Hundreds of People Have Reported Seeing Santa — Here's What They Might Actually Be Encountering episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 11, 2025 · 51 MIN

Hundreds of People Have Reported Seeing Santa — Here's What They Might Actually Be Encountering

from Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories · host Darren Marlar | Weird Darkness | Full-Time Voice Actor

#HolidayHorrors | Hundreds of people have reported encounters with what looks exactly like Santa Claus — and they weren't children dreaming on Christmas Eve. If the real Santa doesn't exist, what are these witnesses actually seeing... and why does it want to be seen?IN THIS EPISODE: Many of us are familiar with the flip side of Father Christmas – the darker entity who visits and kidnaps bad children, Krampus. But when it comes to true fear, even Krampus would run in terror at the sight of Iceland’s Gryla, the Christmas Witch! With roots dating back to the 13th century, Gryla is not to be messed with! (Iceland’s Christmas Witch) *** It was Christmastime, 1938, and 19-year-old Margaret Martin had just graduated from Wilkes-Barre Business College with honors and was eager to secure a secretarial job. Her eagerness would lead to her disappearance. (The Murder of Margaret Martin) *** Ask anyone over the age of twelve what they think about the existence of Santa Claus and you’ll most assuredly get the same answer. But that has not stopped people of all ages reporting sightings of the jolly old elf, and some of the stories are downright creepy. (People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus) *** Two murders committed in the same house during the holidays of 1928 appear to have resulted in the spirits of Christmas past haunting the place today. (The Hundley Murders)TIME STAMPS & CHAPTERS:00:00:00.000 = They Swear They Saw Santa00:01:22.035 = Show Open00:03:20.486 = The Hundley Murders00:18:08.033 = *** People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus00:38:56.938 = *** Iceland’s Christmas Witch00:45:55.352 = The Murder of Margaret Martin00:49:25.321 = Show CloseSOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Strange World of True Kris Kringle Sightings” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8kfyka“Iceland’s Christmas Witch” by Alex Palmer for Smithsonian Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57ntaeeu“The Murder of Margaret Martin” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/7e6xxvph“The Hundley Murders” by Troy Taylor for his book “Bloody Illinois”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3yb3fd2p(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46=WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: December 08, 2021#WeirdDarkness #SantaSightings #ParanormalChristmas #ChristmasMysteries #SupernaturalEncounters #TricksterSpirits #UnexplainedPhenomena #GhostStories #ChristmasParanormal #TrueParanormalStorieshttps://weirddarkness.com/RealKrisKringleSightings

#HolidayHorrors | Hundreds of people have reported encounters with what looks exactly like Santa Claus — and they weren't children dreaming on Christmas Eve. If the real Santa doesn't exist, what are these witnesses actually seeing... and why does it want to be seen?IN THIS EPISODE: Many of us are familiar with the flip side of Father Christmas – the darker entity who visits and kidnaps bad children, Krampus. But when it comes to true fear, even Krampus would run in terror at the sight of Iceland’s Gryla, the Christmas Witch! With roots dating back to the 13th century, Gryla is not to be messed with! (Iceland’s Christmas Witch) *** It was Christmastime, 1938, and 19-year-old Margaret Martin had just graduated from Wilkes-Barre Business College with honors and was eager to secure a secretarial job. Her eagerness would lead to her disappearance. (The Murder of Margaret Martin) *** Ask anyone over the age of twelve what they think about the existence of Santa Claus and you’ll most assuredly get the same answer. But that has not stopped people of all ages reporting sightings of the jolly old elf, and some of the stories are downright creepy. (People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus) *** Two murders committed in the same house during the holidays of 1928 appear to have resulted in the spirits of Christmas past haunting the place today. (The Hundley Murders)TIME STAMPS & CHAPTERS:00:00:00.000 = They Swear They Saw Santa00:01:22.035 = Show Open00:03:20.486 = The Hundley Murders00:18:08.033 = *** People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus00:38:56.938 = *** Iceland’s Christmas Witch00:45:55.352 = The Murder of Margaret Martin00:49:25.321 = Show CloseSOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Strange World of True Kris Kringle Sightings” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8kfyka“Iceland’s Christmas Witch” by Alex Palmer for Smithsonian Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57ntaeeu“The Murder of Margaret Martin” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/7e6xxvph“The Hundley Murders” by Troy Taylor for his book “Bloody Illinois”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3yb3fd2p(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46=WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: December 08, 2021#WeirdDarkness #SantaSightings #ParanormalChristmas #ChristmasMysteries #SupernaturalEncounters #TricksterSpirits #UnexplainedPhenomena #GhostStories #ChristmasParanormal #TrueParanormalStorieshttps://weirddarkness.com/RealKrisKringleSightings

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Hundreds of People Have Reported Seeing Santa — Here's What They Might Actually Be Encountering

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This episode is 51 minutes long.

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This episode was published on December 11, 2025.

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#HolidayHorrors | Hundreds of people have reported encounters with what looks exactly like Santa Claus — and they weren't children dreaming on Christmas Eve. If the real Santa doesn't exist, what are these witnesses actually seeing... and why does...

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