Christmas Past

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"Ambi...

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 PixabayConnect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Blue...

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 PixabayConnect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website BookChristmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a...

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" — The Pr...

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 necessari...

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 IncompetechConnect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website Bo...

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 EpisodePaul KerensaHark! The Biography of Christmas, by Paul KerensaMusic in this Episode"Good King Wenceslas" — U.S. Army Band, via Wikimedia C...

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 Websi...

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 episodePlating GraceMusic 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 ArchiveConnect...

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 Entertainme...

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.M...

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 EpisodeThe Real Brady BrosMusic in this Episode"A Very Brady Special" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Brady Bunch Ima...

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 EpisodeTasting History Youtube ChannelTasting History, book by Max MillerMusic 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 Pia...

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 PixabayConnect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Ema...

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 EpisodeWish Book WebMusic 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 Inco...

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 EpisodeLuisa WeissClassic German Baking, by Luisa WeissMusic in this Episode"Winter Fairy Dance - Orchestral with Bells and Choir" — Paul Winter, via Pixabay"Wonderful Christmas Time [Classic Version]" — Frank Schroe...

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 EpisodeJeff BelangerThe Fright Before Christmas by Jeff BelangerMusic in this Episode"John Barleycorn" — Julius H., via Pixabay"Dread Lake" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Mile Marker 323" — Blue Dot Sessions, via ...

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 EpisodeAmerican Lung AssociationMusic in this Episode"Autumn Leaves" — Maarten Schellekens, via Free Music Archive"Pia...

These days, the Christmas season is the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Way back when, it was the period beginning on Christmas Day, and included 12 days of merrymaking and mischief. The Twelve Days of Christmas aren't really part of our modern Christmas celebration — except for the song lyrics and the odd reference here and there. What are the twelve days of Christmas? And what happened to them? Are we missing out on anything by forgetting them? Well, if feasting, cross d...

The earliest myths involving elves portrayed them as mischievous or even malicious creatures that posed dangers to humans and animals. So, how do we get from there to jolly little Christmas elves? It’s a story that takes us from ancient Ancient Europe to the current day — one that involves mythology, modern American influence, the power of poetry and literature, possibly the rise of industrialization, and definitely...sticking it to the Nazis.Mentioned in this EpisodeChristmas in the Crosshai...

Decorative nutcrackers — most often resembling a toy soldier, but available in countless other characters — are synonymous with the Christmas season. Why? It’s a story whose origins predate Christmas itself. And whose history involves a mining town, Napoleon, dance theater, and World War two. So...let’s get crackin’!Mentioned in this Episodehttp://www.nutcrackermuseum.com/ Music in this Episode"Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" — Kevin MacLeod, via Wikimedia Commons"March from the Nutcrack...

Connect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website BookChristmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Available in hardcover and audiobook. Find it wherever books are sold, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman was a prolific author in the 19th century. Her Christmas stories showed up every year in newspapers and magazines. Professor Thomas Ruys Smith recently published a new collection of Freeman's Christmas stories. Professor Smith joins me today to discuss Freeman, and then Brian narrates "Harriet Anne's Christmas" from the collection.Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins FreemanMusic in this Episode"Family Holiday" — Aleksey Chis...

As we ease our way into another Christmas season, we're practicing thta somewhat forgotten tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas time! In 1883, Temple Bar magazine published a story by a writer and physician named Arthur Conan Doyle. Nowadays, we refer to him as sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and we know him best as the creator of that most famous of detectives: Sherlock Holmes. But this 1883 story isn’t about Sherlock. It’s about a ship trapped in arctic ice and the strange things the cap...

Join Christmas Past one last time in the 2022 season. It's our annual look back at the sights, sounds, news, and trends that made Christmas of 2022 what it was. Merry Christmas to all, and many thanks for being part of the 2022 season of Christmas Past. Music in This Episode "This Christmas" — Hot Music, via Pixabay "Deck the Halls A" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "Silent Night" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Buy the Ch...

They're the spiced cookie with the funny sounding (to American ears) name. Pfeffernusse — or, "pepper nuts" in English — contain neither pepper nor nuts. And for centuries, the original recipe has been a closely guarded secret. Baker and podcaster Glen Warren joins me in this episode. Mentioned in This EpisodeSeasons Eatings PodcastMusic in This Episode"The Poplar Grove" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Midvinter" — Scott Buckley, via scottbuckley.com.au"Felix Mendelssohn: Son...

Those decorative tins filled with three kinds of popcorn have been a Christmas staple for decades. But...why? In this episode, we find out — by asking the guy responsible for the whole thing!Music in This Episode"Blue Latex" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" — Ahmadmusic, via Pixabay"Sticktop" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Jul" — Scott Buckley, via scottbuckley.com.au"Tiled Chamber" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Jingle Bells" ...

It's fluffy, sweet, and studded with raisins and candied fruit peel. It's the Italian Christmas cake known as Panettone. Get ready to talk with your hands, along with me and Max Miller of Tasting History as we dig in. Mentioned in This EpisodeTasting HistoryMusic in This Episode"Bushwick Tarantella" — Kevin MacLeod, via Youtube Audio Library"Saloon Piano - Ragtime Retro Vintage Jazz Comedy Music" — FreeGroove, via Pixabay"We Three Kings" — James Edwards, via Magnatune Compilation"PianoCe...

Cozy up with the Christmas Past family for some reminiscing! It's one of our favorite annual traditions...where I turn things over to you and let you guide my sleigh tonight on a trip down memory lane! Music in this episode "Instrument 12092021" — orangiromusik, via Pixabay "This Christmas" — Hot Music, via Pixabay Buy the Christmas Past Book! Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift! Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million IndieBound Share a Christmas memory B...

Most of the classic American Christmas songs come from the 1940s. What was it about that decade that accounts for an explosion of Christmas music that's stood the test of time? What is it about those songs that sounds so Christmassy? And why are Christmas classics so few and far between in recent generations? Join me and Berklee College of Music professor Chris North to dive in! Music in This Episode"Sleigh Ride" — Marcus Staab, via Musopen"Home for the Holidays" — Track Tribe, via Youtu...

Strictly speaking, a Christmas carol is a song that tells the Nativity story. That's what made Edmund Sears's song, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" so unusual when he wrote it. It didn't tell the story of Jesus's birth; it told the story of how people reacted to the news. This "humanist carol" arrived at a time when music itself was in the midst of some major changes. Music in This Episode"Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9 no. 2" — Aya Higuchi, via Musopen"It Came Upon a Midnight C...

They're the festive party favors containing a paper crown, a trinket, and a joke — and wrapped in a package that goes "bang" when you open it! Christmas Crackers are an invention of the Victorian age. And more specifically, one confectioner named Tom Smith. Smith single handedly created a tradition that has endured for generations. Mentioned in This EpisodePeter Kimpton's WebsiteTom Smith's Christmas Crackers — Book by Peter KimptonMusic in This Episode"The Kishner Method" — Blue Dot Ses...

"Father Christmas"...that's what they call Santa Claus in England, right? Well, sort of, but there's more to it than that. Join me and guest professor Gerry Bowler to look into the origins of this often misunderstood Christmas character. Music in This Episode"A Peaceful Winter" — Scott Holmes, via Free Music Archive"Sentimental Light Hopeful Tender Piano" — Ashot-Danielyan-Composer, via Pixabay"Classical Piano And Cello" — Ashot-Danielyan-Composer, via Pixabay"Romanesca" — Cheryl Ann Ful...

It's the theater experience that's as rollicking and raucous as it is festive! And it's also mostly unknown to American audiences. Join Brian in this episode to hear all about the British tradition of Pantomime.Mentioned in This Episodehttp://www.evolution-productions.co.uk/https://www.vam.ac.uk/Music in This Episode"Vaquero Perdido" — The Mini Vandals, via Youtube Audio Library"Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Dona Norem" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Ar...

Since the early 1930s, Rockefeller Center has been home to an enormous Christmas tree, elaborately decorated and introduced each season with great fanfare and spectacle. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has become America's Christmas tree. Christine Roussel, the official Archivist of Rockefeller Center, joins Brian to tell the tale of this iconic institution. Music in This Episode"The Broker" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Angels We Have Heard on High - Hark The Herald ...

They were a symbol of the Space Age and then, quickly, they were a relic of the past. Aluminum Christmas trees burst onto the Christmas scene in the late 1950s and reached peak popularity during the 60s. And then...they were gone. But a new generation is discovering the kitschy, retro charm of this uniquely American invention. Mentioned in This Episode The Evergleam Book, by Theron Georges Theron Georges's Aluminum Christmas Tree displaysMusic in This Episode"Dunder" — Blue Dot...

It's the universal symbol of the Christmas season: a tree (typically a fir) adorned with ornaments and lights. But...what does any of that have to do with Christmas? The Christmas tree has a long history. But only fairly recently has it become especially common in homes at Christmas time. Music in this episode"Eternal Hope" — Kevin MacLeod, via Youtube Audio Library"O Christmas Tree - Ernst Anshutz Christmas Piano Music" — Lesfm, via Pixabay"March" — Kai Engel, via Free Music Archive"Amb...

We're officially kicking off the 2022 season of Christmas Past with a Thanksgiving family gathering, a return to a beloved Bay Area tradition, and a visit to the Cratchit family in London. Cozy up by the fire and welcome the festive season with the entire Christmas Past family. Many thanks to Denise Lamott, Therese Porter, Kevin Patterson, and everyone at The Great Dickens Christmas Fair for making this episode possible. Music in this episode "The Winter Fall by PrabajithK" — Mild Relaxation,...

Yes, we return to our traditional favorite songs each year. But there's nothing like discovering a new favorite! If you believe that too, then you're in for a treat! Here are seven Christmas songs from independent musicians to make your days a little merrier and brighter sounding. Music in this Episode "Dreaming 'Bout Christmas" — Frank and Friends "Lonely December" — Lunar Spirit "Ugly Sweater Time" — The Sweaterettes "Christmas Lights Through Car Windows" — Amanda Fagan "Christ...

It's an annual tradition on Christmas Past: The game of Christmas trivia where you have to spot the lie! Join Todd Killian from Christmas Clatter and I as we quiz listeners Ashley and Laura about Christmas in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Play along and put your Christmas spirit and lie detection skills to the test! Music in This Episode "This Christmas" — Hot Music, via Pixabay "Turning" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Buy the Christmas Past Book! Order your copy today. A...

Those of a certain age remember those classic C7 incandescent Christmas bulbs and the soft glow they produced. Sure, LEDs are longer lasting and more energy efficient, but they're just not the same. Michigan artist David Andora is the founder of Tru-Tone, a maker of LED lights that are indistinguishable from the real thing. I recently spoke with David about the company's unlikely origins, its recent viral success, and a certain music star who was blamed for cleaning out their inventory. ...

Happy Halloween, sugarplums! What better way to get into the spooky Christmas spirit than discussing Christmas monsters? Better yet, I'm doing it with a monster expert! Emily Zarka ("Dr. Z") is a professor of English Literature, and the host of the acclaimed PBS series, Monstrum and Exhumed. Join me (if you daaaaare) for an informative discussion about Krampus and the Yule Cat.Mentioned in This EpisodeMonstrum: https://www.pbs.org/show/monstrum/Exhumed: https://www.pbs.org/video/exhumed-a-his...

In today's story, our hero finds himself stranded on Christmas Eve, alone in an abandoned ship. But is he really alone? It's "Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk," published by Biblioasis, and illustrated by the acclaimed cartoonist, Seth. Mentioned in This Episodehttp://biblioasis.com/product-category/fiction/seths-christmas-ghost-stories/Music in This Episode"This Christmas" — Hot Music, via Pixabay"ghost" — nojisuma, via Pixabay"Elf Meditation" — Kevin MacLeod, via IncompetechBuy the Chri...

Time for another ghost story! This one is more sentimental than spooky. It's The Corner Shop, in which a man buys a trinket in a curio shop that turns out to be worth a lot more than he bargained for. It's part of this year's series of ghost stories for Christmas from my friends at Biblioasis. Mentioned in This Episodehttp://biblioasis.com/product-category/fiction/seths-christmas-ghost-stories/Music in This EpisodeChristmas Story — Lesfm, via PixabayMystery 70 MIX — Stock Studio, via Pix...

It's story time once again. Snuggle up, but beware of things that go bump in the night! Today, we're taking a trip of the imagination to a cemetery in France. The dead there are resting peacefully, until a new railway wakes them up! An old priest tries to help them return to rest while he helps the soul of a recently dead countess to find peace. It's Gertrude Atherton's "The Dead and the Countess."This story is part of Biblioasis's 2022 set of Ghost Stories for Christmas, designed and decorat...

