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Goth Christmas

An almanac for a softer, spookier December

Goth Christmas decor, gifts and folklore, from creepmas to Yule

Black trees and bat ornaments, Krampus figures, licensed Nightmare Before Christmas pieces and gifts for friends who like their holidays a little dark, plus the dates of the dark season from Krampusnacht to Yule.

35 guides4 chaptersBy the Goth Christmas editorial team

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Start hereAll guides

A tall dark Christmas tree hung with black, silver and gold ornaments and warm lights, beside a mantel with three unlit taper candles
A lilac crackle-finish ornament hanging on a dark Christmas tree
Plate I. A dark tree in black, silver and gold.

The chapters

A black Christmas tree with silver ornaments beside a black armchairI. Trees and toppers
A black glitter ornament and a glossy black ornament hanging side by sideII. Ornaments
Foil-wrapped chocolate figures of St. Nicholas and a red Krampus on mossIII. Krampus and creepmas
Two black gift boxes tied with wide white satin ribbonIV. Gifts and wearables
A felt black cat and a felt ghost ornament among small glitter batsCreepmas trees
White and orange ornaments on a black Christmas treeHalloween Town decor

The dark season

  1. Creepmas, All October

    Halloween decor that stays up into December: one black tree, the orange swapped for silver and pastels.

    Halloween Christmas Trees Black Christmas Trees

  2. Krampusnacht, December 5

    The eve of St. Nicholas Day, when Alpine towns hold Krampus runs. Figures, ornaments and a little folklore.

    Krampus Decorations Goth Christmas Sweaters

  3. Yule, December 21, 2026

    The winter solstice and the longest night of the year: candles, dark greenery and small gifts.

    Goth Gifts for Christmas How to Decorate a Goth Christmas Tree

  4. Christmas Day, December 25

    Stockings on the mantel, a black wreath on the door and a few licensed ornaments from Halloween Town.

    Black Christmas Stockings, Wreaths and Garland for a Goth Home Nightmare Before Christmas Decorations

Folklore

A hand-carved and painted wooden Krampus mask with long goat horns and dark fur

Krampus, with sources

Krampus is the horned companion of St. Nicholas in Alpine folklore, and he arrives on the evening of December 5. Carved Alpine masks like this one can look fierce; the figures and ornaments we pick take the gentler, storybook line. The Krampus guide explains who he is and how to choose figures that suit a family tree.

Who Krampus isKrampus and creepmasEditorial policy

Before you buy

  1. Glass up high. The CPSC advises against breakable decorations around small children, so hang glass on the upper branches and shatterproof or velvet lower down.
  2. Match the hook to the weight. Heavy figural glass needs a sturdy hook and a strong branch; felt and plastic hang from almost anything.
  3. Look for the copyright line. Licensed character pieces carry the studio's copyright line on the piece, box or tag, plus a named maker. "Custom" or "inspired" listings are usually fan-made.
  4. Read the labels. CPSC advises a "fire resistant" label on artificial trees and lights tested by a nationally recognized lab. For a porch wreath or garland, pick a set rated for outdoor use.

Bats, black cats and crescent moons for the tree

Shop bat, skull and raven ornaments

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Gifts by personality

A taper candle in a brass chamberstick with three cards laid out on a wooden tableThe witchy friendA tarot-deck box, moon-phase decor and a sturdy candle holder.
A heap of old figural glass Christmas ornaments with worn silveringThe horror film fanLicensed Gremlins and Beetlejuice ornaments, box included.
Red taper candles in a silver candelabra against a dark green paneled wallThe Victorian gothA coffin-shaped jewelry box or a heavy candelabra.
A stack of folded knit sweaters with a Fair Isle-style knit in the middleThe sweater wearerBats, black cats or a plain black knit with one detail.

Also in the goth gifts guide: a goth teen's first Christmas with their own style, the creepmas host, Secret Santa at work and stocking stuffers.

Styling

A ribbed plum glass ornament with glitter stripes beside a gold ball on a Christmas tree

Dress the tree in layers

Black branches swallow light, so a goth tree is built in order: lights deep inside, then garland, the big ornaments, the small ones and a topper. One accent color, such as plum, silver or lilac, keeps it from reading as a flat silhouette.

