The Holly and the Ivy, and the less palatable

Many of Borlase's Christmas ghost stories were developed from kernels of historical events or folkloric tradition. One that might not have had a specific precedent, but a more general one was "A Bride From the Dead: A Tale of a Dreadful Christmas Wedding" (1899).



Here's perhaps the kind of thing:

THE "FATAL CHRISTMAS DINNER."
—
INQUEST.
An inquiry has been opened at Beakley Farm, Brokenborough, about one mile from Mamesbury, before Mr. Waltmarsh, touching the death of Mrs. Lloyd, wife of Mr. Robert Lloyd, of the above farm who died in Christmas Day from the effects of eating aconite in mistake for horseradish as already reported.
Mary Lloyd deposed: The deceased was my stepmother. On Christmas Day about noon my stepmother requested me to get some horseradish and prepare it for dinner. I went into the garden to the place where I had twice before procured some; once on the Sunday before Christmas Day, and once a few days before that. On these occasions no one suffered any ill effects from eating the roots. I did not know when getting the roots that it was not all horseradish. Father, the deceased, and myself were all taken ill about half an-hour after dinner. We dined about 12 30, on roast beef, of which my stepmother partook heartily. She also ate pretty freely of what we supposed to be horseradish. About half-past one the deceased felt very giddy and laid down on the bed, thinking she would soon be better. In about ten minutes she was very sick and vomited very much. She soon became insensible, and remained so until her death, which took place about 2.30. Dr. Kinneir was sent for, but being from home Dr. Fitz came, about three quarters of an hour after the deceased had expired. We learnt from him what it was we had eaten, the roots of the aconite. Those and the horseradish were growing together, but I cannot say how they came there. Myself and father were both very ill from the same cause.
Mr. Kinnier, L.E.C.P., deposed: On Christmas Day I was sent to attend Mrs. Lloyd I was out when the messenger came. I arrived about 6 p.m., and found that Mrs. Lloyd had been dead a considerable time. I examined the body. There were no marks on it, but I noticed a peculiar pallid appearance of the face and body, and there was no stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, indicating special action of monkshood or aconite, which it appears she had eaten for dinner in mistake for horseradish. Mr. and Miss Lloyd had eaten of the same, and both suffered from the poisonous effects, which were counteracted by the medical treatment. It is my opinion that the deceased met with her death from accidentally eating monkshood or aconite.
The jury were unanimous in returning a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.
South Wales Daily Telegram. December 30, 1879: col 3.