The big day is here, and so is our final episode of 2024. As we so do every year, we'll take a look back at all the news, trends, sights, and sounds that made this Christmas what it was. We'll also hear some Christmas memories from the Christmas Past family. Thank you for another wonderful season. I'll see you next year. Merry Christmas! Music in this episode " Jazz Podcast Night Relaxing Vibes " — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay " Wish Background " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech " Calm Piano Music ...
Dec 25, 2024•25 min
The small, unassuming wren may be nothing much to look at, but wait till it starts singing. Its loud, complex songs, and its tendency to sing them throughout winter, has earned it the title of “King of Birds.” But on December 26, the king is dead. Wren Day is a traditional hunting of the wren, followed by celebrations that include disguise, door-to-door visiting and parading, and song. It’s certainly one of our most strange and mysterious Christmas customs, a mixture of Celtic mythology, old Chr...
Dec 23, 2024•12 min
One by one, over a series of nights during Christmastime in Iceland, the Yule Lads come down from a mountain, making mischief, rewarding good behavior and punishing bad. These lovable scamps are unique melding of folkloric traditions, and a reminder that Christmas once was — and still can be — haunted and scary. Terry Gunnell, professor emeritus of folkloristics at the University of Iceland, joins Brian to tell the story. Thanks also to Baldur Gylfa for appearing in this episode! Music in this e...
Dec 20, 2024•12 min
Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"), went from folk tale to fairy tale, from beloved symbol of Christmas to exile, and then back to beloved symbol, all in surprisingly short order. It’s a story of ups and downs, set against the backdrop of a violent social and political revolution, and which resulted in a strange stint as the “Soviet Santa Claus.” Karen Petrone, University of Kentucky history professor and author of Life Has Become More Joyous, Comrades , joins Brian to tell the story. Clara in Aust...
Dec 18, 2024•13 min
Once again it’s time for one of my favorite traditions here on Christmas Past: dedicating an entire episode to you and your Christmas memories! I love these little glimpses into other people’s lives, families, memories, and all the different ways that Christmas can be celebrated and loved and made special and personal. So, get cozy. You’re invited to another Christmas Past family gathering, and trip down memory lane. Music in this episode " Cozy Jazz Podcast Music with Christmas Bells " — Denis ...
Dec 17, 2024•16 min
For a long time, ivy conjured images of all things pagan, superstitious, gluttonous, debauched, and morbid. For those reasons, it would be forbidden from churches and Christian homes. Today, it's a classic symbol of Christmas. Sue Hunter joins Brian to tell this uniquely Christmassy turnaround story. Thank you to composer Sarah Cattley for permission to share the beautiful rendition of " Ivy, Chief of Trees it Is ," performed by the Granta Chorale and conducted by Janet Wheeler. Music in this ep...
Dec 16, 2024•11 min
Forty years ago, audiences got into the Christmas spirit by watching a little green creature get killed in a blender. Gremlins was more than a movie that combined horror, comedy, gory violence, and Christmas. It was a massive a pop culture phenomenon, and one of the last movies of its kind to be rated PG. Alonso Duralde, film critic, podcaster, and author of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas and Hollywood Pride joins Brian to discuss this iconic 80's hit. Music in this episode " Granite Fac...
Dec 13, 2024•12 min
If Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus, and we celebrate it on December 25, then Jesus must have been born on that day, right? Not so fast! We actually have no good idea when Jesus was born. And besides, the observance of his birth on December 25 is a 4th century contrivance. But why December 25 of all days? In today's episode, professor and author Michael Foley joins Brian to make sense of it all. Get a copy of Dr. Foley's book, Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe . Music in this episode " St...
Dec 11, 2024•14 min
Who doesn't love a parade? The very idea of a procession, usually involving costumes and music, is at least 4,000 years old. But grand parades to kick off the Christmas season are much newer. The kind we're most familiar with nowadays developed when large retail chains held parades to stimulate shopping and define a new, earlier start to the Christmas season. All that capitalism sounds very American, but — surprise! — Canada beat us to it! In today's episode, Clayton Charters, president and CEO ...
Dec 09, 2024•11 min
The three kings. The wise men. The magi. They're the supporting cast in many a Nativity scene...the subject of several postage stamps and greeting cards...the subject of that classic Christmas song. Who were they? Where were they from? Why did they traverse afar following yonder star? What was with the gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Were they even real? And does it matter? Today, professor and author Eric Vanden Eykel joins Brian to tell the story of these mysterious figures. Check out Eric Vand...
