In Dickens’ a Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. To our modern eye, this classic of literature may seem weird and an oddity with contrast to the joyful image of Santa Clause… but in centuries past this idea of ghosts visiting was not an uncommon fear. Traditionally, the Christmas period began on Christmas Day and ran for twelve days ending on Twelth Night (or Epiphany). During this period, the world locked down, feasting and merriment was encouraged, and much like in the present time often had no meaning. While we think Christmas is all about celebrations, sometimes darker forces were at work behind the scenes, and this liminal period of the year was filled with all manner of ghosts, demons, angels, and saints.