12 great holiday gifts for fans of the paranormal

• The Apparition
• ParaNorman
• Men In Black 3
• Iron Sky
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Blu-ray debut)
• Prometheus

There is no shortage of paranormal-themed TV shows to watch these days. In fact it's hard to find a show that doesn't have some supernatural element. Chances are, favorite shows are available in season boxed sets and make great gifts for fans who can't get enough of them. There's:

• Best of Celebrity Ghost Stories
• Fringe (Season 4)
• Walking Dead (Season 2)
• The Vampire Diaries (Season 3)
• Supernatural (Season 7)
• Ghost Hunters (Season 7)
• True Blood (Season 4)

... just to name a few.

One of the best ways to get good information from top-notch researchers is in book form. (Yes, they still make books out of paper.) There many excellent paranormal-themed books out there that make great presents. Here are some new books I can recommend:

• American Vampires by Dr. Bob Curran
• How To Hunt Ghosts: A Practical Guide by Joshua P. Warren
• This Book Is From the Future by Marie D. Jones and Larry Flaxman
• Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places, 2nd Edition by Brad Steiger
• Unexplained! 3rd Edition by Jerome Clark
• A Natural History of Ghosts by Roger Clarke
• The Dead Roam the Earth: True Stories of the Paranormal from Around the World by Alasdair Wickham

Anybody can come up with a candle in the shape of a human skull, but it takes an extra-twisted mind to create one that bleeds. As this candle burns, blood in the form of red wax drips and runs out of the skull's eye sockets. Thoughtfully, the manufacturers suggest that you place the skull on a heat-resistant plate before you light it up so the "blood" doesn't leak all over your end table, mantel, coffin, or wherever you're going to place it. 4" x 3.5" x 4.5"; $12.99.

You no doubt had an Operation game when you were a kid: the electronic game in which you have to very carefully remove parts (like the "funny bone" from your patient; if you fail you get a reprimand in the form of a loud buzzer). Now, for a new generation, the game has a new version based on Tim Burton's popular movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas. This time, Ooogie Boogie is the patient, and your job as the surgeon is to remove "crawling flesh," "spider veins," "snake eyes" and more. $21.40

Are sweet, chirping little birdies more likely to flock to your yard if you offer them nice seeds from the rotting corpse of a decaying zombie? Hey, who knows. This bird feeder features nails on which hungry birds can perch as they gorge on lunch, a hanging loop at the back of the zombie's neck, plenty of gory details, and a tough urethane resin finish. They say you can even use it as a Christmas ornament. Why didn't I think of that? $24.95

Hey, guys -- Don't know what to get your girlfriend or wife for Christmas? Here's a hint: they like jewelry. And what says "Merry Christmas" and "I love you" better than a brooch in the shape of a skeleton's hand? The one shown here is made with crystal clear diamante stones, but it's also available with black, green, purple, or red stones. She'll thank you forever... or at least until she opens the box of chocolates you also bought her. $18.71

Hey, gals -- Don't know what to get your boyfriend or husband for Christmas? Here's a hint: they like nudity and zombies. And what says "Merry Christmas" and "I love you" better than a Zombie Pin Up Tee Shirt? The shirt comes in "funeral black" or "white wedding" and features this cute vintage pinup zombie who is so innocent, yet so deadly. He'll thank you forever... or at least until he opens the big bag of beef jerky you also bought him. $20

I'll bet you know at least one ghost hunter... and you might be one yourself. And every ghost hunter has a wish list of desired equipment for their investigations. The GhostHunter Store has a full line of gadgets and supplies, including EMF detectors, thermometers, motion sensors, EVP equipment, thermal imaging, night vision equipment, equipment cases, and ghost hunting starter kits. Newer items include a Rag Doll KII Meter Trigger Object, a SkullCam Full Spectrum Head Mount Video POV camera, a Yes / No Spirit Communication Trigger Prop, and The Ovilus X experimental ITC device. You'll also find books, DVDs, software, and other items.

Okay, this one's a little pricey, but it's for people who are obsessed with haunted houses, monsters, and Legos. (And who isn't?) It features: two glow-in-the-dark ghosts, a vampyre, a vampyre bride, zombie chef, and butler; a "crooked" design featuring boarded-up windows and working front gate; a detailed interior with three floors; and stickers for wall hangings, spider webs, and curtains. About $299 (told you it was pricey). But there are other less expensive kits in the Lego Monster Fighters series.

CafePress offers a wide assortment of imprinted gifts for the paranormal geek, including clocks (Jersey Devil wall clock pictured), phone cases, T-shirts, sweat shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, mugs, journals, magnets, calendars, license plate frames, hats, mouse pads, key chains, greeting cards, decals, tote bags, ghost hunting journals, and more. They have a wide selection of available designs, logos and sayings, or you can even design your own for a customized, personalized gift.

You have to wrap all those paranormal gifts in something, right? Well, these retailers have just what you need -- holiday wrapping paper with paranormal themes, including:

• From Archie McPhee: Santa Monsters, featuring werewolf, vampire, mummy, and Frankenstein Santas, and Krampus
• From ThinkGeek: Zombie wrapping paper
• From Spoonflower: Zombie Christmas