
The Fright Before Christmas
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $16.52
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jeff Belanger
-
By:
-
Jeff Belanger
About this listen
Christmas time is truly the darkest and creepiest time of the year filled with devilish creatures lurking in the shadows waiting to get us. Best known is the Krampus, who has been the subject of films and songs. There was a time in the late 1800s when people sent Krampus cards, not holiday greetings. There are other violent and dangerous monsters from all over northern climes who have been hunting naughty children for centuries. From shapeshifters to mountain trolls, to elves, to heavy-handed cohorts of Saint Nicholas, the Christmas holiday has been filled with ghosts and monsters ready to dole out punishment to those who need it.
The Fright Before Christmas delves into the folklore of Krampus and his friends with the elf-like Tomten and the goblinesque Karakoncolas. The Belsnickel is ready to hit us with his switch of sticks, and Gryla may drag you back to her mountain lair. And watch out for the Yule Cat ready to pounce!
The folklore roots of Christmas under its many other guises (Yule, the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia) is examined in a different, darker light. The Winter Solstice is a time to be afraid. It’s the shortest day of the year, the longest night. In some parts of the world, the sun doesn’t rise at all. It’s dark, and we have to wonder if the sun will ever come back at all. Christmas has always been creepy and with The Fright Before Christmas, you'll see that side. This is a book for everyone who loves a little darkness around the holidays.
©2023 Jeff Belanger (P)2023 Dreamscape MediaListeners also enjoyed...
-
Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There
- By: Jeff Belanger
- Narrated by: Jeff Belanger
- Length: 1 hr and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welcome to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC - better known as the White House. From the outside, it looks innocent enough. But step through its front gate and you may be surprised by what you find! From ghostly sightings of Abigail Adams to strange doings in the Lincoln Bedroom, this audiobook, Who's Haunting the White House?, showcases the spooky side of history - including new information about hauntings during the Bush and Obama administrations! The audiobook also features an in-depth interview with the author about the ghosts of the White House.
-
-
Oh how I enjoyed this book!
- By Amazon Customer on 05-26-18
By: Jeff Belanger
-
Goodbye Hello
- Processing Grief and Understanding Death Through the Paranormal
- By: Adam Berry
- Narrated by: Adam Berry
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Death affects us all—not just at the end of our lives, but every day. And yet, it’s one of the most feared and misunderstood things we face. But what if there was a way to know more and use that knowledge to inform our daily lives? The first of its kind, Goodbye Hello blends supernatural research with psychology to explore death and grief. Written by paranormal investigator and star of Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters Adam Berry, this book will not only entertain but offer comfort to those struggling to come to terms with loss, grief, and the end of life.
-
-
Entertaining and informative
- By Rebecca on 09-27-23
By: Adam Berry
-
Krampus
- The Yule Lord
- By: Brom
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 16 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One Christmas Eve in a small hollow in Boone County, West Virginia, struggling songwriter Jesse Walker witnesses a strange spectacle: seven devilish figures chasing a man in a red suit toward a sleigh and eight reindeer. When the reindeer leap skyward, taking the sleigh, devil men, and Santa into the clouds, screams follow. Moments later, a large sack plummets back to earth, a magical sack that thrusts the down-on-his-luck singer into the clutches of the terrifying Yule Lord, Krampus.
-
-
5 stars
- By colleen on 11-17-12
By: Brom
-
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story
- By: Christopher Golden, Amber Benson
- Narrated by: Amber Benson, Charisma Carpenter, James Charles Leary, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Original cast members from the beloved TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reunite for an all-new adventure about connections that never die—even if you bury them. A decade has passed since the epic final battle that concluded Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV). The game-changing spell that gave power to all potential Slayers persists. With new Slayers constantly emerging, things are looking grim for the bad guys.
-
-
A dream come true
- By Anonymous User on 10-12-23
By: Christopher Golden, and others
-
A Life with Ghosts
- By: Steve Gonsalves, Michael Aloisi - contributor
- Narrated by: Steve Gonsalves
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steve Gonsalves—already considered to be one of the top paranormal investigators in the world and a pioneer in the industry—now presents his debut book, A Life with Ghosts! Widely known as a lead investigator of the smash hit TV series Ghost Hunters as well as Ghost Hunters Academy and Travel Channel’s ratings king, Ghost Nation, Steve presents a collection of his most meaningful paranormal experiences from some of his favorite haunted locations.
