Boroughs of the Dead Presents A Haunting Holiday Tour Plus a Special Winter Solstice Edition!

Boroughs of the Dead's "Ghosts of Christmas Past" combines New York City history, Yuletide folklore, and local ghost stories into a holiday walking tour unlike any other.

And this year we're presenting a special weeknight walking tour on the eve of the Winter Solstice proper -- all the better to usher in Yule!

This approximately 90-minute stroll through Greenwich Village provides apleasantly macabre alternative to the holiday's sometimes saccharine side. The tour will draw out the often-overlooked connections between New York City, old Christmas traditions, and the telling of ghostly tales, enriching our understanding of our own contemporary holiday rituals and reviving a few long-past and nearly forgotten.

Spirits and the Season

Ghosts, elves, spirits, and sometimes malevolent fairies abound at Yuletide. It is ahaunting season, the time of the earth's longest and darkest night. In some traditions,devils and impudent sprites verge on the downright terrifying - witness the resurgent popularity of the decidedly demonic Krampus.

In this vein, on our Ghosts of Christmas Past tour guests will:

• Unearth the hidden and sacred histories of the holiday season
• "Meet" the mild-mannerEd Cambridge antiquarian who told some of the world's most frightening tales at Christmastime
• Discover the connections between Washington Irving, Charles Dickens,and the 19th century fashion for the Christmas ghost story

In addition to examining the mystical and spiritual qualities of the season, this tour will also explore how New York City's history has come to bear on our current celebration of Christmas:

• Learn how revelry, rioting, and debauchery were all traditionally a part of Christmas long before SantaCon!
• Discover the amazing link between famous Christmas icons and New York City
• See how immigration to New York City influenced American Christmastraditions

And, in true Boroughs of the Dead style, this tour will be presented by our expert guides, who will share some of their favorite local ghost stories in the festive atmosphere of Greenwich Village decked out for the season.

So join us as we conjure the ghosts of Christmas past and discover a long-forgotten aspect of this surprisingly dark, and highly spirited, holiday.

About our Guides

This tour will be presented by two of our expert guides. Andrea Janes is owner and founder of Boroughs of the Dead, as well as the author of Boroughs of the Dead: New York City Ghost Stories, and several other works of short speculative fiction. SJ Costellois one of our top tour guides and works as an educator at the Lower East Side and South Street Seaport museums when not leading tours for Boroughs of the Dead.

Tour Details

• Tour is approximately 90 minutes in duration and 1.5 miles in length.
• Tour runs rain or shine; please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
• Tickets are $25 in advance online, or $30 on site (subject to availability).Buy tickets at http://boroughsofthedead.com/seasonal-and-specialty-tours/
• Because nothing says Christmas like frightening children, persons under 12 years of age are welcome on this tour. However, due to the significant amount of walking this tour involves, it may not be suitable for very young children. You know your children best; please use your judgment when purchasing tickets.
• Tickets are non-refundable. Advance purchase is highly recommended, as these tours often sell out.

Dates and Times:
Saturday, December 3 at 5pm
Saturday, December 10 at 5pm
Saturday, December 17 at 5pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, December 18 at 5pm
* NEW!* Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30pm

Meeting Point and End Point:

Tour meets in front of St. Mark's Church in the Bowery and ends in the West Village. End point and tour duration are approximate; we recommend you budget two hours total for the tour.

Meeting point and other tour details can also be found here:http://boroughsofthedead.com/seasonal-and-specialty-tours/