Here we are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore…

– Blane/Martin, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'

If you celebrate Christmas – or, indeed, any other midwinter holiday – you have customs and traditions you like to repeat year after year. That is what these celebrations are for, after all. It might be your habit to visit a certain shopping district or mall, or drive through a particular neighbourhood to see the lights. You and your friends and loved ones might exchange a special gift, or make a ritual out of hanging decorations or choosing a tree or…

You get our drift. The thing is, when you do it, you conjure up all those other holidays. The ones in your memory. With those memories come ghosts…

Ghosts of those we've loved and lost. Ghosts of times and places that have vanished. Ghosts of who we once were.

We'd like you to tell us about your Ghosts of Christmas Past. Memories you'd like to share. Events that happened. Even a recipe or two, if you like.

A special note for our UK Researchers: the rest of the Researchers are well aware that you folks like to tell scary ghost stories at Christmas time. It's a Tradition. That's fine by us: make your ghost stories as scary as you like. We're 100% here for that.

The rest of us can share warm, poignant memories and tips for spicy eggnog. Whatever makes your holiday merry.

And if your winter holiday memories involved other holidays, ones perhaps lacking in candy canes and guys in red suits? We're 100% here for them, too! Tell, show, take us there in our minds, help us learn. The purpose of these exercises is to get to know each other better on this little planet, which can always use some cheering up.

Create Team