Fright Before Christmas

Jeff Belanger is one of the most visible and prolific researchers of legends and lore today. A natural storyteller, he’s the award-winning, Emmy-nominated host, writer, and producer of the New England Legends series on PBS and Amazon Prime and is the author of over a dozen books (published in six languages). He also hosts the award-winning New England Legends weekly podcast, which has garnered over six million downloads since its launch and ranks in the top half percent of all podcasts for popularity, according to Listen Notes.Belanger’s books include the bestsellers The Fright Before Christmas, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, The Call of Kilimanjaro, and Who’s Haunting the White House? He founded Ghostvillage.com in 1999 and is a noted speaker and media personality. He was featured in the one hundredth episode of Stories from the Stage on PBS, he’s given a TEDx talk in New York City, and he spoke at MENSA’s national conference. Belanger has also written for newspapers such as the Boston Globe and USA Today and has served as the writer and researcher on numerous television series, including every episode of Ghost Adventures (twenty-five seasons and counting), Paranormal Challenge, Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks, and Amish Haunting.

“The Fright Before Christmas is an informative romp through holiday history, revealing not only the whens but also the whys of cherished winter celebrations.”—Foreword Reviews“A well-researched and fun look at holiday traditions around the world.”—Library Journal“Belanger also wanders into the more obscure corners of dark Christmas lore, exploring the stories of ‘dirty Santa’ Belsnickel (as seen on The Office), Iceland’s trouble-making Yule Lads, and France’s cleaver-wielding ‘Father Whipper.’ The Fright Before Christmas will serve as welcome inspiration for lovers of the macabre who relish the threat implicit in Santa’s nice and naughty lists.”—Jay Gabler, arts and entertainment reporter, Duluth News Tribune