Dec 06, 2024•14 min
The creative team of Rankin and Bass have produced some of the most enduring, nostalgia-producing Christmas specials in television history. Historian and biographer Rick Goldschmidt joins Brian to tell the story of how an art director and an ad jingle writer became "the kings of Christmas." Links More info about Rankin/Bass and Rick Goldschmidt Rick's books about Rankin/Bass Music in this episode " Kettled " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive " Soft Piano " — Anastasia Kir, via Pixabay ...
Dec 04, 2024•11 min
The more than 75-year success story of Toys for Tots may seem like a fairly simple story: the Marine Corp reserve starts up a holiday charity for needy kids. But there’s more to it than that. From humble, almost accidental beginnings in 1947, the program was able to grow through a unique mix of show business connections, celebrity endorsements, political influence, post World War II America, and...Walt Disney. Music in this episode " Lullaby " — Maarten Schellekens, via Free Music Archive "Toys ...
Dec 02, 2024•11 min
A lot of people complain that Christmas comes earlier every year. But, is that really true? Extended holiday shopping seasons have been the norm for well over a century. And besides, there's one big (and spooooky ) reason that Christmas can only come so early. Marketing professor Darrin Duber-Smith joins Brian to discuss the phenomenon of "Christmas creep." Music in this episode " Silent Movie (Old Record Version) " — Anastasia Kir, via Pixabay " Deck the Hall Jazz " — Anastasia Kir, via Pixabay...
Nov 28, 2024•11 min
Danny Pellegrino is a bestselling author, actor, and screenwriter. His latest book, The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories , is a nostalgic trip through his most festive memories in a collection of stories that are heartfelt, hilarious, and — for better or worse — true. I caught up with Danny earlier this year to talk about the book, Christmas, family, and more. Music in this episode " Christmas Jazzy Bells " — BFMC Music, via Pixabay Connect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky ...
Nov 21, 2024•18 min
Actor John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones) joins Brian to discuss Scrooge, A Christmas Carol. Rhys-Davies plays Dickens's narrator in this four-part audio drama podcast, set for re-release on November 22. Music in this episode " O Holy Night " — Calvin Clavier, via Pixabay Connect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website Book Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a grea...
Nov 14, 2024•14 min
We're in the early Christmas preseason. It's the perfect time to discover some new Christmas music before the radio stations start overplaying the standard set of classics. In this episode, we've got some new-to-you Christmas songs from independent artists you may not have otherwise discovered on your favorite station or streaming service. Music in this episode " Cozy Jazz Podcast Music with Christmas Bells " — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay " Christmas Cheer " — Robert Lawlor "Vermont Christmas" — T...
Nov 07, 2024•35 min
Happy Halloween, everybody! And more than that: welcome to another season of Christmas Past. Yes, it’s still Halloween. But that's the perfect time to kick things off, because it gives us a chance to honor the classic Christmas tradition of sharing a ghost story. Our Victorian forebears really loved their ghost stories — for all occasions, but perhaps especially for Christmas. Many magazines of the era published ghost stories specifically for the Christmas season. The stories didn’t necessarily ...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min
It's our eighth consecutive Christmas together. As we close out the 2023 season, we're taking a look back at the news and trends that made this Christmas what it was. Thank you all for another wonderful Christmas season together. Merry Christmas! And until we meet again, may your days be merry and bright. Music in this Episode " Deck the Halls A " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Connect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website Book...
Dec 25, 2023•9 min
Here in America, the day after Christmas is simply that: the day after. The party's over. But in England, it's an official holiday. December 26 — Boxing Day — is the Christmas afterparty you've been missing out on. What's the story? And what does it have to do with boxing? Paul Kerensa joins Christmas Past to...unpack the box. Mentioned in this Episode Paul Kerensa Hark! The Biography of Christmas , by Paul Kerensa Music in this Episode " Good King Wenceslas " — U.S. Army Band, via Wikimedia Com...
Dec 22, 2023•12 min
Christmas Day is less than a week from now. In this final stretch of the 2023 season, let's have another gathering of the Christmas Past family. Yes, it’s time once again for an episode dedicated just to you and your Christmas memories. Cozy up by the fire with us for a little Christmas reminiscing. Music in this Episode " A Very Brady Special " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Connect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website Book C...
Dec 20, 2023•10 min
For many families, the Christmas Eve feast is a so-called "meatless meal." It's a tradition of European Christian roots that has gone on to take many forms. Mentioned in this episode Plating Grace Music in this Episode " Italian Trip " — wildsound159, via Pixabay "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist " First Snow " — Scott Buckley, via ScottBuckley.com.au " Silent Night " — DJ Williams, via Youtube Audio Library " Mortality " — Podington Bear, via Free Music A...
Dec 18, 2023•13 min
Old Fezziwig sure knew how to throw an office Christmas party. Dickens's description of Christmas Eve in Fezziwig's counting house included vigorous fiddling and elaborate dancing. That style of dance may belong to a bygone time, but it lives on in the annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair. In this special episode, Cathleen Myers joins Christmas Past to explain how Victorians danced their way to Christmas. Mentioned in this Episode The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Period Events and Entertainments ...
Dec 17, 2023•7 min
In the late nineteenth century modern postal systems were still coming into their own. Around the turn of the century, many countries, including England, began issuing Christmas themed postage stamps. You might think that America would have been among them, but boy would you be wrong. In fact, America was one of the last countries to get on board. American Christmas stamps are only a few decades old. And the story there has to do with simple economics and America’s system of government. Mentione...
Dec 15, 2023•15 min
The Brady Bunch is an iconic American sitcom that ran for five seasons. But it produced only one Christmas episode during its original run. "The Voice of Christmas" from season 1 finds Carol with laryngitis days before she's scheduled to sing a solo for her church's Christmas service. The one and only Christopher Knight joins Brian to break this episode down. Mentioned in this Episode The Real Brady Bros Music in this Episode " A Very Brady Special " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech " Brady Bunc...
Dec 13, 2023•17 min
For a bread that’s short, its history is long. Exactly how long, and the particulars of how it all came about, though, are unclear. But one this is clear: shortbread is an essential — and delicious — part of the festive season. Mentioned in this Episode Tasting History Youtube Channel Tasting History , book by Max Miller Music in this Episode " Hush Ye, My Bairnie " — Trygve Larsen, Pixabay " Drops of Melting Snow (after Holst, Abroad as I was walking) " — Axletree, via Free Music Archive " Soft...
Dec 11, 2023•12 min
One of my favorite parts of creating Christmas Past is sharing your Christmas memories. I love the warm connections I’ve had with so many of you over the years, and the glimpses you provide into your Christmases Past. So, today, I’m excited to take a break from the normal action and bring to you an episode dedicated just to you and your Christmas memories. Music in this Episode Piano Music No. 5 — RelaxingTime, via Pixabay Connect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email:...
Dec 10, 2023•13 min
Colorful, glossy, enticing. For generations of children, the annual department store Christmas catalog was a field guide, a treasure map, and the fuel for hearts desires and letters to Santa. And then, one day, they were gone. Mentioned in this Episode Wish Book Web Music in this Episode " Jingle Bells Relax Piano " — Oleg Kirilkov, via Pixabay " Merry Christmas Everyone Piano " — 23117649, via Pixabay " Christmas is for Kids " — Juan Sanchez, via Pixabay " Wish Background " — Kevin MacLeod, via...
Dec 08, 2023•13 min
Stollen is a Christmas staple in German homes. This cake/bread hybrid is packed with flavor and shaped to resemble a swaddled baby. Food writer Luisa Weiss joins Christmas Past to explain stollen's special connection to German Christmas and German baking culture. Mentioned in this Episode Luisa Weiss Classic German Baking , by Luisa Weiss Music in this Episode " Winter Fairy Dance - Orchestral with Bells and Choir " — Paul Winter, via Pixabay " Wonderful Christmas Time [Classic Version] " — Fran...
Dec 06, 2023•12 min
The mostly warm, fuzzy, cozy, sanitized Christmas is mainly a product of 19th and 20th century American influence. In earlier times, Christmas had a spooky side — one example of which is the Welsh tradition of the ghostly gray mare: the Mari Lwyd. Mentioned in this Episode Jeff Belanger The Fright Before Christmas by Jeff Belanger Music in this Episode " John Barleycorn " — Julius H., via Pixabay " Dread Lake " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive " Mile Marker 323 " — Blue Dot Sessions, ...
Dec 04, 2023•12 min
By the turn of the 20th century, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in America by far. In 1907, when a tuberculosis treatment clinic was in financial straits, Emily Bissell created Christmas Seals as a fundraiser. It was as novel as it was effective. More than a century later, Christmas Seals are still one of the prominent sights of the season. Mentioned in this Episode American Lung Association Music in this Episode " Autumn Leaves " — Maarten Schellekens, via Free Music Archive " Pian...
Dec 01, 2023•13 min
