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.
Translated from the 1871 Czech original Vampyr. The story is set on the Island of Büyükada outside of Istanbul. It is called Prinkipos in the story as it is the Greek name for it. The Narrator tells us about what happened on an excursion to the Island with a few strangers. One of them is a sickly young girl. There is also a strange young man, who appears to be an artist saying he wants to paint everything he sees. It turns out that the locals call him The Vampire because whenever he draws someone he dies shortly after.
“An Episode of Cathedral History” by M. R. James, published in 1914, is an example of gothic horror that blends scholarly intrigue with supernatural dread. The story unfolds in an English cathedral town where the renovation of an old cathedral disturbs a long-forgotten tomb. This disturbance unleashes an ancient, malevolent entity that wreaks havoc on the town. It has often been deemed a vampire story. The story’s strength lies in its ability to evoke a palpable sense of unease, using the cathedral’s history and the unsettling presence within its walls to explore themes of hidden evil and the consequences of uncovering dark secrets.
The Blood-Drawing Ghost is an Irish folktale found in “Tales of the Fairies and of the Ghost World”) (1895) collected and transcribed by Jeremiah Curtin, an Irish-American scholar among others.
John has three sweethearts but can only marry one. He hides his blackthorn walking stick in the haunted church graveyard, promising to marry whichever girl retrieves it. Kate agrees to go. As she nears the stick, a corpse in an open grave calls for help. Under its spell, Kate helps the corpse, which climbs onto her back and orders her to carry it through town.
This lurid tale centers on two wealthy and morally corrupt brothers, Conrad and Herman, who rule as ruthless feudal barons from the Castle of Gardonal near the Italian Alps. The oppressed villagers, pushed to their limits by Conrad’s tyranny, seek the aid of a powerful sorcerer named Innominato after a series of heinous acts, including arson and kidnapping. Innominato, driven by his own motives, promises to oppose the baron and orchestrates a dark plan involving a vampire to exact justice.
“Leixlip Castle,” published in 1825, is a novel by Charles Robert Maturin, a renowned writer of Gothic literature and an Irish Protestant clergyman. Born in 1782 and passing away in 1824, Maturin left a lasting impact on the Gothic genre, with his most famous work being “Melmoth the Wanderer,” about at man selling his sould to the devil for an extended life.
“Leixlip Castle” continues this tradition, offering readers a haunting and atmospheric story set in the eponymous castle, where secrets, supernatural elements, and human folly intertwine to create a truly Gothic experience.In 1720 Jacobite supporter Sir Redmond Blayney, tired of the boasts of his Whig about the Siege of Derry, moves from the North of Ireland to rent Leixlip Castle in County Kildare outside Dublin. Over the following years his three daughters all begin suffering from supernatural and tragic events.
“Each Man Kills” by Victoria Glad, published in 1913, is a gripping short story that delves into the darker aspects of human nature and the unsettling power of guilt. The narrative revolves around a man who is haunted by the consequences of a crime he committed. As he grapples with his conscience, the weight of his actions begins to manifest in increasingly disturbing ways. Glad’s story is a psychological thriller that explores themes of remorse, retribution, and the inescapability of one’s past deeds.
“In the Vault” by H.P. Lovecraft, written in 1925, is a tale of horror that delves into the macabre consequences of disrespecting the dead. The story centers on George Birch, a negligent and callous undertaker in a small town. One day, Birch finds himself trapped in a burial vault with several recently interred coffins. In his desperate attempt to escape, he carelessly climbs over the coffins, disturbing the corpses within. As he finally breaks free, Birch realizes too late the ghastly retribution he has invoked—his leg bears the unmistakable marks of a vampire.
“The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall” by John Kendrick Bangs is a macabre short story that combines humor with supernatural elements. Published in 1891, the tale centers around the cursed Harrowby Hall, where each Christmas Eve, a spectral figure drenched in water appears to haunt the inhabitants. The ghost, a former occupant who perished tragically, brings an unnerving and persistent flood that leaves the manor in chaos. The protagonist, determined to rid his home of this annual menace, devises a clever plan to confront and ultimately outwit the ghost.
“The Beckoning Fair One” by Oliver Onions, first published in 1911, is a psychological horror story that explores the fine line between reality and madness. The narrative follows Paul Oleron, a novelist who moves into an old, seemingly charming house to focus on his writing. As he settles in, he becomes increasingly obsessed with the spirit of a beautiful woman who appears to haunt the house. This spectral presence, referred to as “The Fair One,” seems to exert a sinister influence over Oleron, affecting his mental state and creative output. The story delves into themes of artistic obsession, the seductive danger of the supernatural, and the fragility of the human mind.