Goth Christmas Ideas: How to Make the Holidays Dark and Cozy

Who says the holidays have to be all candy canes and sparkly white snowmen? A goth Christmas is just as cozy, with more candlelight, more velvet and a lot more ghost stories. Here's how to give the season a dark twist, from your tree to your movie list to the gifts you give your spooky friends.

A little dark holiday history

Christmas has always had a spooky side. A few traditions goths love:

• Victorian ghost stories. Telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve was a big tradition in Victorian England. Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol (1843) is the most famous example, with not one but four ghosts.
• A Ghost Story for Christmas. The BBC started airing short, creepy ghost films at Christmas in 1971, many based on stories by M. R. James. Some have been revived over the years.
• Krampus. In Alpine folklore, this horned creature punishes naughty kids while Saint Nicholas rewards the nice ones. Krampusnacht, on December 5, is celebrated in parts of Austria, Germany and nearby countries with parades of people in elaborate costumes.
• The Mari Lwyd. A Welsh midwinter tradition where a horse skull on a pole, decorated with ribbons, is carried door to door with songs.
• Yule and the winter solstice. The longest night of the year, around December 21, is celebrated by many pagans and witchy goths with candles, evergreens and feasts.

So really, a goth Christmas is a return to tradition.

Goth Christmas tree ideas

The tree is the centerpiece. Here's how to darken it up.

The tree

• A black artificial tree is the classic choice.
• A dark green tree with black and silver ornaments works too.
• A white tree with black decorations looks very striking.
• A branch tree, like bare branches in a vase, looks spooky and elegant.

Ornaments

• Bats, skulls, ravens, moths and spiders
• Deep red, purple or black glass balls
• Crescent moons and stars
• Tiny coffins or candles
• Ornaments of your favorite horror characters
• Victorian-style lace or velvet ornaments

Toppers

Skip the angel. Try a crescent moon, a black star, a raven, a bat with spread wings or a skull wearing a tiny Santa hat.

Pick a color scheme

Choose two or three colors and stick to them: black and silver, black and deep red, black and gold, or purple and black. It looks way more put-together than mixing everything.

Decor beyond the tree

• Wreaths made from black or dried roses, dark berries and eucalyptus
• Black garland with fairy lights over a doorway or bed frame
• Candles, lots of them, in candelabras and lanterns
• Velvet stockings in black or burgundy
• A creepy little Christmas village with a haunted house, a cemetery and a church
• Dark table settings with black plates, red napkins and pinecones painted silver

Most of this works all year. Our guide to goth home decor has more ideas.

Spooky Christmas movies

Movie nights are a huge part of the season. Some favorites with a dark side:

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Halloween meets Christmas. The ultimate goth holiday movie.
2. Edward Scissorhands (1990). A Tim Burton fairy tale set around Christmas, with that famous ice-sculpture snow scene.
3. Gremlins (1984). A cute pet, three rules and total holiday chaos.
4. Batman Returns (1992). Tim Burton's snowy, gothic Gotham at Christmastime.
5. Black Christmas (1974). An early slasher set in a sorority house over the holidays.
6. Krampus (2015). A family gets a visit from the horned Christmas demon.
7. Rare Exports (2010). A Finnish dark fairy tale about the real, very scary Santa.
8. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017). A Scottish zombie Christmas musical. Yes, really.

Find more on our list of the best goth movies.

Goth Christmas gift ideas

Shopping for your spooky friends or partner? Some ideas they'll actually love:

• Vinyl from their favorite band, or a classic goth album they don't own yet
• Candles with dark, smoky scents
• Tarot decks with gothic art
• Silver jewelry, like rings, chokers or crescent moon necklaces
• A velvet throw blanket
• Gothic novels like Frankenstein, Dracula, Rebecca or The Haunting of Hill House
• A plant like a black ZZ plant or a fern in a black pot
• Tickets to a show or a goth club night
• Makeup: a good black eyeliner, dark lipstick or a fun palette
• Handmade gifts like a mixtape, a playlist or a custom drawing

On a tight budget? Our goth on a budget guide has thrifting tips that work for gift shopping too.

Dark holiday baking

Food is a big part of the season, and it's easy to give it a goth twist:

• Gingerbread skeletons instead of gingerbread people
• Black cocoa cookies with white icing spiderwebs
• A dark chocolate yule log with meringue mushrooms
• Red velvet cupcakes with black frosting
• Cranberry and blackberry pie with a lattice top

Holiday outfits

The holidays are a great excuse to dress up.

• A black velvet dress or suit with silver jewelry
• A Christmas sweater in black and red, maybe with a skull or bat pattern
• Burgundy lipstick and a little glitter
• Fishnets under a plaid skirt with a festive red ribbon
• Platform boots with a fuzzy black scarf

Celebrating with friends

Not everyone spends the holidays with family, and not everyone wants to. A "Creepmas" party with friends can be one of the best nights of the year:

• A dark gift swap with a horror theme
• A ghost story reading by candlelight, like the Victorians did
• A spooky movie marathon
• A potluck with black and red food
• Karaoke with goth versions of holiday songs

And if you're around on the holidays and want company, Alt Chat has always-open chat rooms, so there's someone to talk to even late on Christmas night.

Make the season yours

A goth Christmas can be as dramatic or as low-key as you like. Maybe it's a full black tree with 300 bat ornaments. Maybe it's a single candle, a cup of tea and The Nightmare Before Christmas on repeat. Either way, the darkest time of year is pretty cozy when you do it your way. For more seasonal fun, check out our goth Halloween ideas, since some of those decorations can stay up straight through December.

FAQ

Do goths celebrate Christmas?

Lots of goths celebrate Christmas, often with a dark twist like a black tree, spooky movies and Victorian decor. Some prefer Yule or the winter solstice, and some just enjoy the cozy season without the holiday side.

What is Creepmas?

Creepmas is a fun, unofficial name for celebrating Christmas in a spooky way, mixing holiday traditions with horror and goth style. Think Krampus, ghost stories, skull ornaments and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

How do I make a goth Christmas tree?

Start with a black or dark green tree and pick two or three colors, like black, silver and deep red. Add bat, skull, moth or raven ornaments, dark velvet ribbon and warm lights, and top it with a crescent moon or a black star.

Who is Krampus?

Krampus is a horned figure from Alpine folklore who, in the old stories, punishes badly behaved children while Saint Nicholas rewards the good ones. He's traditionally celebrated on Krampusnacht, the night of December 5, with parades of people in elaborate Krampus costumes.