Did you know that the most famous ghost story of all times is none other than Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol.

This Christmas tale in which a miser sees three ghosts one icy Christmas eve is the most famous ghost story of all times. It has been translated into dozens of languages, made in tv shows, plays, and movies, and is the quid essential Christmas ghost story.  His encounter with the trio of  spirits leads him to mend his ways and become a generous and loving neighbor to all!

Dickens admitted that he was inspired to write the story after reading many of the similar stories of wintry tales published by Washington Irving. Such ghostly tales were once an important part of Christmas. It was the custom, until recent times, for families to gather around the fire on Christmas eve and share their spooky or inexplicable experiences !

Now might be a good time to spend a few hours with the family retelling stories, or reading spooky tales with the family. If you can deal with the older English ,try those by Washington Irving, and of course A Christmas Carol is always a favorite.

You might even want to read ghostly stories from our local history. If so you can find over thirty such tales in the books, 13 Ghostly Tales and Yarns of the Navesink: Where History and Folklore Collide or Ghostly Tales of Two Rivers: Curious Encounters Along the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. Available locally at Bahrs Restaurant in Highlands, Twin Lights Lighthouse Museum in Highlands, Rumson Pharmacy in Rumson, O’Ireland in Red Bank, Canyon Pass in Fair Haven and of course at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Wishing you all a spirited Christmas!