Publisher's Synopsis
The holidays ought to be a joyful time, don't they? Yes, exactly, but keep in mind that historically, most people who lived in northern, colder locations despised the King portion of the year. It was not a given that one would survive the long, dark months, during which time food supplies would run out and heat sources might become sparse. It follows that dread of animals that symbolized the perils of winter and darkness would become prevalent in popular culture.
Yule, Christmas, the solstice, and the New Year were all intended to provide a break from the horrors of the era, but these terrors were always there in the village and on the periphery of people's thoughts, ready to take advantage of the unsuspecting on a cold winter's night. Many people still find a scary Christmas story to be perfectly acceptable alongside good cheer. These myths and legends were handed down through the ages and were often performed in pageants and celebrations as warnings against the perils of winter, or at the very least as an introduction to the festivities that followed.A number of these myths and festivals most likely sprang from pre-Christian beliefs that were eventually either accepted or modified to make better sense within a Christian context. Over the last several decades, a number of festivals that were almost extinct have returned as markers of local pride and tradition. No Christmas would be the same for many, particularly in the Germanic parts of Europe, without monsters and mayhem.
In keeping with that bond, this book features amazing, strange, and frightening stories and monsters.
Enjoy your own terrifying Christmas and continue reading to discover the other horrors that wait in the shadows of the season.