The step-by-step methodBlack ornamentsBlack trees

Krampus figures and ornaments

Shop krampus figures and ornaments

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Contents

Trees and toppers

  1. Goth Christmas Decor: Black Trees, Dark Ornaments and Krampus

    Overview, 7 min

  2. Black Christmas Trees: Sizes, Shapes, Pre-Lit and Feather Options

    Guide, 4 min

  3. Black Feather Christmas Trees: History, Sizes and How to Dress One

    Guide, 5 min

  4. Purple Christmas Lights: Mini, C9 and Fairy Lights for a Goth Tree

    Guide, 3 min

  5. Small Black Christmas Trees: Tabletop, Mini and Pre-Lit Picks

    Guide, 4 min

  6. Velvet Christmas Stockings: Black, Burgundy and Emerald Picks

    Guide, 3 min

  7. Nightmare Before Christmas Stockings: Licensed Styles and Hanging

    Guide, 3 min

  8. Black Christmas Tree Color Schemes: Gold, Silver, Pink or White?

    Compare, 4 min

  9. How to Decorate a Victorian Christmas Tree With a Gothic Edge

    Guide, 4 min

  10. Purple Christmas Trees: Is Purple Goth, and How to Decorate One

    Answer, 4 min

  11. Upside-Down Christmas Trees: Why Hang One, and Where to Find Black

    Answer, 4 min

  12. Black Wire Christmas Lights: Why They Suit a Black Tree

    Answer, 4 min

  13. Black and Gothic Tree Toppers: What Suits a Goth Christmas Tree

    Buying guide, 5 min

  14. Nightmare Before Christmas Tree Ideas: Build a Jack Skellington Tree

    Guide, 5 min

  15. Black Christmas Stockings, Wreaths and Garland for a Goth Home

    Buying guide, 4 min

  16. How to Decorate a Goth Christmas Tree: Colors, Layers and Lights

    Answer, 4 min

Ornaments

  1. Victorian Christmas Ornaments: Dresden, Kugels, Scrap and Glass

    Guide, 4 min

  2. Witch Christmas Ornaments: Hats, Brooms, Cats and La Befana

    Guide, 4 min

  3. Bat Christmas Ornaments: Glass, Felt and Cute Goth Picks

    Guide, 4 min

  4. Black Cat Christmas Ornaments: Glass, Felt and Where to Find Them

    Answer, 4 min

  5. Skull Christmas Ornaments That Look Good, Not Cheap

    Buying guide, 4 min

  6. Black Christmas Ornaments: Glass, Velvet, Skull and Bat Designs

    Buying guide, 5 min

  7. Horror Movie Christmas Ornaments: Gremlins, Beetlejuice and More

    Buying guide, 5 min

  8. Nightmare Before Christmas Decorations: Ornaments, Trees and Toppers

    Buying guide, 5 min

Krampus and creepmas

  1. Krampus Decorations: Figures, Ornaments and Who Krampus Is

    Guide, 4 min

  2. Krampus Masks: Carved Tradition and How to Choose One

    Guide, 4 min

  3. Spooky Christmas Villages: Haunted Houses and Creepmas Scenes

    Guide, 4 min

  4. Yule Decorations: Candles, Logs and Greenery for a Dark Solstice

    Guide, 4 min

  5. Halloween Christmas Trees: Creepmas Decor From October to December

    Guide, 4 min

Gifts and wearables

  1. Goth Christmas Cards: Krampus, Victorian and Creepmas by Recipient

    Guide, 4 min

  2. Goth Christmas Shirts: Krampus, Horror and Creepmas Tees

    Guide, 4 min

  3. Yule Gifts: Solstice Presents for Witchy and Pagan Friends

    Guide, 4 min

  4. Nightmare Before Christmas Figures: NECA, Diamond Select and More

    Buying guide, 4 min

  5. Goth Christmas Sweaters: Krampus, Bat, Skull and Black Knit Designs

    Buying guide, 5 min

  6. Goth Gifts for Christmas: Presents by Personality and Moment

    Buying guide, 4 min

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