Secrets of the Winter Solstice: Haunts and Legends Across Canada
From Nova Scotia Wells of Wine to Nunavut Sea Monsters—The Stories That Shaped Our Midwinter
The Darkest Time of Year and Our Oldest Stories
All week we’ve been talking about stories related to the Winter Solstice.
While we’ve touched on some of the spooky folklore related to this event, we’ve tried to focus on the lighter side of this Northern Hemisphere annual occurrence. But today, we’re going to focus exclusively on the creepy folklore that persisted and persists when the dark takes over as much of our December days as possible.
Across Canada, people once explained this darkness through old beliefs and cautionary tales.
Many communities believed that, around the solstice, the barrier between our world and the spirit world grew thinner. This idea shaped how families acted at night, from staying indoors to sharing haunting legends near the hearth.
In the following sections, you’ll find examples of solstice customs and eerie folklore from each province and territory. Some tales warned people away from dangerous places or reminded them to be good hosts. Others linked the returning sun to rebirth and hope. Let’s explore how these stories kept Canadians company in the year’s darkest weeks.
Newfoundland and Labrador – Ol’ Smoker and Wine-Turned Water?
Ol’ Smoker (Labrador):
One of Labrador’s most famous ghosts is a dog team driver who appears before storms.
People call him Ol’ Smoker because he crackles a whip and calls warnings into the blowing snow.
Some have reportedly seen a white dog team glowing in the darkness.
Headless Ghost Dog of Elliston:
A story from Elliston claims a headless Newfoundland dog runs toward town each night.
Legend says it lost its head at sea—perhaps by shifting ice or a shipwreck.
Fairies and the Webber:
Traditional beliefs warn against wandering in the woods alone at night, when fairies or the half-human “Webber” might lead you astray.
Many of these tales served a practical function: keeping people indoors during brutal winter nights when frostbite and storms were real dangers.
Nova Scotia – Talking Oxen and Wells of Wine
Talking Oxen:
It was believed in Nova Scotia that on the longest nights of the year, oxen would speak at midnight.
Overhearing them was thought to bring misfortune, so people stayed safely inside.
Well Water Turning to Wine (Corkum’s Island):
A German-Canadian custom warned that on Christmas Eve, well water changed to wine after dark.
Some families tried to catch it, while others feared it, not wanting to risk venturing out in the cold or falling victim to illusions.
Helen Creighton’s book Bluenose Magic notes these stories, revealing how strongly people relied on folklore to explain winter’s dangers and wonders.
Prince Edward Island – Fairy Paths and Goblin Hollow
Fairies at Night:
PEI traditions described fairies as tricky beings who led travellers astray, not gentle helpers.
Locals spoke of them riding horses at night, tangling the manes and causing mischief at all times of year. The solstice just gave them more time to conduct their mischief.
Goblin Hollow:
The name “Goblin Hollow” is said to originate from a tragic murder that occurred in the area in the 19th century.
According to local lore, a young woman was attacked and killed in the hollow while travelling alone one evening.
Her cries for help were said to echo through the night, but by the time anyone arrived, it was too late.
Ever since, visitors have heard a woman crying and wailing near the hollow. Sudden silences and odd chills made folks wary of passing by on dark winter nights.
PEI’s dark winter nights set a perfect stage for spooky encounters.
New Brunswick – The Dungarvon Whooper and Other Dark Tales
Dungarvon Whooper (Miramichi):
One of New Brunswick’s best-known ghost stories.
A cook named Ryan died at a lumber camp and was found in the snow with his money belt missing.
Ever since his ghost’s whoops have been heard echoing in the woods.
An exorcism was even tried, but locals say the sounds continue.
Mysterious Stranger:
During Yule (December 13–25), people might hear strange knocking.
Tradition said to invite this invisible visitor in, ensuring your home stayed blessed during the darkest nights.
New Brunswick’s rich folklore also includes tales of headless women and singing spectres, emphasizing the importance of nighttime caution.
One such legend is that of the Headless Nun, associated with French Fort Cove in Miramichi.
According to the tale, Sister Marie Inconnue, an 18th-century nun, was beheaded by assailants after refusing to reveal the location of a hidden treasure.
Her head was never found, and her spirit is said to roam the area, searching for it.
From headless women to singing spectres, New Brunswick’s tales often emphasize how nighttime caution can keep you safe.
Quebec – Montreal’s Ice Castles and Mont-Mégantic Witches
Victorian Montreal Traditions:
Montreal, known for having over 450 documented ghost stories, has a strong custom of telling them around the solstice.
Back in the day, people often gathered, sipped mulled wine, and shared legends by firelight.
Ice Castle Hauntings (Dominion Square):
These grand structures were built over a cholera cemetery.
A guard named Ambrose claimed to see frozen corpses in the ice walls; he later died mysteriously after an explosion.
