Father Christmas in Chesterton’s Shop of Ghosts, by Sean Fitzpatrick

Without presuming to speak for the human race, but claiming what authority membership bestows, let it be said that there is no time when people are more susceptible to otherworldly interactions than at Christmas time. Marking the greatest spiritual advent in history, the aura and traditions of Christmas have been alive with ghosts ever since—making Mr. Chesterton’s “The Shop of Ghosts” most welcome as a warm yet shivering parable about Christmas spirits.

By contrast to the other seasons, Christmas is the most merrily haunted season, and it is in this contrast that Christmas must be appreciated. Appreciation for anything is best acquired through appreciable experience of its opposite. …

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