Jeff Belanger joined host John Hyatt for his recent Gifts of the Wyrd podcast to talk The Fright Before Christmas.
>Thump< >Thump< Is that the sound of reindeer hooves on the rooftop? A knock at the door for a surprise appearance from Santa Clause to bring gifts? Maaaayyybe. Or maybe it's Père Fouettard, Belsnickel, or Sinterklaas with his chimney Piets arriving to punish the naughty. Perhaps Krampus, Gryla, the Yule Cat or Yule Lads, or the Mari Lwyd to take you away or kill you for venturing out in the cold, harsh, dark winter. Step in to the dark roots of Christmas with The Fright Before Christmas author Jeff Belanger. From shapeshifters to mountain trolls, to elves, to heavy-handed cohorts of Saint Nicholas, the Christmas holiday has been filled with ghosts and monsters ready to dole out punishment to those who need it. The Winter Solstice is a time to be afraid. You can listen to the episode here: