Happy Leon Day, everyone! We're at the exact halfway point to Christmas. Christmas in July is just days away, and so is the start of the 2nd Annual Christmas Past summer cookie swap . I hope you're feeling as festive as I am! Leon Day is the unofficial start of the Christmas crafting season, so I asked crafter Juliette Williams to join me to discuss the magic of a handcrafted Christmas. For more info Leon Day's backstory, check out my episode from 2019 . Mentioned in this episode Juliette Pecaut...
Jun 25, 2020•9 min
I'm back with another installment of story time. Here's a great one for the whole family: "Lill's Travels in Santa Claus Land," a story from 1878. And though she isn't mentioned by name, it's one of the first times that a Mrs Santa Claus shows up in print! Enjoy the story, and stay safe! Music in this episode “ Relaxing Piano Music ” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "Checkmate" — Nathan Moore, via YouTube Audio Library Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twi...
Jun 10, 2020•18 min
Welcome to another game where you need to spot the lie! This time, I'm joined by Todd from Christmas Clatter, Carrie from Christmas Book Review, and Chris from Yuletide TV. Oh, and after more than 100 episodes, this is the last time you'll hear me sign off from "sunny San Mateo, California." Christmas Past is moving to new headquarters, so stay subscribed to hear where. (Spoiler: it's not the North Pole.) Stay safe and healthy, everyone! Mentioned in this episode Craig Kringle's Twitter feed Mrs...
May 20, 2020•1 hr 2 min
It's another installment of Christmas in Quarantine! I hope you're staying safe and healthy and keeping your spirits up. Today's episode is another edition of story time. This one's on the sad side, but it is a classic story from Dostoevsky. Enjoy! Music in this episode “ A Little Powder ” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “ Relaxing Piano Music ” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram Connect Faceboo...
May 06, 2020•12 min
It's another installment of Christmas in Quarantine! Today we're getting bookish with Carrie Mercer, host of Christmas Book Review . Join us for a literary celebration of the season, and discover some new stories to add to your reading list. And listen for details, because Carrie is giving away a copy of Jon Clinch's new novel, Marley! Music in this episode " Harp Lullaby " — Sound Phenomenon, via SoundCloud Books mentioned in this episode Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra Marley's Ghost by Mark Osm...
Apr 23, 2020•40 min
It's Christmas Past's 100th episode! Join me and some special guests for a look back at how Christmas Past came to be and where it's going. Thank you so much for being part of the Christmas Past family and coming along for the ride! Music in this episode " Turning " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive " Night Light " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive " Stille Nacht " — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist " It Came Upon the Midnight Clear " — Don Maue, shared directly by the...
Apr 15, 2020•17 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 22. Today's installment is the second half of yesterday's classic Christmas story. It's Miss Mant.'s 1832 "Christmas, A Happy Time: A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons." Christmas Past's 100th episode is coming soon. I'd love for you to be on it. Record a voice memo into your phone -- anything at all you'd like to share with the Christmas Past family -- and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com . Stay subscribed for daily episode...
Apr 09, 2020•23 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 21. Today's installment is the start of another classic Christmas story. It's Miss Mant.'s 1832 "Christmas, A Happy Time: A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons." Christmas Past's 100th episode is coming soon. I'd love for you to be on it. Record a voice memo into your phone -- anything at all you'd like to share with the Christmas Past family -- and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com . Stay subscribed for daily episodes. Music i...
Apr 08, 2020•20 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 20. Today's installment is another game of separating fact from fiction. It's two truths and a lie! Join me, along with Julia from Tis the Podcast , Duane from Tinsel Tunes , and Craig from Weird Christmas as we trade some festive fibs. Play along with us! Christmas Past's 100th episode is coming soon. I'd love for you to be on it. Record a voice memo into your phone -- anything at all you'd like to share with the Christmas Past family -- and send it to christmaspast...
Apr 07, 2020•55 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 19. Today's installment is another moonwalk down memory lane to the world of 1980s Christmas cartoon specials. It's 1985's He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special...which is arguably neither special nor Christmassy. It's all in the eye of the beholder. So join me and my fellow beholders, Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House and Tim Babb from Can't Wait for Christmas. Links from this episode Advent Calendar House Can't Wait for Christmas He-Man & She-Ra: A Ch...
Apr 06, 2020•43 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 18. Today's installment is another story, this time a contemporary one. Our friend Sarah Tipper has given us another story from her collection, Tales to Take You to Christmas . Stay subscribed for daily episodes! Music in this episode " Cottonwoods " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “ Relaxing Piano Music ” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram Connect Facebook page Face...
Apr 05, 2020•14 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 17. Today's installment is another trip back to the golden age of radio. On December 25, 1938, the world heard for the first time Norman Corwin's radio play told in rhyming verse: The Plot to Overthrow Christmas. It's another Christmas classic just waiting to be rediscovered by a modern audience. Hope you enjoy! And stay subscribed for daily episodes. Music in this episode “ Golden Hour ” — Podington Bear, via Free Music Archive Connect Facebook page Facebook group I...
Apr 04, 2020•32 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 16: Today, we're heading back to the 80s, when all you needed for a cartoon Christmas special was a bestselling toy and a flimsy storyline. Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls tells the story of a group of Wacky Wall Walkers who come to earth from a distant planet to discover the true meaning of Christmas. I'm joined by Chris and Kris from Christmas Time in the City and Mike from Snow in Southtown for this very 80s episode. Links from this episode Deck the Halls with Wac...
Apr 03, 2020•43 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 15. We pick up where we left off yesterday, with the second half of Charles Dickens's story. Stay subscribed for new episode EVERY DAY! Music in this episode " LaBranche " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “ Relaxing Piano Music ” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech 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 Tradition...
Apr 02, 2020•15 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 14. Today's installment is another classic Christmas story, by special request. This story from Charles Dickens's appears in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. It's "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton." I'm breaking it up into two parts: part 1 today; part 2 tomorrow. Stay safe and healthy, and stay subscribed for a new episode EVERY DAY! Music in this episode " Up Up and Over " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “ Relaxing Piano Music ” — ...
Apr 01, 2020•15 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 13. Today's installment is a devious twist on Christmas trivia. We're playing a game of Two Truths and a Lie. Join me and Todd Killian from Christmas Clatter, and Gerry Davila from the forthcoming podcast, Totally Rad Christmas, as we challenge each other to separate fact from fiction! Christmas in Quarantine is Christmas Past's impromptu miniseries of indeterminate length. Stay subscribed for one new episode each day until things settle down on the COVID-19 crisis. ...
Mar 31, 2020•54 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 12. Today's installment is an interview with author Jon Clinch. His 2019 novel, Marley is a prequel to A Christmas Carol and the untold story of Scrooge's mysterious business partner. It's a moody, noirish return to the world of Dickens in a story of double dealings, false identities, debauchery, and even worse! I recently caught up with Jon Clinch from his home in Vermont. Stay subscribed for daily episodes. Music in this episode " Snowflake " — Borrtex, via Free Mu...
Mar 30, 2020•29 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 11. Today's installment is a playlist of new Christmas music from independent artists! Discover some new festive faves to set the mood! Stay subscribed for a new episode every day for the foreseeable future! Music in this episode " Losers on a Christmas Eve " — Greg Atkinson, via Free Music Archive " Believe in me this Christmas " — Will Heikoop, via Free Music Archive " Song for a Winter's Night " — The Nancies, via Free Music Archive " I'm not drinking for Christma...
Mar 28, 2020•18 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 10. Today's installment is another classic Christmas story for the whole family. As requested by a member of the Facebook group, Brian is reading "Christmas Every Day," the 1892 short story by William Dean Howells. Stay subscribed for a new episode every day for the foreseeable future! Music in this episode “ Turning ” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “ Relaxing Piano Music ” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Rate the show on Apple Podcasts and I'll send yo...
Mar 28, 2020•14 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 9. Today's installment is a trip back to when the crooners crooned and the eggnog was always spiked. Join me and my guests Todd Killian from Christmas Clatter and Jenna Knorr from Welcome to Tinsel Town as we discuss the 1968 variety special, The Dean Martin Christmas Show . Stay subscribed, because there will be a new episode of Christmas Past every day until we're all in the clear! Music in this Episode " The Holly and the Ivy " — Richard M S Irwin, via Hymns Witho...
Mar 27, 2020•51 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 8. Today's installment is a challenging game of Christmas trivia! Join me along with Lee Cameron of The Christmas Stocking, Tim Babb from Can't Wait for Christmas, Thom Crowe from Tis the Podcast, and Joanna Wilson from Christmas TV history as we put your Christmas spirit to the test. Stay subscribed, because there will be a new episode of Christmas Past every day until we're all in the clear! Music in this Episode " Thannoid " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Arc...
Mar 26, 2020•20 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 7. Today's installment takes us back to the days when radio reigned supreme. It's a Christmassy adventure from the man with the action-packed expense account: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. This story, The Carmen Kringle Matter, first aired on December 22, 1957. Stay subscribed, because there will be a new episode of Christmas Past every day until we're all in the clear! Music in this Episode “ We Wish you a Merry Christmas ” — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist Ra...
Mar 25, 2020•23 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 6. Today's installment features the fifth and final of Washington Irving's pieces from his "Old Christmas" collection. Stay subscribed, because there will be a new episode of Christmas Past every day until we're all in the clear! Music in this Episode “ The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan ” — Chris Zabriskie, via Free Music Archive " Relaxing Piano Music " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Rate the show on Apple Podcasts and I'll send you a sticker t...
Mar 24, 2020•29 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 5. Today's installment features the fourth of Washington Irving's five pieces from his "Old Christmas" collection. Stay subscribed, because there will be a new episode of Christmas Past every day until we're all in the clear! Music in this Episode “ Early Morning Snow ”— Chuck Brown, via Feels Like Christmas " Relaxing Piano Music " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Rate the show on Apple Podcasts and I'll send you a sticker to show my thanks! Connect Facebook page Fa...
Mar 23, 2020•29 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 4. Today's installment features the third of Washington Irving's five pieces from his "Old Christmas" collection. Stay subscribed, because there will be a new episode of Christmas Past every day until we're all in the clear! Music in this Episode “ Night Light ”— Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive " Relaxing Piano Music " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Rate the show on Apple Podcasts and I'll send you a sticker to show my thanks! Connect Facebook page Facebo...
Mar 22, 2020•25 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 3. Today's installment of picks up where yesterday's episode left off, with the second of Washington Irving's five pieces from his "Old Christmas" collection. Stay subscribed, because there will be a new episode of Christmas Past every day until we're all in the clear! Music in this Episode “ Comfort and Joy ”— Philip Wesley, via Feels Like Christmas " Relaxing Piano Music " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Rate the show on Apple Podcasts and I'll send you a sticker ...
Mar 21, 2020•18 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 2. Today's installment marks the first of a five part series where I read each of the five story/essays from Washington Irving's "Old Christmas from the Sketchbook of Washington Irving." The first piece, "Christmas" is a love letter to the season and the Christmas spirit. Mentioned in this Episode https://nypost.com/2020/03/18/people-are-putting-up-christmas-lights-during-coronavirus-pandemic/ https://www.etonline.com/hallmark-channel-schedules-christmas-movie-marath...
Mar 20, 2020•16 min
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 1. Everyone is housebound amid the COVID-19 crisis, and lots of us are putting up our Christmas decorations again to cope! Today I'm introducing "Christmas in Quarantine," an impromptu miniseries of indeterminate length. I'll release one new episode every day until the crisis subsides. Today, I bring you Frank L. Baum's 1904 classic, "A Kidnapped Santa Claus." Mentioned in this Episode https://nypost.com/2020/03/18/people-are-putting-up-christmas-lights-during-corona...
Mar 19, 2020•27 min
Happy Valentine's Day, sugarplums! There's nothing like a love story to keep the Christmas spirit alive. For this installment of Story Time, I've chosen "As the Automobile Ran Down," a 1901 short story by Charles Loomis. Link from this episode Survey: American's genuinely more excited about Valentine's Day than Christmas Music in this Episode " Gaena " — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive " Relaxing Piano Music " — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Rate the show on Apple Podcasts and I'll se...
Feb 15, 2020•27 min
Pack an umbrella and a jumper, because the next stop for Christmas Around the World is the UK. This month, Chantelle and her guest Nadine give us the history and traditions that make a British Christmas...British! Stay subscribed to Christmas Past, for episodes all throughout the year. And if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts, I'll send you a sticker to say thanks. Contact me for details at christmaspast.media/contact. Links from this episode November 1st: The Start of the Christmas Season. P...
Feb 03, 2020•15 min
