It was a Victorian tradition to tell ghost stories at family get-togethers on Christmas Eve.  You see a lot of this in the works of Dickens, particularly in The Pickwick Papers and of course A Christmas Carol was about ghosts and spirits.

I agree, Matthew and Mary have always been able to banter and joke with each other, so the rather off-hand nature of the proposal was more in keeping with their relationship than some solemn declaration of undying love.  Matthew acted as though he knew that the only obstacle still standing between them was his…

I thought the "Ohhh shit" moment came earlier, in the graveyard scene where Mary spelled it out that they wouldn't be spending any more time together … even though he was still in denial for a while longer.

Thank you for summing up so well why I like Mary.  I couldn't have said it better.

Yes, the Christmas special next week will be the finale to season 2.  In Britain, season 2 ended sometime in the fall of 2011 with the second half of tonight's episode, and then the Christmas special aired on, wait for it, Christmas day.  But we'll see it next week.

I believe it's recently been revealed that Walter Pidgeon was, as Mrs. Patmore would say, not a ladies' man, so wise choice on Greer's part. 

Yes, people in the UK noticed the similarity as soon as the episode aired and Julian Fellowes was a bit thin-skinned about it.