The unknown presence is a really scary element. For example, in stories where there are strange noises or movements around the tree but no visible cause. It's the not - knowing what could be there that sends shivers down your spine.
One horror story could be when a family brought a real Christmas tree home, and later they found out it was infested with spiders. As they were decorating the tree, spiders started crawling out all over the place. It was a nightmare for those who are arachnophobic.
The distortion of Christmas symbols is often a really scary element. For example, a possessed Santa Claus or an evil Christmas elf. It takes the things that are usually associated with joy and turns them into sources of fear.
Another scary part is the use of familiar Christmas items in a menacing way. Such as a gingerbread man coming to life and not in a friendly way like in the normal stories, but rather as a vengeful little creature that causes chaos in the house. The juxtaposition of the sweet and innocent image of Christmas with horror is really frightening.
The physical transformation is the scariest. Going from a normal human to a tree - like creature is just so abnormal and disturbing.
In Llama Arts' Christmas horror stories, the scariest elements are the unexpected twists on the familiar Christmas tropes. Take the evil Santa Claus for instance. Santa is supposed to be a symbol of giving and kindness, but when he's turned into an entity that hands out cursed presents, it completely flips the perception. Additionally, the sense of isolation in the stories, like the family trapped with the haunted Christmas tree or the carolers in the haunted mansion, adds to the horror. It gives a feeling of being alone in the face of the unknown and the malevolent during a time that's supposed to be about togetherness.
The scariest aspect is his connection to the forest. He represents the unknown and the power of nature. In horror stories, the forest is already a spooky place, and the birch tree man is like the embodiment of all the fears associated with the forest. He can use the forest to his advantage, disappearing into it and then reappearing at will. He is also associated with the death of the birch trees, which gives him a sense of vengeance. If someone has done something to the birch trees, like cutting them down, he will come for that person, and there is no escaping his wrath.
The scariest element is Krampus' appearance. His half - goat, half - demon look with horns and hooves is really frightening. Also, the idea that he comes to punish naughty children is scary for kids. It's a very different take from the jolly Santa Claus.
The isolation. The Joshua tree areas can be very remote, and in stories, this isolation often makes the characters feel alone and vulnerable, like there's no one to help them if something goes wrong.
The scariest one I've heard was about a Dollar Tree that was said to be haunted. People reported seeing an old woman in a long, tattered dress wandering the aisles late at night. She would disappear when approached. Employees were too scared to work alone after closing time.
The unknown is the scariest. In 'as is horror stories', things are often left in their natural state, so you don't really know what's lurking in the shadows or what's causing those strange noises. It's that sense of not having all the answers that makes it terrifying.