Locals said the disturbed dead did not want merrymaking above their graves.
Mont-Mégantic Shape-Shifter (Peggy Green):
A woman rumoured to turn into a hare.
When cows stopped giving milk, farmers blamed her curse.
A wall was built around her grave to end the trouble.
These stories reflect a belief that the solstice was the second most “haunted season,” after Halloween, with more mystical and otherworldly spirits at large.
Ontario – Hauntings in Lanark County and Perth
Lanark County Celtic Beliefs:
Irish settlers brought the idea that the solstice made the boundary between worlds thinner.
This explained odd sightings and urged caution on dark winter roads.
Haunted House of Perth (Victoria Hall):
People reported seeing a thin, sickly woman staring down at Drummond Street, and a white-haired judge pacing the halls.
Some said these ghosts were more active during the solstice, echoing a time of death and rebirth.
A common Ontario custom was to listen for strange knocks in storms and let the unseen presence in—lest you offend a spirit of the cold season.
Manitoba – Red River Ox Cart Ghost and Winter Spirits
Red River Ox Cart Ghost (Lower Fort Garry):
A soldier on guard saw a dark figure in the mist.
Some think it was a phantom ox cart driver from the old days of the fur trade.
Wandering Stranger and the Spirit of the Hearth:
Manitoba folklore included a spectral figure testing hospitality, along with a friendly spirit said to enter through the fireplace on solstice night, bringing warmth and blessings.
These traditions made the winter solstice the second most haunted time of year in Manitoba too, encouraging families to stay alert through the storms.
Saskatchewan – St. Louis Ghost Light and Ancient Medicine Wheels
St. Louis Ghost Light:
A tale of a decapitated railway engineer’s lantern.
People still spot mysterious lights on old tracks near St. Louis and the long nights of the solstice give him more time to haunt the locale.
Old Wives Legend:
According to oral histories from the Cree people, the story recounts an act of self-sacrifice by a group of elderly Cree women during a time of conflict with the Blackfoot nation.
The Cree tribe was camped near a body of water (now known as Old Wives Lake) when they learned of an imminent attack by Blackfoot warriors.
Knowing the tribe could not fight off the attackers and needed time to escape, the elders devised a plan.
A group of elderly women volunteered to stay behind, tending to the campfires and creating the illusion of an occupied campsite.
Their actions misled the Blackfoot into believing the Cree were still present, allowing the rest of the tribe—particularly the young, vulnerable, and those unable to fight—to retreat safely.
Tragically, the women were discovered by the Blackfoot warriors and were killed.
Solstice-Aligned Medicine Wheels (Southeast Saskatchewan):
In southeast Saskatchewan there exist ancient Indigenous ceremonial structures that carry profound cultural, spiritual, and astronomical significance.
These circular stone arrangements are thought to have been created by the Plains Indigenous peoples, including the Blackfoot, Cree, and other nations, thousands of years ago
Medicine wheels are circular stone formations with a central cairn (pile of stones) and radiating spokes, often aligning with celestial events like solstices or equinoxes.
They serve multiple purposes, including ceremonial use, spiritual guidance, healing practices, and astronomical observations.
In this region, specific medicine wheels are positioned so that the stones align precisely with the sunrise on the winter solstice (December 21) and the summer solstice (June 21).
On the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, the alignment marks the rebirth of the sun—a time of spiritual renewal and gratitude.
The winter solstice, in particular, symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, light’s return, and the renewal of the natural world.
For many Indigenous communities, this time of year is seen as a time for reflection, connection to ancestors, and preparation for the future.
The locations of these monuments remain protected out of respect.
These stories blend history and the sense that the solstice opened a door to the spirit world.
Alberta – Hoodoo Giants and Ghost Town Shadows
Hoodoo Legends (Drumheller):
The Drumheller Hoodoos, located in the Badlands of Alberta, are striking natural formations that have captivated visitors and Indigenous communities for generations.
These towering stone pillars, shaped by millennia of erosion, are steeped in Blackfoot and Cree folklore that brings them to life as more than just geological wonders.
Blackfoot and Cree tales claim that these stone pillars are actually petrified giants.
These giants were said to be cursed for their misdeeds, turned to stone as punishment by a powerful spirit or force.
At night, the giants throw stones at trespassers, defending their territory.
Bankhead Ghost Town (near Banff):
Once home to 1,500 people, it was abandoned after the mines closed.
Visitors speak of eerie feelings and phantom footsteps in the ruined streets.
The long dark of the solstice season makes these experiences extra chilling.
In the long December darkness, these stories served as warnings that prevented people from wandering near hoodoos or deserted towns where the unpredictable awaited.
British Columbia – The Ghostrider and Coastal Hauntings
Ghostrider of Fernie (Mt. Hosmer):
The Ghostrider of Fernie is one of British Columbia’s most intriguing natural phenomena, occurring on Mt. Hosmer, a prominent mountain near the town of Fernie.
