Christmas - The Other Halloween

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for roasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories
Of Christmases long, long ago

Wait a minute... There'll be scary ghost stories? On Christmas?

That's right, Virginia.

Most of us Halloween enthusiasts spend the large part of the holiday season packing up our graveyards and snuggling the spiders back into their webs for the year, followed by a period of mourning that "it's all over" and we shall have to wait another year for October to finally weave it's magic again.

When those sneaky Christian reformers started in on the transformation of Pagan observances, traditions and rituals they left a great deal intact. Much of it has been forgotten by mainstream society but, if you look into the origins of the symbols and traditions practiced today you'll be delighted to know the season is rife with everything we love - supernatural goings on, monsters, spellcasting, ghosts, witches and magic...

Starting December 1st here at blackwood I'll be showcasing the more macabre aspects of the season, profile some great gifts and movies, the best in creepy, small, independent shopping in Los Angeles.

...and of course, there'll be scary ghost stories.



*Photograph by Addison Geary