Moon Mausoleum
An online magazine about the paranormal, haunted and macabre. We collect the ghost stories from all around the world as well as review horror and gothic media.
Why did we stop telling ghost stories for Christmas? In the olden days, it used to be a tradition to gather around and tell each other ghost stories in Victorian England. Often set in cold and dark castles or somewhere far remote in the cold icy night. Here are some perfect short stories you can read for free, perfect for Christmas time.
The Portent of the Shadow or just The Shadow is set during a Christmas gathering of friends, one guest tells of a terrifying, supernatural encounter involving an otherworldly shadow that leads to madness and death. Classic Edwardian Christmas ghostliness.
One of James’s lesser-known but fascinating tales — set at Christmas, it’s presented as a series of letters about a disturbing Punch and Judy show, a mysterious disappearance, and a spectral visitation on Christmas Eve. It first appeared in print in the June 4, 1913 issue of the magazine Cambridge Review. It was published again in 1919 as part of the anthology A Thin Ghost and Others.
Set in snowy Ukraine on Christmas Eve, this folkloric tale follows a trickster devil who wreaks havoc in a village while a young man seeks to win his beloved’s heart under supernatural influence.
At a cozy inn on Christmas Eve, guests trade spooky stories—until a real, bloodstained intruder named “Jerry Bundler” appears, turning festive warmth into true fright.
In this chilling tale by J. S Le Fanu, the death of a corrupt church sexton on Christmas Eve unleashes supernatural events in his churchyard—as though his spirit lingers, disrupting the holy peace. First published in 1871.
Set on Christmas Day, this Gothic moral thriller follows a man who murders his way into an antique shop, only to be visited by a mysterious figure—perhaps a devil, perhaps a savior—who challenges his soul’s darkest impulses.
A chilling short story by Bram Stoker, believed to be a deleted chapter from his iconic novel “Dracula.” Set on Walpurgis Night, the eve of May Day, the story follows an unnamed Englishman who finds himself traveling through a remote corner of Transylvania. As he ventures deeper into the eerie landscape, he encounters unsettling omens and inexplicable occurrences.
One of the earliest works of vampire fiction, featuring a female vampire and her relationship with the protagonist. “Carmilla,” written by Sheridan Le Fanu in 1872, predating Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” by twenty-six years. The novella follows the protagonist Laura, who becomes entangled with the enigmatic Carmilla, a beautiful and seductive stranger. As their relationship deepens, Laura begins to experience mysterious illnesses and disturbing nightmares. Le Fanu’s tale explores themes of desire, sexuality, and the supernatural, with Carmilla embodying both allure and danger. Through its eerie atmosphere and psychological depth, “Carmilla” has left an indelible mark on the vampire genre, influencing countless subsequent works in literature, film, and popular culture.
Who said that ghost stories only happen around Halloween? Summer horror can be just as chilling. Here is a list of horror short stories found in the public domain that are free to read, perfect for a hot summer day.