Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Hans Trapp: Excommunicated, Exiled, and Insane. Now He Hunts Naughty Children at Christmas

In the 15th century, a wealthy man was excommunicated by the Pope, driven mad in exile, and killed by a bolt of lightning just as he was about to taste human flesh — now he rides with Santa every Christmas, drooling over the naughty children on the list. Ho ho ho, kids! If you like the stories Santa is telling, tell your friends and family about the Spooky Santa podcast so they can listen too!  STORY AND MUSIC CREDITS/SOURCES… “Remembering Death” by Lydia, age 14 of Cromford, England “Night of the Snowmen” by Laura Pauling: https://adbl.co/2PMnQzh [https://adbl.co/2PMnQzh] “Hans Trapp, The Christmas Boogeyman”: http://bit.ly/2PjBevA [http://bit.ly/2PjBevA] All music used with permission of the artists. Spooky Santa theme by Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ [http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ]). All other music by Nicolas Gasparini (http://bit.ly/2LykK0g [http://bit.ly/2LykK0g]). ***I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use. If I somehow overlooked doing that for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I’ll rectify it the show notes as quickly as possible. ***Spooky Santa™ and Weird Darkness® are creations and trademarks of Marlar House Productions and Weird Darkness, LLC. Copyright © Weird Darkness, 2023 "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 https://weirddarkness.com/HansTrapp #WeirdDarkness #HansTrapp #EvilSanta #ChristmasMonster #DarkChristmas #ScaryChristmas #HolidayHorror #CreepyChristmas #ChristmasDemon #EuropeanFolklore

ADVENT OF EVIL: Tuesday, December 16 – Do You Wear The Mask, Or Does The Mask Wear You?

Get the print version of the novel: https://weirddarkness.com/AdventOfEvil [https://weirddarkness.com/AdventOfEvil] #WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #HolidayHorror #SupernaturalThriller #HauntedCalendar #DarkChristmas #HorrorStory #DemonicEvil #CreepyTales #YuletideTerror

Christmas Hauntings: The Tradition Behind the Terror

Long before Dickens penned A Christmas Carol, our ancestors gathered around midwinter fires to tell tales of spirits and monsters lurking in the darkness. Tonight, we explore why Christmas and ghost stories have been intertwined for thousands of years — then share true accounts that prove the tradition is very much alive. #HolidayHorrors IN THIS EPISODE: Earlier this month I shared some true reports of people seeing Kris Kringle – or what appeared to be Kris Kringle – in real life. But there are many more of those strange sightings to share! (More Real Santa Sightings) *** Christmas has been celebrated for centuries, and gift-giving has been around in America since well before the Civil War. But how we celebrate and what we give changes depending on the time. We’ll take a look at what Christmas was like for American pioneers in the 1800s. (Christmas in The Old West) *** At a Christmas party the revelers heard a horrifying scream from outside. They rushed out to hear the screams were coming from the sky, at least above the rooftops. But how could that be? It was then that they learned Oliver Lerch had disappeared – never to be seen again. (The Christmas Disappearance of Oliver Lerch) *** Nothing says Christmas like a poisonous weed! Well… you explain mistletoe! We’ll look at why we’re supposed to kiss under this deadly plant during the holidays. (A Kiss Under the Mistletoe) *** A horrible fire breaks out at an Oklahoma school during the holidays of 1924 – and the ghosts of the children still linger at the site. (Ghosts of the Babbs Switch School Christmas Fire) *** You might be celebrating Christmas like a viking and not even realize it. From the holiday ham to the evergreen in your living room, we’ll look at how the pagan celebration of Yule influenced modern Christmas traditions. (How To Celebrate Christmas Like a Viking) *** Kids in America anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus bounding down the chimney with gifts and candy for the good little boys and girls. But that’s America. What comes down the chimney of Irish and Scottish kids may not be so jolly, plump, and loving. Some Gaelic children have to watch out for the Bodach. (Beware the Bodach at Christmas) *** It’s something we’re trying to revive here on Weird Darkness… the lost tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas. (The Lost Tradition of Telling Ghost Stories) *** (Originally aired December 16, 2021) SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… “The Lost Tradition of Christmas Ghost Stories” from Conspiracy Journal: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/36dxj4kt [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/36dxj4kt], Sally O’Reilly for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2mfh29mk [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2mfh29mk], YourGhostStories.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p93r34c [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p93r34c], LiveAbout.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/539cmfv6 [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/539cmfv6] “The Christmas Disappearance of Oliver Lerch” from AnomalyInfo.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/59t2mysv [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/59t2mysv] “How To Celebrate Christmas Like a Viking” by Morgan Dunn for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p88mev7 [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p88mev7] “More Real Santa Sightings” by Rob Schwarz for Stranger Dimensions: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yvdt2ww6 [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yvdt2ww6] “Ghosts of the Babbs Switch School Christmas Fire” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/dnmhehha [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/dnmhehha] “Beware the Bodach at Christmas” by Ellen Lloyd for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p85afxx [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p85afxx] “Christmas in The Old West” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bddzbyfk [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bddzbyfk] “A Kiss Under the Mistletoe” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2jv3u98a [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2jv3u98a] Visit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsors [https://weirddarkness.com/sponsors] Join the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate [https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate] Advertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: https://weirddarkness.com/advertise [https://weirddarkness.com/advertise] = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t [https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t]), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ [http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ]) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu [https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu]), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7 [https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7]), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8 [https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8]) is used with permission of the artists. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = https://weirddarkness.com/ChristmasGhostStories ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. #WeirdDarkness #ChristmasGhostStories #TrueScaryStories #HolidayHorror #VictorianGhostStories #ParanormalStories #YuletideHorror #GhostStories #ChristmasTradition #HauntedChristmas

Merry Christmas From The Bell Witch: Four Years It Tormented Them; Christmas Day It Celebrated

For four years, an unseen entity tormented the Bell family of Tennessee — pulling hair, slapping faces, filling the house with phantom voices — until Christmas 1820, when it finally got what it wanted: John Bell dead and his daughter's life in ruins. #12NightmaresOfXmas  Episode 3 of 12 in the “Twelve Nightmares of Christmas” series! IN THIS EPISODE: “Merry Christmas From The Bell Witch”, “The Murder of Thelma Todd” SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… All stories in this episode are from the book, “The Spirits of Christmas: The Dark Side of the Holidays” by Sylvia Shults: https://amzn.to/3uT2vMA [https://amzn.to/3uT2vMA] Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t [https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t]), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ [http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ]) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu [https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu]), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7 [https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7]), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8 [https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8]) is used with permission of the artists. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. https://weirddarkness.com/BellWitchChristmas #WeirdDarkness #BellWitch #TennesseeGhostStory #TrueScaryStories #AmericanHaunting #Poltergeist #ChristmasHorror #ParanormalActivity #FamousHaunting #HauntedHistory

A Strange Christmas Game: The Christmas Disappearance at Martingdale Manor

For forty-one years, the halls of Martingdale echoed with unexplained footsteps and banging doors every Christmas Eve — until the night we stayed to watch, and the dead finally showed us what happened. Hello, children – it’s Santa! I ho ho ho hope you like my podcast!  If you like the stories I’m telling in my podcast, please tell your friends and family about the Spooky Santa podcast so they can listen too! Thank you very much, and Merry Christmas! STORY AND MUSIC CREDITS/SOURCES… “A Strange Christmas Game” by Mrs. J.H. Ridell: http://bit.ly/36zAo3S [http://bit.ly/36zAo3S] “The Flames of Sligachan” by Amy Brannigan and Caroline Brannigan: http://bit.ly/2LVTMAa [http://bit.ly/2LVTMAa] “Clockwork Christmas” by Richard Ankers: https://adbl.co/2PMnQzh [https://adbl.co/2PMnQzh] All music used with permission of the artists. Spooky Santa theme by Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ [http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ]). All other music by Nicolas Gasparini (http://bit.ly/2LykK0g [http://bit.ly/2LykK0g]). I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use. If I somehow overlooked doing that for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I’ll rectify it the show notes as quickly as possible.***Spooky Santa™ and Weird Darkness® are creations and trademarks of Marlar House Productions and Weird Darkness, LLC. Copyright © Weird Darkness, 2023 "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 https://weirddarkness.com/SpookySanta1215 [https://weirddarkness.com/SpookySanta1215] #WeirdDarkness #ChristmasGhostStory #HauntedHouse #VictorianGhostStory #GothicHorror #ScaryStories #HolidayHorror #TrueScaryStories #ParanormalStory #ChristmasHorror