Wicked Strange: How Four Ghosts Brought Christmas As We Know It To America

Newport Mansions At Christmas Time — A piano and Christmas tree decorated in Gilded style

Mark Herz is the local host of GBH News' Morning Edition. Feedback? Questions? Story ideas? Reach out to Mark at mark_herz@wgbh.org.

Diego Lopez is the senior radio producer for GBH’s All Things Considered. Feedback? Questions? Story ideas? Reach out to Diego at diego_lopez@wgbh.org.

December 19, 2025

In this edition of Wicked Strange, local folklore author and host of the New England Legends podcast Jeff Belanger tells us the history of how Charles Dickens brought the modern day celebration of Christmas to Boston using a story of ghosts and thrills.

Mark Herz is the local host of GBH News' Morning Edition. Feedback? Questions? Story ideas? Reach out to Mark at mark_herz@wgbh.org.

Diego Lopez is the senior radio producer for GBH’s All Things Considered. Feedback? Questions? Story ideas? Reach out to Diego at diego_lopez@wgbh.org.

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Wicked Strange: How Four Ghosts Brought Christmas As We Know It To America

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