-
-
One of the best
- By Collin S. on 09-01-23
By: Steve Gonsalves, and others
-
Making It So
- A Memoir
- By: Patrick Stewart
- Narrated by: Patrick Stewart
- Length: 18 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations with his indelible command of stage and screen. Now, he presents his long-awaited memoir, Making It So, a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself.
-
-
Incredible! So much more than a memoir
- By Jason on 10-04-23
By: Patrick Stewart
-
Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There
- By: Jeff Belanger
- Narrated by: Jeff Belanger
- Length: 1 hr and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welcome to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC - better known as the White House. From the outside, it looks innocent enough. But step through its front gate and you may be surprised by what you find! From ghostly sightings of Abigail Adams to strange doings in the Lincoln Bedroom, this audiobook, Who's Haunting the White House?, showcases the spooky side of history - including new information about hauntings during the Bush and Obama administrations! The audiobook also features an in-depth interview with the author about the ghosts of the White House.
-
-
Oh how I enjoyed this book!
- By Amazon Customer on 05-26-18
By: Jeff Belanger
-
Goodbye Hello
- Processing Grief and Understanding Death Through the Paranormal
- By: Adam Berry
- Narrated by: Adam Berry
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Death affects us all—not just at the end of our lives, but every day. And yet, it’s one of the most feared and misunderstood things we face. But what if there was a way to know more and use that knowledge to inform our daily lives? The first of its kind, Goodbye Hello blends supernatural research with psychology to explore death and grief. Written by paranormal investigator and star of Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters Adam Berry, this book will not only entertain but offer comfort to those struggling to come to terms with loss, grief, and the end of life.
-
-
Entertaining and informative
- By Rebecca on 09-27-23
By: Adam Berry
-
Krampus
- The Yule Lord
- By: Brom
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 16 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One Christmas Eve in a small hollow in Boone County, West Virginia, struggling songwriter Jesse Walker witnesses a strange spectacle: seven devilish figures chasing a man in a red suit toward a sleigh and eight reindeer. When the reindeer leap skyward, taking the sleigh, devil men, and Santa into the clouds, screams follow. Moments later, a large sack plummets back to earth, a magical sack that thrusts the down-on-his-luck singer into the clutches of the terrifying Yule Lord, Krampus.
-
-
5 stars
- By colleen on 11-17-12
By: Brom
-
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story
- By: Christopher Golden, Amber Benson
- Narrated by: Amber Benson, Charisma Carpenter, James Charles Leary, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Original cast members from the beloved TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reunite for an all-new adventure about connections that never die—even if you bury them. A decade has passed since the epic final battle that concluded Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV). The game-changing spell that gave power to all potential Slayers persists. With new Slayers constantly emerging, things are looking grim for the bad guys.
-
-
A dream come true
- By Anonymous User on 10-12-23
By: Christopher Golden, and others
-
A Life with Ghosts
- By: Steve Gonsalves, Michael Aloisi - contributor
- Narrated by: Steve Gonsalves
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steve Gonsalves—already considered to be one of the top paranormal investigators in the world and a pioneer in the industry—now presents his debut book, A Life with Ghosts! Widely known as a lead investigator of the smash hit TV series Ghost Hunters as well as Ghost Hunters Academy and Travel Channel’s ratings king, Ghost Nation, Steve presents a collection of his most meaningful paranormal experiences from some of his favorite haunted locations.
-
-
One of the best
- By Collin S. on 09-01-23
By: Steve Gonsalves, and others
-
Making It So
- A Memoir
- By: Patrick Stewart
- Narrated by: Patrick Stewart
- Length: 18 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations with his indelible command of stage and screen. Now, he presents his long-awaited memoir, Making It So, a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself.
-
-
Incredible! So much more than a memoir
- By Jason on 10-04-23
By: Patrick Stewart
-
Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry's Definitive Collection
- By: Stephen Fry, Washington Irving, M.R. James, and others
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, Halloween approaches. Come, brave listener, pull up a chair, and spend some time with master storyteller Stephen Fry as he tells us some of his favourite ghost stories of all time, in truly terrifying spatial audio. From the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow to the tortured spirits of M.R. James, from Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying tale of a doppelganger to Charlotte Riddell’s Open Door that should definitely stay shut, join Stephen as he tells you some truly terrifying tales.
-
-
Wonderful narration. Mediocre stories.
- By Michael Fuchs on 11-07-23
By: Stephen Fry, and others
-
Being Henry
- The Fonz . . . and Beyond
- By: Henry Winkler
- Narrated by: Henry Winkler
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as “The Fonz” in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.
