EP29 Christmas Eve Ghosts & Folklore: The Magical Welsh Christmas Tree and the haunted garden of Wales
Welsh folklore tells us that on Christmas Eve a magical Christmas tree would spring to life in the garden of a west Wales mansion.
But what was its supernatural purpose, and where did it come from? And more to the point, where is it now?
According to the old tale the tree was destroyed, but that isn’t the whole story. In fact, it still be active to this day, if you know where to look.
But beware!
Before you go searching for this wonderous tree, in true Christmas tradition, there are several ghost stories connected to this location, and there are some who believe that spirits roam the very same garden…
For some of the answers – and even more questions – press play and join Mark Rees for the latest special festive episode of the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees.
Merry Christmas/ Nadolig llawen!
Christmas on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast
Christmas is a magical time for Welsh folklore and ghost stories, and every Thursday during December there’ll be a new special episode of this podcast dedicated to a festive subject.
These include such folkloric favourites as the Mari Lwyd, a haunted pubs and even a magical Christmas tree.
Be sure to check out each episode on December 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 – yes, there’ll even be new episodes of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve!
Did you catch last week’s episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast?
Did you miss last week’s episode? Catch up now: EP28: A Ghost Story for Christmas Eve; or, The “Most Haunted” Haunted Pub’s Festive Spirit.
For a full list of every episode, from the Mari Lwyd to the Mabinogion, and to subscribe, visit the Ghosts of Wales podcast page.
Enjoy this podcast? Read more about the magical Christmas Tree in The A-Z of Curious Wales!
The A-Z of Curious Wales by Mark Rees is available from all good bookshops, and online from the books page.
Published by The History Press, here’s the blurb:
Wales’ history is packed with peculiar customs and curious characters. Here you will discover alien landscapes, ancient druids and a Victorian ghost hunter.
Find out why revellers would carry a decorated horse’s skull on a pole door to door at Christmastime, how an eccentric inventor hoped to defeat Hitler with his futuristic ray gun, and why a cursed wall is protected by a global corporation for fear it might destroy a town.
From the folklore surrounding the red dragon on the flag, to the evolution of the song ‘Sosban Fach’, this compendium of weird and wonderful facts will surprise and delight even the most knowledgeable resident or visitor.