Welcome back to Wyrd Wessex for the final part of our Christmas specials! This time, Craig and Andy are wrapping things up with a wild ride through a famous author's ghostly encounter, a dark news story that makes you question everything, and an update on one of the most bizarre claims of the year.
Thomas Hardy's Green Christmas Ghost
We kick things off with a brief but classic ghost story straight from the Dorset countryside. On a green, snowless Christmas Eve, Thomas Hardy saw a strange man in 18th-century dress in Stinsford Churchyard. The figure exchanged a few words with Hardy before disappearing into the church, where Hardy found no one. Hardy's sister later speculated the ghost was their grandfather, who had passed away years before.
Wyrd News: From Satan to South America
We covered a lot of ground in our news segment, starting with a brief mention of the Satanic Temple's popular "Hail Santa" Christmas tree display, which we all agreed was a great bit of festive trolling. Things then took a much darker turn with a story from Colombia.
The Ouija Board Murder: We discussed a truly disturbing case where a teenage boy was allegedly murdered by his friends after a Ouija board told them to do it. While one of the friends claimed to be on LSD and said the whole thing was a dream, we can’t help but be skeptical. Was it an actual paranormal command, or just a chilling excuse for a tragic crime?
The Mummified "Aliens": Andy brought us an update on the mummified creatures found in Peru. According to some researchers, DNA analysis of the specimens shows that 30% of their genetic makeup is from an "unknown species." While a controversial journalist is pushing the alien theory, other experts believe the mummies are likely a hoax, possibly made from the remains of extinct animals.
The Krampus of Ramsbury
To close out the episode, Andy shared a brilliant news story from a Wiltshire village. A local blog, the Ramsbury Raven, hilariously reported on a Krampus sighting, warning local children to behave or risk being scooped up in a basket by the demonic Christmas creatures. It was the perfect quirky end to our weirdly festive deep dive!