-
-
Sweet human
- By Lisa Singer on 11-07-23
By: Henry Winkler
-
Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas
- Discovering the History of Our Favorite Christmas Celebrations
- By: Ace Collins
- Narrated by: Paul Michael
- Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The golden traditions of Christmas—gifts, wreaths, stockings, carols, mistletoe, and more—infuse your celebration of the season with meaning and glowing memories. And, in ways you may not realize, they also point you to the birth of Christ. Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas reveals the people, places, and events that shaped the best-loved customs of this merriest of holidays.
-
-
A Great History Book on Christmas.
- By Roy Tweedy on 12-31-22
By: Ace Collins
-
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
- By: Megan Shepherd
- Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jack Skellington, the beloved Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, has grown tired of his home's annual scaring routines and longs for something new. So when he and his loyal dog, Zero, discover a series of doors in the Hinterlands leading to other holiday towns, he can't help but explore--and quickly becomes enamored with Christmas Town, a place filled with jolly laughs, merry elves, and plenty of presents. Jack shares all of his findings with the rest of Halloween Town, and together, they devise a plan to run Christmas themselves.
-
-
Very well written
- By Richard on 12-16-23
By: Megan Shepherd
-
The Mothman Prophecies
- By: John A. Keel
- Narrated by: Craig Wasson
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
West Virginia, 1966. For thirteen months the town of Point Pleasant is gripped by a real-life nightmare that culminates in a tragedy that makes headlines around the world. Strange occurrences and sightings, including a bizarre winged apparition that becomes known as the Mothman, trouble this ordinary American community. And journalist John Keel, arriving to investigate the freakish events, soon finds himself an integral part of an eerie and unfathomable mystery.
-
-
Smart, compelling, disturbing
- By Marc on 05-01-05
By: John A. Keel
-
The Exorcist
- A Novel
- By: William Peter Blatty
- Narrated by: William Peter Blatty, Eliana Shaskan
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four decades after it first shook the nation, then the world, William Peter Blatty's thrilling masterwork of faith and demonic possession returns in an even more powerful form. Raw and profane, shocking and blood-chilling, it remains a modern parable of good and evil and perhaps the most terrifying novel ever written.
-
-
Terrifying...
- By Kenneth on 10-01-12
-
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- By: Washington Irving
- Narrated by: Tom Mison
- Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the secluded Dutch territory of Sleepy Hollow, nebbish schoolmaster Ichabod Crane competes with the town hero for the hand of Katrina Van Tassel, the 18-year-old daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer. As Crane leaves a party at the Van Tassel's farm one autumn evening, he is pursued by the Headless Horseman, an apparition said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper snuffed out by a stray cannonball.
-
-
Treasures Of Jolly Autumn
- By Sara on 10-31-14
-
The Old Magic of Christmas
- Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year
- By: Linda Raedisch
- Narrated by: Chloe Cannon
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Not so very long ago, Yuletide was as much a chilling season of ghosts and witches as it was a festival of goodwill. In The Old Magic of Christmas, you'll rub elbows with veiled spirits, learn the true perils of elves, and discover a bestiary of enchanted creatures. Rife with the more frightful characters from folklore and the season's most petulant ghosts, this book takes you on a spooky sleigh ride from the silvered firs of a winter forest to the mirrored halls of the Snow Queen.
-
-
An interesting listen.
- By Streetsamurai on 12-18-22
By: Linda Raedisch
-
Demonic Foes
- My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal
- By: Richard Gallagher
- Narrated by: Kevin Collins
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Successful New York psychiatrist Richard Gallagher was skeptical yet intrigued when a hard-nosed, no-nonsense Catholic priest asked him to examine a woman for a possible exorcism. Meeting her, Gallagher was astonished. The woman’s behavior defied logic. This remarkable case was the first of many that Gallagher would encounter. Sought after today by leaders of all faiths—ministers, priests, rabbis and imams, Gallagher has spent a quarter-century studying demonic activity and exorcisms throughout history and has witnessed more cases than any other psychiatrist in the world today.
-
-
An Exceptional Book for Reference and Debate
- By SecretOktober on 10-15-20
-
Halloween Folklore & Festivities
- By: Ruth Edna Kelley, Mary E. Blain
- Narrated by: Adam Skousen
- Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Halloween Folklore & Festivities is a compilation of two classic Halloween books written in the early 1900s. The Book of Halloween, by Ruth Edna Kelley, explains the origins of Halloween, including the ancient myths, beliefs, and rituals of the Celts and the Teutons. She traces those ancient origins through other cultures that have influenced the customs of our modern Halloween celebrations. Games for Halloween, by Mary E. Blain, is a collection of games, decorations, and charms from the Halloween celebrations of 1912.
