“THE POSSESSION OF REUBEN GRUNDY” Noir Fiction Horror #WeirdDarkness

Long before Santa slid down chimneys, other figures roamed the winter nights — and they weren't bringing presents. They were bringing punishment. IN THIS EPISODE: ‘Tis the season for not only reindeer, grinches and magical snowmen but also fearless children, negligent parents and dumb thieves. “Home Alone” may be the first Christmas movie that comes to mind upon hearing that description, but it turns out there’s a long and storied tradition of true stories of children left alone around the holidays matching wits against would-be robbers. (Home Alone) *** What would you think if you received a Christmas card in the mail that had a picture of a dead bird on the cover? Not very festive, is it? But that’s not what people believed in the past. For a while, a dead bird was synonymous with saying “Merry Christmas!” (Merry Christmas, Here’s a Dead Bird) *** A woman leaves her family to go Christmas shopping at the last minute… and disappears forever. (Mom Vanishes While Christmas Shopping) *** Christmas fun isn’t all about Santa, his reindeer, and a magical snowman come to life thanks to a hat. There are some downright terrifying yuletide monsters that might make you want to stay behind locked doors this year. (Creepy Christmas Characters) SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… “Merry Christmas, Here’s a Dead Bird” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9b4f73 “Creepy Christmas Characters” by Molly Mahan for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8mf9e9, and Karen Anne for German Girl In America: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckjs6r6 “Mom Vanishes While Christmas Shopping” by Chrissy Stockton for Thought Catalog: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckpe5n5 “True Stories of Kids Home Alone At Christmas” from Second Glance History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/25uum6xj, “Home Alone” theme by John Williams Visit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsors Join the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Advertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: 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), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (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...

When Mrs. Hostutler finally found the perfect Christmas tree, she never stopped to wonder why it was growing out of a grave. Episode 9 of 12 in the #12NightmaresOfXmas series! In this episode: “The Perfect Christmas Tree”, “A Rose For Her Hair”, “Eternal Love”, “Guides In The Snow” 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 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =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), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (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 ©2023, Weird Darkness. https://weirddarkness.com/PerfectChristmasTree #WeirdDarkness, #ChristmasGhostStory, #ScaryChristmas, #GhostStory, #HolidayHorror, #CreepyChristmas, #Paranormal, #TrueScaryStories, #HauntedHolidays, #DarkChristmas

Matthew Klein watched his son Logan hold a spirit board—just as Matt himself did thirty years ago—and speak in a voice that didn't belong to a ten-year-old boy. The demon Zurvan has found his new vessel, choosing the cruelest one possible: Matt's own child. For three decades, Zurvan has orchestrated this moment, first possessing the kind neighbor who ran toward the flames to help, then guiding Wilbur Ward's hands as he built the advent calendar from the charred remains of the original spirit board. Now the demon's patience has been rewarded. Matt's allies are few—Detective Davenport has finally seen too much to deny what's happening, and Father Olsen has confirmed they face an ancient entity whose methods are psychological torment followed by violence. But Anika believes her husband unfaithful, Matt's foster parents have arrived oblivious to the horror and bearing a spirit board as a gift, and the bodies continue to pile up: Steven's phantom crumbled to ash, Wilbur Ward's corpse rots in the crawlspace, Simon Welch lies dead from his own possessed fury. Four doors remain on the calendar. Four days until December 24th, when Zurvan's mid-winter celebration reaches its peak. The demon no longer hunts from the shadows—he wears Matt's son's face now. Get the print version of the novel: https://weirddarkness.com/AdventOfEvil #WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #HolidayHorror #SupernaturalThriller #HauntedCalendar #DarkChristmas #HorrorStory #DemonicEvil #CreepyTales #YuletideTerror

On Christmas Eve, a bitter old miser receives a terrifying warning from his dead business partner: change your ways or spend eternity in chains. Before morning, three spirits will drag him through his past, present, and future — and what he sees will either save his soul or seal his fate. IN THIS EPISODE: The holiday classic in its entire audiobook format – “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, narrated by Darren Marlar. SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens (public domain) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness™ - is a production and trademark of Marlar House Productions. Copyright, 2023 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = https://weirddarkness.com/a-christmas-carol-audiobook

Four ghosts, one night, and a transformation so complete it's been pointing people toward a baby in a manger for nearly 200 years. SERMON TRANSCRIPT…https://weirdddarkness.com/cotu-gospelaccordingtoscrooge Weird Darkness® and Church Of The Undead™ are trademarked. Copyright © 2025. #COTU, #ChurchOfTheUndead, #AChristmasCarol, #CharlesDickens, #EbenezerScrooge, #ChristmasSermon, #ChristianSermon, #GospelMessage, #Redemption, #ChurchOfTheUndead, #ChristmasMessage, #WeirdDarkness