A Time for Spirits: Why the Holidays Bring More Paranormal Encounters

As the days grow shorter and the air takes on a chill, something peculiar seems to stir. Every year around October, I begin to notice an uptick in private paranormal cases—requests for help from people experiencing things they can’t quite explain. It’s a pattern that’s become familiar over time, and it doesn’t stop with Halloween. In fact, it continues through December and into January, bringing with it a wave of stories that seem to hold a deeper meaning during the holiday season.

One popular theory within the spiritual world suggests that the veil between the living and the spirit world becomes thinner as the seasons change, particularly around Halloween. This idea of a "thinning veil" implies that the barrier separating our world from that of the spirits weakens, making it easier for souls to cross over or make their presence known. Some believe this thinning begins in late October, peaks during Halloween, and lingers as the year draws to a close.

This belief isn’t confined to ghost hunters or paranormal enthusiasts. Many cultures have long embraced the idea that this time of year is special—when the dead are closer to the living. In Mexican culture, *Día de los Muertos*, or Day of the Dead, is a prime example. Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, it’s a time when families come together to honor their deceased loved ones, welcoming them back for a brief reunion with offerings of food, flowers, and cherished mementos. The idea is not to fear the dead but to celebrate their memories, acknowledging that they are always a part of us, even when unseen.

This concept is echoed in other cultures too. In Europe, Samhain—an ancient Celtic festival celebrated around October 31st—is believed to be a time when the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds is at its most fragile. During Samhain, bonfires were lit, and families left out food offerings to guide spirits back to their homes. It’s a tradition that predates Halloween but shares its essence: a reverence for the unseen and the belief that, for a short while, our worlds overlap.

But as we move beyond October, I’ve often found that the surge in paranormal experiences doesn’t fade. Instead, it intensifies through December and into January. And perhaps, if we look closely, we can find clues to why this might be. The popular Christmas song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” famously mentions telling “scary ghost stories,” a line that often surprises those who think of Christmas as a season of warmth and joy. Yet, the tradition of telling ghost stories during the winter holidays is a practice that goes back centuries.

During the Victorian era, families would gather around the fire during the long, dark nights of December, sharing tales of hauntings and strange encounters. Charles Dickens’ *A Christmas Carol* is probably the most famous of these ghostly tales—a story that blends the themes of Christmas and the supernatural, exploring the past, present, and future through the spectral visits to Ebenezer Scrooge. The cold, dark winter nights seemed to invite thoughts of the unknown, and the holidays provided the perfect setting to ponder what might lie beyond.

Yet, beyond the cultural traditions, there might be a more personal reason why people report more paranormal activity during the holiday season. From a psychological perspective, it’s possible that the holidays make us more attuned to the presence of the past. As we gather with family, dust off old decorations, and partake in cherished traditions, memories of loved ones who have passed away become more vivid. Perhaps the signs and subtle hauntings were always there throughout the year, but it’s during the holidays—when we miss those we’ve lost the most—that we begin to notice them more.

I remember a story from a client named Amanda, who experienced something like this one December, not long after her grandmother had passed away. She was decorating her Christmas tree when she suddenly smelled a familiar scent—her grandmother’s lavender perfume, the same one she had worn for years. At first, she dismissed it as her imagination, but then, an old music box her grandmother had given her began to play. The box had been silent for years, but that night, it softly played “Silent Night,” filling the room with a melody from her past. For Amanda, it was as if her grandmother had come to share that special moment, letting her know she was still near. It was an experience she never forgot, and one that made her feel a connection that transcended time.

There’s also the possibility that our loved ones are making themselves more noticeable. Perhaps they, too, feel the draw of this time of year and want to share in the traditions they once cherished. A familiar scent that fills the room, the sound of a voice that seems to echo from the past, or the flickering of lights on the Christmas tree—these could be signs of a connection that goes beyond our understanding.

In the end, whether it’s the thinning of the veil, the influence of ancient traditions, or the tender pull of nostalgia, the season from October through January seems to be a time when the paranormal feels closer. For those of us who have always wondered about the mysteries that lie just beyond our senses, it’s a reminder that perhaps we’re never as alone as we think.

As we move through this season, may we find comfort in the idea that those who have gone before us are not lost, but simply waiting to be remembered. And whether it’s through a whispered memory or a touch of the inexplicable, they are never far from our hearts. This time of year, as we gather with those we love, let's leave a little room for the unseen—both in our homes and in our hearts. After all, there’s beauty in embracing the mystery, and in knowing that the bonds of love can transcend even the boundaries between worlds.