-
-
The History Part of the Book is Best
- By Nancy & Greg on 01-18-25
By: Ruth Edna Kelley, and others
-
Witch Hunt
- A Traveler's Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch
- By: Kristen J. Sollee
- Narrated by: Amy McFadden
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Traveling through cities and sites across Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Kristen J. Sollee - a second-generation witch herself - explores the witch as a figure of female power and persecution. By infusing an adventurous first-person narrative with extensive research and imaginative historical fiction, Witch Hunt captures the magic of travel to make an often-overlooked period of history come alive.
-
-
Bewitching! Loved it!
- By Isalina on 10-08-20
-
We Never Die
- Secrets of the Afterlife
- By: Matt Fraser
- Narrated by: Matt Fraser, Alexa Fraser
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From America’s top psychic medium and the author of When Heaven Calls comes a new book that unveils the secrets of the afterlife, the truth about heaven, and inspires “us with his comforting certainty that we never die” (Gloria Estefan). Psychic medium Matt Fraser, author of When Heaven Calls, is back to unpack the number one question folks ask him: “What happens after death?” Although we might expect a complicated answer, it’s actually pretty simple: We never die!
-
-
Disappointed, book did not provide new information about what happens after death.
- By Oscar GM on 08-24-22
By: Matt Fraser
What listeners say about The Fright Before Christmas
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- CJDsCurrentRead
- 12-04-24
Enjoyable Christmastime read
Grabbed this on Audible’s cyber Monday deal, and finished it in the same day. As a Christmas tradition based nonfiction (although mythology and fantasy really blend?), it was a perfect read for me.
The author takes the reader through the history of Christmas, not just its darker creatures, but even the creation of Santa Claus and St. Nick. The historical beats reminded me of Jeff Guinn’s The Autobiography of Santa Claus, at least in the instances where the author takes from what’s known. And the traditions from other places I was not familiar with reminded me of Linda Raedisch’s The Old Magic of Christmas.
A great blend of information I knew, and that that I didn’t, this was a quick and enjoyable read for the holiday season. The author draws on the history of the holiday to explain when and how or even why certain Christmas traditions came and went away. How Krampus was frowned upon, seemingly went away, and then was modernized in the 2015 film. The author even likens the appearance of the Grinch to that of Krampus, and how even when traditions seem forgotten they still hold on.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- nikki
- 12-23-23
A must have for any fan of folklore and history.
Jeff Belanger is one heck of a story teller! I listed to this book in one night! I absolutely loved it. I will be buying the hard copy once it is back in stock.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- AM Reader
- 12-13-24
Wonderful History of Yule and Christmas!
A nicely concise history of everything Winter Solstice and Christmas. Everything that led up to what we celebrate today and what we should remember again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- anastasia beaverhausen
- 12-15-23
Jeff’s storytelling style
This was well researched. I learned some new information about Santa Claus and how Christmas came to be how we know it today.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sue Marra Byham
- 12-12-23
Fabulous
A fabulous book for any winter evening, engaging narration, fascinating stories--a keeper, and one we expect to return to every winter. Thanks much!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- C. Smeriglio
- 10-06-23
A Great Listen
I am obsessed with learning more of these darker sides of the Holiday season. All the info here makes me want to do more of these traditions.
I happen to be a Krampus actor and one of the Krampus that were at the event the author was at with the Krampus Society of New England. ( I was the short grey/tan with all the bells and naughty list staff)
All these tales spark my passion and feel more right than the current commercialized holiday
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 10-27-23
Wow!
Jeff is an amazing storyteller, I realized I was smiling though the whole listen even through some gruesome description’s because his voice is so pleasant and descriptive. He’s my new favorite author and narrator. I learned so much and will be gifting this book to my friends this Christmas - wait, Saturnalia - wait, Yule… whatever it is, it’s the best time of the year.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alice
- 12-26-24
Informative and clearly read
The characters were well researched. The previous chapters were placed very well together. Very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Garry G. Fujita
- 11-11-23
What flair!
Like all
The adventures you get involved in, Jeff, this was great! I also love when an author narrates his own works. The message is from the heart and relayed the way it was intended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- jason
- 09-07-23
Great family tail
The story is a fun and warm tale that makes you think about your mortality and your legacy. Jeff is a master storyteller!!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful