WXXI News, Rochester, New York’s NPR station asked the question: Why are we still interested in centuries-old myths? Host Evan Dawson interviews Jeff about Krampus, The Fright Before Christmas, and other holiday myths and legends on his Connections program. You can hear the interview here: https://www.wxxinews.org/show/connections/2024-12-12/why-are-we-interested-in-centuries-old-myths
Jeff Belanger joined GBH’s All Things Considered host Arun Rath on the radio to discuss the weird. Hallmark cards and Coca-Cola ads tend to dwell on the happy and cheerful side of Christmas. But there’s always been a dark side. The fear of St. Nick putting coal in stockings for misbehaving and even creepier, the old man watching you day and night, tracking your misdeeds. If you dig deeper into tradition, it’s darker still. The original St. Nick had an enforcer to take care of the bad kids: Krampus, a terrifying horned Christmas devil who whips misbehaving children before carrying them off to hell. And that’s not the only creepy holiday tradition out there. GBH’s All Things Considered host Arun Rath spoke with local author and folklore expert Jeff Belanger, who dives into the legend of Krampus and other frightening Christmas characters in his newest book, “The Fright Before Christmas: Surviving Krampus and Other Yuletide Monsters.” You can listen to the segment and read the transcript here: https://www.wgbh.org/culture/books/2023-12-22/folklore-expert-explores-the-legend-of-krampus-and-holiday-monsters-in-the-fright-before-christmas
WBUR, Boston’s NPR station caught up with Jeff Belanger to talk local haunts and weirdness. We’re at peak spooky season right now and Massachusetts is full of weird places and local haunts to visit and learn about. Jeff Belanger, author of “Weird Massachusetts” and co-host of the podcast “New England Legends” is an expert of the strange and scary and has three recommendations of places to visit to into the season. Read more… Listen to the interview here:
Jeff Belanger was a recent guest on Radio Boston, on WBUR — Boston’s NPR station. Jeff joined host, Tiziana Dearing to talk Friday the 13th, and some weird things to see and do in Massachusetts. You can hear the interview here, or listen below.
