"A Haunting Christmas: Uncovering the Dark Side of Winter"
This spellbinding audiobook, "The Dead of Winter" by Sarah Clegg, serves as a stark contrast to the cheerful image we often associate with Christmas. Instead of sugarplums and presents, Clegg delves into the darker, forgotten traditions that once accompanied the festive season in 19th-century Europe.
In a chilling and captivating narrative, historian and folklorist Sarah Clegg recounts an array of unsettling customs, from Sweden's "year walk" tradition to Austria's Krampus night festivities. On Christmas Eve, she embarks on a pre-dawn stroll through a graveyard, reenacting the ancient Swedish ritual that offers glimpses into one's future and "shadowy enactments of impending burials".
Clegg also shares tales of ghostly apparitions, witches, and mythical creatures – horned figures rampaging through streets in Salzburg, witches tormenting children who haven't completed their chores, and an Icelandic ogress who kidnaps people to turn them into stew. It's a world where Christmas teems with monsters.
Antonia Beamish brings these eerie stories to life with her mesmerizing narration, infusing the text with mischief and menace. As Clegg notes, the more we peer beyond the twinkly façade of modern Christmas celebrations, the darker, more sinister side of winter emerges.
This thought-provoking audiobook is a must-listen for anyone looking to shake off the festive cheer and uncover the shadows that lurk beneath. So, this winter's eve, why not take a walk on the dark side and join Sarah Clegg on her haunting journey through the dead of winter?
This spellbinding audiobook, "The Dead of Winter" by Sarah Clegg, serves as a stark contrast to the cheerful image we often associate with Christmas. Instead of sugarplums and presents, Clegg delves into the darker, forgotten traditions that once accompanied the festive season in 19th-century Europe.
In a chilling and captivating narrative, historian and folklorist Sarah Clegg recounts an array of unsettling customs, from Sweden's "year walk" tradition to Austria's Krampus night festivities. On Christmas Eve, she embarks on a pre-dawn stroll through a graveyard, reenacting the ancient Swedish ritual that offers glimpses into one's future and "shadowy enactments of impending burials".
Clegg also shares tales of ghostly apparitions, witches, and mythical creatures – horned figures rampaging through streets in Salzburg, witches tormenting children who haven't completed their chores, and an Icelandic ogress who kidnaps people to turn them into stew. It's a world where Christmas teems with monsters.
Antonia Beamish brings these eerie stories to life with her mesmerizing narration, infusing the text with mischief and menace. As Clegg notes, the more we peer beyond the twinkly façade of modern Christmas celebrations, the darker, more sinister side of winter emerges.
This thought-provoking audiobook is a must-listen for anyone looking to shake off the festive cheer and uncover the shadows that lurk beneath. So, this winter's eve, why not take a walk on the dark side and join Sarah Clegg on her haunting journey through the dead of winter?
?? sweden's year walk tradition is literally just a bunch of ppl walking around in the dark trying to predict their future & it sounds super sketchy. and those krampus night festivities? who thought that was a good idea?! 
i mean, cant we just stick to some festive cheer and goodwill instead of embracing all this dark magic stuff 
It's easy to get caught up in the commercialized magic of Christmas, but it's refreshing to remember that even the most festive of seasons can have a darker side. This audiobook is like a dark, twisted fairy tale - you'll be both chilled and entertained!
This audiobook sounds like it's straight outta a Tim Burton movie 
. I mean, who knew Christmas was all about ghosts, witches, and monsters?! It's like they're trying to ruin our festive vibes 
. But at the same time, I'm kinda intrigued by these old traditions... did you know that some of these customs were actually meant to ward off evil spirits? 
Maybe this book will be more than just a spooky tale... maybe it's a reminder that there's always more to Christmas than meets the eye 
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. The way Sarah Clegg weaves these stories together is so masterful, it's like you're right there with her, wandering through those dark graveyard streets at midnight 
She brings this whole dark winter wonderland to life in the most amazing way! I'm totally hooked now 
️ It's like, we're so afraid of being judged or ridiculed that we hide behind all this cheeriness. But what's really going on beneath the surface? Is it really as bright and beautiful as we think, or is it just a facade? 
I guess that's what makes this audiobook so fascinating – it forces us to confront the shadows within ourselves.
But at the same time, I appreciate how this audiobook is like, shedding light on all these weird and wild customs that got lost in history. It's cool how Sarah Clegg brings them back to life with Antonia Beamish's narration 
anyway, this audiobook might be kinda cool if you're into that whole dark winter vibe, but i'd rather just stick to eating cookies and watching elf movies 
. The way it shows you there's a darker side to Christmas that's still out there, waiting to be explored... it's pretty thought-provoking