"scary ghost stories" in Christmas song

[Claudia1]

In the song, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", there is a line about "there will be scary ghost stories".

Does anybody know the origin of that tradition? It seems odd to me.

 

[sue_gowin]

Maybe they're referring to the Scrooge/Christmas Carol story?? Ghosts of Christmas pas/present/future??? It's the only thing I can think of!!!

 

[Jennasis]

DH HATES that song because of that line. Who sits around telling scary ghost stories at Christmastime?? We'd considered the ghosts in "A Christmas Carol" but that's pushin' it!

 

[beck0321]

OMG I JUST noticed this the other day when listening to it and it had me going

 

[DisneyDizzy]

I jusst read somewhere the other day that the line is in reference to "A Christmas Carol."

Makes sense!

 

[briannesmom]

Maybe they're referring to the Scrooge/Christmas Carol story?? Ghosts of Christmas pas/present/future??? It's the only thing I can think of!!!

That is what I always thought the song was referring to.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

In the song, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", there is a line about "there will be scary ghost stories".

Does anybody know the origin of that tradition? It seems odd to me.

Ghost stories were an integral part of the Victorian Christmas. Read around the fire, they were a popular home amusement in those households that could not afford the expense of the theatre or concert going. Many stories were specifically written for such evening entertainment. The ghostly tales of M.R. James (1862-1936), for instance, were originally composed for reading on Christmas Eve at King's College, Cambridge; they were first published as Ghost Stories of an Antiquary in 1904. Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) wrote "whenever five or six English-speaking people meet around a fire on Christmas Eve they start telling each other ghost stories"

Cut from: http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/dec2007.html

 

[jc040404]

I wondered about this ages ago and found that it was tradition on Victorian England to tell ghost stories on Christmas Eve. I have no idea where I read it or if it was true, but it could be the answer.

 

[MrsDuck]

I wondered about this ages ago and found that it was tradition on Victorian England to tell ghost stories on Christmas Eve. I have no idea where I read it or if it was true, but it could be the answer.

Cool tradition!

Am I the only one that thinks "A Christmas Carol" is scary?

 

[JaneBanks]

Cut from: http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/dec2007.html

I was just going to post something like this!

It is an English tradition as far as I know.

 

[puffkin]

You learn something new every day!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

See Sting's recording of the song "Soul Cake". It's actually an old Halloween song, but it was on his "winter" album a few years ago. It should be up on youtube if you want to hear it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_cake

 

[snowy76]

Cool tradition!

Am I the only one that thinks "A Christmas Carol" is scary?

I didn't think so until I watched the Disney version with my DS - the part where Scrooge is falling into the grave and Pete is Christmas Yet to Come/the Reaper was pretty frightening for DS!

 

[KristaTX]

We've wondered about that, too, and figured that it had to be the Scrooge story.

But here's another lyric that puzzles me. Who puts presents ON the tree, like in the lyrics to "I'll Be Home for Christmas" ? Did ornaments used to be the actual presents .

 

[Glynis]

We've wondered about that, too, and figured that it had to be the Scrooge story.

But here's another lyric that puzzles me. Who puts presents ON the tree, like in the lyrics to "I'll Be Home for Christmas" ? Did ornaments used to be the actual presents .

Yes. Presents used to be nestled among the branches of the trees. I remember my grandparents telling stories about their parents reaching the gifts down from the branches. My grandmother particularly remembered one Christmas when she received a small tea set in a basket. It was hidden in the branches, and she thought it was so magical to have it resting there, just waiting for her.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Yes, presents were on the tree. It's why a flat, gap in a tree is called an "elf shelf."

 

[JaneBanks]

We've wondered about that, too, and figured that it had to be the Scrooge story.

But here's another lyric that puzzles me. Who puts presents ON the tree, like in the lyrics to "I'll Be Home for Christmas" ? Did ornaments used to be the actual presents .

Yes. Presents used to be nestled among the branches of the trees. I remember my grandparents telling stories about their parents reaching the gifts down from the branches. My grandmother particularly remembered one Christmas when she received a small tea set in a basket. It was hidden in the branches, and she thought it was so magical to have it resting there, just waiting for her.

In the movie A Christmas Story, on Christmas morning, the mom takes some of the gifts off of the tree!

 

[Mermaid02]

We always put smaller boxes in the tree branches.

I also think that "ghost stories" line is a reference to A Christmas Carol.

 

[Claudia1]

I'm glad I asked! This thread is very interesting!

Keep the tidbits comin'.......

 

[Jennasis]

Yes, presents were on the tree. It's why a flat, gap in a tree is called an "elf shelf."

What? Never heard of this.