Ghosts of Christmas Past: Mystic ghost stories walk

Christmas spirits and creatures woven through Mystic's streets

A 2-hour guided ghost stories walk through Mystic exploring Christmas folklore from Puritan and native traditions through Victorian and modern tales. The guide leads you through seven stops covering Krampus, the Death Coach, Belsnickel, and other spirits tied to winter solstice and holiday customs, connecting ancient traditions to Dickensian Christmas and contemporary holiday meaning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mystic Christmas ghost stories walk

• Explore Puritans and Mystic Massacre tales
• Hear about Krampus and Pigman
• Learn about Christmas sweets and Belsnickel
• Discover the Death Coach story
• Introduction to Dickensian and Victorian Christmas
• Listen to the tale of Smee
• Learn the Legend of Lussi

The experience

The walk starts with Puritan history and the Mystic Massacre, then moves into the creatures themselves: Krampus and Pigman, Belsnickel (the gift-giver tied to Christmas sweets), the Death Coach, and the figure of Smee. Each stop anchors a different layer of Christmas folklore, from native tradition to European custom to the Victorian reinvention Dickens popularized. The guide ties these together as a single thread running through how Christmas got its spiritual weight, showing you how the holiday became a time when the boundary between the living and the dead felt thin.

James Joyce's short story "The Dead" comes up as a bridge between 19th-century tradition and modern Christmas, and the walk closes with the Legend of Lussi: a Scandinavian figure tied to winter solstice. Two hours on foot through downtown Mystic, with a live English-speaking guide steering the narrative. The pace suits all fitness levels, and public transportation options are nearby if you need them.

What’s included

• 2-hour guided walk through downtown Mystic.
• live English-speaking guide.
• seven stops covering Christmas creatures and folklore from Puritan, native, European, Victorian and Scandinavian traditions.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday to SundayDepartures at 16:00 and 19:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Under 11: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours

Is this one for you?The walk covers two hours on foot through Mystic's downtown, so come ready to move at a steady pace and stand while the guide talks at each stop. This suits anyone comfortable with a walking tour, and the route is accessible to all fitness levels.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What Christmas creatures and spirits does the Mystic ghost walk cover?

The walk includes Krampus, Pigman, Belsnickel, the Death Coach, Smee, and the Legend of Lussi: each tied to Christmas or winter solstice traditions spanning Puritan, native, European, Victorian and Scandinavian folklore.

How long is the Ghosts of Christmas Past walk through Mystic?

The tour runs 2 hours and covers seven stops on foot through downtown Mystic with a live guide in English.

What is Belsnickel and why does it come up on this walk?

Belsnickel is a gift-giving figure tied to Christmas sweets and holiday tradition in European folklore: the walk explores it as one of the non-Saint Nicholas beings that shaped Christmas customs.

Does the Mystic ghost walk require a certain fitness level?

The walk suits all physical fitness levels and moves through downtown Mystic at a pace accessible to most walkers. Public transportation options are available nearby.

How does this tour connect Christmas folklore to Mystic itself?

The guide uses Mystic's streets and history (including the Puritan era and the Mystic Massacre) as the setting for exploring how Christmas became a time when spirits and folklore took on meaning, linking ancient traditions to the way the holiday is understood today.