Midwinter. The shortest day, the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. It is a time of darkness, but also of hope and celebration. For this Midwinter special we’ve gathered stories to help us through the darkest months: ancient legends that may still be re-enacted, accounts from a frozen past, tales of ghosts and revenants and witches and warlocks, stories that bring chills into our living rooms. In this issue, sinister rituals unfold during the longest nights of the year, spirits drift through the icy landscapes of the Arctic, and churches are never safe havens. Gather around the fire. Let’s gaze at the shadows lurking beyond the Christmas lights. Featuring words by Katy Soar, Jackie Bates, John Callow, Verity Holloway, John Reppion, Shane McCorristine, Roger Clarke, and Elizabeth Dearnley. Artwork by Blood and Dust, Eli John, and Nathaniel Winter-Hébert. Edited by Maria J. Pérez Cuervo.