Scary Book of Christmas Lore: 50 Terrifying Yuletide Tales From Around the World by Tim Rayborn
Bibliolatry.Blog Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Manage your expectations if you decide to pick up this book. You won’t find enchanting storytelling of Yuletide folk horrors to share around the fire nor will you find a thorough encyclopedia. You’ll have to look elsewhere, as there is not even a bibliography.
Instead, you’ll read brief explanations and histories of these traditions. Perhaps consider this book as a “stocking stuffer” for those just dipping their toes into winter horror folklore. Even then, it is quite a stretch to consider these 50 Yuletide tales “terrifying.”
I was interested to learn that the Nazis suppressed several of these legendary creatures and their festivals. These folk traditions have made a resurgence in recent decades, to the delight of many.
The final entry breaks free from the previous 49 traditional folktales and Rayborn poses an interesting question to the reader: Are internet memes and creepypasta the sparks of modern folklore?
That is, disappointingly, all I have to say about this little book. Let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations for Yuletide folklore horror reads and stay tuned for my review of Krampus the Yule Lord by Gerald Brom!
Bibliolatry.Blog 