two discover an exceptionally beautiful old portrait. A relative distant or close? And is that the strange sound of a distant organ, or simply the wind?" I had read this one in another anthology a year or so ago and quite enjoyed it. It has a very creepy vibe so it was fun to read it again. 

Illustration by Seth

The teaser on the back of The Apple Tree by Daphne du Maurier says, "A widower has a secret he'll admit only to himself: Midge's death comes as a relief. Yet now that he's free of her hectoring, somehow he still feels her presence. Is it guilt? of does that gnarled apple tree ink the orchard bear an uncanny resemblance to her hunched-over posture." Pretty eerie and creepy. 

Illustration by Seth

The teaser for the final book, The Sundial by R.H. Malden, says, "On his return from the civil service, a man takes up residence in an old country home. Enchanted by midsummer days in the garden, he orders a sundial but soon the days grow shorter and his dreams grow dark - and when the sundial finally arrives, it isn't alone." I really enjoyed all three of these. 

Pre-Holiday Season 2019 - Shopping with Noel

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Noel and I had lunch at W.A. Frost today. 

Their tree is set up.

The stores still aren't setting out anything too appealing However Missouri Mouse, a second hand shop, had their holiday open house today. They had a nice window display and had lots of fun retro Christmas items inside.

Next Chapter Books on Snelling Avenue had a couple of recent additions to a series of Ghost Story  for Christmas books I'm collecting. I've read The Old Nurse's Story before. It's one of my favorites. 

Sixth Day of Christmas - Traveling with a Ghost Story to Read

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Hit the road quickly after an early breakfast. We have a long drive ahead of us. The car ride was a chance to catch up on some reading. I started a new ghost story for Christmas titled The Green Room by Walter De La Mare.

Once up in the mountains I noticed the snow on the ground. It felt a bit more Christmas-like once again. Mt. Humphrey was snow capped and beautiful.

Checked in to the hotel in Grand Junction. John  took us to dinner at Red Lobster. Yum.

Fifth Day of Christmas - Phoenix

Saturday, December 29, 2018

1. Dale and I took a nice walk this morning. Although there are hints of Christmas inside, it looks far from Christmas-y to me outside.

2. John and Dianne picked us up from the hotel at 10:30 a.m. We headed over to Brenda and Irv's new place to check it out before they get here.

3. Dale and I took another nice walk after getting back to John and Dianne's and saw neighbor's cool cacti with Santa hats on.

4. Sat out by the fire pit with Dale and listened to 90s era Rosemary Clooney Christmas music.

5. Finished reading Christmas Eve On a Haunted Hulk.