At sunset, under specific lighting conditions, the shadow of a figure on horseback seems to appear on the mountain face, creating a striking visual that has inspired countless local legends.
A shadowy figure at sunset suggests a horse and rider on the mountain face.
Local legends grew around it, though historians say many tales were invented later, not from original Indigenous lore.
According to local lore, the Ghostrider image stems from a cursed betrayal in Fernie’s past.
One version of the tale involves a young woman who fell in love with a prospector.
Her father, angered by her defiance, banished the prospector and placed a curse on him.
The figure of the rider is said to be the prospector, forever riding away from Fernie.
Another version involves a more vengeful curse by the Ktunaxa (Kootenai) people, who were angered by broken promises from early settlers.
However, there is no direct evidence to suggest that the Ktunaxa originally told this story.
While not directly tied to the winter solstice, the Ghostrider’s connection to light, shadow, and natural cycles echoes themes of light overcoming darkness, a central aspect of solstice celebrations.
Vancouver Island Mysteries:
Sightings include a woman who walks on water in Port Alberni, calling for her baby, and the Beban House Ghost in Nanaimo.
There’s also Dzunukwa, an Indigenous spirit said to snatch wanderers in the forest at night.
BC’s winter solstice nights add an extra chill to these stories, giving people further reason to stick to safe paths.
Yukon – Mysterious Lights and Footsteps in the Dark
Winter Solstice Extremes:
In Yukon, sunrise can be as late as 10 AM, leaving many hours of night for eerie events.
Mysterious Lights Beyond the Aurora:
Some workers at remote sites mention seeing glowing orbs that move differently than the Northern Lights.
Dark Woods Walker:
People have heard branches snap and footsteps come closer with no one in sight.
Even seasoned trappers get goosebumps when this happens during the dark solstice season.
Famous buildings like the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City also have ghostly tales tied to these long, cold nights.
Northwest Territories – The Mackenzie River Ghost and Old Fur Trade Legends
Mackenzie River Ghost (1853):
Fur trader Augustus Richard Peers died at 33, and his dogsled funeral trek was rumoured to spark supernatural tales along the snowy route taken that winter.
Rabbitskin River Echoes:
Phantom muzzleloader shots heard in the distance suggest old battles replaying themselves.
Dene, Métis, and Inuit communities share stories of shape-shifters or spirit beings more active when nights dominate.
Local TV shows like “Paranorthern Encounters” highlight these legends, noting that the solstice is prime time for paranormal experiences.
Nunavut – Qallupilluit and Polar Darkness
Sun-Set Season (Igloolik):
The sun disappears by mid-November, not returning for weeks.
Men would hunt by starlight, and children played near the glow of the Qulliq (oil lamp).
Qallupilluit:
Ocean-dwelling creatures in eider feather coats, known to tap under the ice, snatching lone hunters.
Mangittatuarjuk:
An underground being with steel-like organs.
It leaves trails of stones to trick children into following it.
Amautalik:
A fearsome old woman who carries a pack of rotting seaweed, capturing careless children.
Elders insist these beings are real threats in the Arctic’s extreme environment, where the line between natural hazards and the supernatural can feel razor-thin.
Finding Meaning in the Longest Nights
Through these solstice stories—ranging from German customs in Nova Scotia to a shape-shifter near Mont-Mégantic, or from Nunavut’s Qallupilluit to BC’s Ghostrider—Canadians have always sought to explain and respect the power of winter darkness.
Some beliefs warned people against venturing out, others reminded them to be kind to strangers, and still others marked the turning point when the sun would begin its slow return.
As December 21 arrives, consider how these tales shaped the old ways of staying safe, building community, and keeping wonder alive during the darkest time of year.
Whether you sit by the fire telling ghost stories or simply take note of how short the daylight is, you join a long tradition of Canadians who find both caution and comfort in the shadows of the winter solstice.
Share Your Scary Solstice Stories
Alright, now it’s your turn. If you’ve been chomping at the bit for a chance to share your scary solstice stories, today’s the day to bring your stories to light. Take a sec. to type a comment and share your stories. The spookier the better! I look forward to reading them all. I just might have to leave the lights on while reading them.
And then, have a rad rest of your day.
Sources used to research this story
https://waysofwoodfolk.ca/2019/12/22/winter-solstice-in-the-east-of-canada/
https://www.360kids.ca/edi-learning-together/winter-solstice-appreciating-rich-traditions/
https://www.rockytales.com/posts/ghost-stories-from-the-canadian-rockies-alberta
https://www.helencreighton.org/bluenose-ghosts/
https://fammed.mcmaster.ca/the-winter-solstice-a-celebration-of-cultures-and-histories/
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/winter-solstice-indigenous-traditions-1.7065452