Hello, I'm Dr. Eleanorianica, and welcome to Gone Medieval from History Hit, the podcast that delves into the greatest millennium in human history.

We uncover the greatest mysteries, the gobsmacking details, and the latest groundbreaking research from the Vikings to the Normans, from kings to popes, to the

Crusades. We delve into the rebellions, plots, and murders that tell us who we really were.

And how we got here. At this time of year, when it already feels like nighttime by the mid-afternoon,

and mist and frost begins to creep across the land, the veil between the living and the dead seems to become quite thin.

This belief held for millennia gave rise to one of the most enduring winter traditions,

the telling of ghost stories. A sad tales best for winter, Shakespeare wrote in the winter's tale.

I have one of sprites and goblins.

And in the Jew of Malta, Christopher Marla recalled,

Those old women's words who in my wealth would tell me winter's tales

and speak of spirits and ghosts that glide by night.

These literary references suggest the tradition of winter ghost stories was already well-established

by the 16th century. But it goes back much further than that.

So when we gather to terrify each other with scary stories at Christmas, or huddle around the TV to watch ghost stories, we're actually participating in a tradition that stretches back over millennia.

The means of delivery may have changed,

from monks' Latin manuscripts to modern horror films.

But the appeal remains the same.

And that's what I'm going to be exploring today.

But first, here's Matt with an abridged version of one of my favorite medieval spooky tales.

The story of Snowball the Taylor.

As night fell over the Yorkshire hills, a poor and simple tailor named Snowball, Road Home Alone.

The road was silent, but for the clop of his horse's hooves.

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