Christmas Past is back with the first episode of 2022. We're kicking off the preseason with some good old fashioned story time! This one's for the whole family, so gather round and cozy up...we're heading to the Hollow Tree in for some old fashioned Christmas fun!Buy the Christmas Past Book!The Christmas Past book is available for pre-order today, and releases on November 1. Get it in hardcover, e-book, or audio. And remember...it makes a great gift!AmazonBarnes & NobleBooks-a-MillionIndi...

Merry Christmas, everyone! The big day has arrived. And it's time for our sixth annual Christmas year in review. We'll recall all the sights, sounds, news, and trends that made this Christmas unique. Plus, I'll review my own Christmas season, and talk about what's to come in 2022. Thank you to everyone who took part in the season, by listening, sharing memories, leaving reviews, participating in the Facebook group, and reaching out to say hi. A very Merry Christmas to all of you, and a ...

It's Christmas Eve! No matter how you celebrate, or where you celebrate, or who you call family, I hope you’re feeling the Christmas spirit right about now. And I, as well as several members of the Christmas Past family, are here to deliver just a little bit more of it. Be sure to follow the Tree Twins on Instagram! Music in this episode "Stille Nacht" — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "I'll Stay" — Peder B....

It's Christmas Eve Eve Eve! The big day is almost here. Friends and loved ones are starting to gather and prepare, ready to add a new chapter to their Christmas story, and to reminisce about Christmasses past. And today, so are we…as the Christmas Past family. It’s another episode all about you. About sharing your stories and memories, your traditions and love of our favorite holiday! Marv from the UK shares a memory in this episode. Check out his podcast, Pods Like Us. Thanks to him an...

Christmas is often abbreviate as Xmas, but why? Why does X make a suitable abbreviation, and why does Christmas need abbreviating at all? To find the answers, we'll have to go back to the earliest days of Christianity, and and explore the world of symbology and word origins. Thank you to Mignon Fogarty, from Grammar Girl for joining me in this episode! Music in this episode"Golden Hour" — Podington Bear, via Free Music Archive"Prelude No. 11" — Chris Zabrieski, via Free Music Archiv...

Welcome back for the second consecutive day of Christmas trivia! It's the conclusion of our special double header. Join us today when Rachel plays quizmaster to Brian in a game of "Sheperdy." We're in the final countdown to Christmas of 2021, but rest assured: there's much more Christmas cheer on tap between now and the big day! Music in this episode"Turning" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music ArchiveShare a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and ...

In a first here on Christmas Past, we're doing a double header of Christmas trivia. Join me today and tomorrow for back-to-back episodes where you put your Christmas spirit to the test. Today, the name of the game is "Two Truths and a Lie," where your deception detection skills are just as important as your knowledge of Christmas history. All questions in today's game are related to the 1970s. Tomorrow, come back for Sheperdy, a Jeopardy inspired Christmas trivia game. Today and tomorrow, I'l...

Victorian carolers wouldn't go until they got some. But many Americans wouldn't know one if they saw one. The figgy pudding (or plum pudding or Christmas pudding) has been with us for many centuries, and in many forms. How did a Medieval savory soup become a fruity, boozy and exclusively Christmassy dessert?Glen Warren from the Seasons Eatings podcast joins Brian in this episode. Mentioned in this episodeSeasons Eatings: PodcastInstagramThe Village Carolers:WebsiteYouTube chan...

When this episode arrives, there will be only 10 days remaining until Christmas of 2021. It's a good point in the season to take a breather and snuggle up with a story from the world of classic Christmas fiction. Today, I'm reading The Christmas Fairy, an 1878 story by John Strange Winter. It’s a story for the whole family, about a schoolboy whose plans for Christmas take an unexpected turn.Music in this episode"Relaxing Piano Music" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Holiday is Coming" —...

Christmas and charity are as natural a pairing as you might imagine. But the long history of charity at Christmas time has a few things worth exploring. For example, who has historically done the charitable giving, and why. And how the Victorians generally, and Charles Dickens specifically, laid the foundation for the modern form of Christmas charity that we know today.Thank you to Martin Johns, professor of history at Swansea University in Wales, and author of Christmas and the British...

In 1945, when songwriter Bob Wells first penned the line "chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." chestnuts were as much a part of the Christmas season as eggnog and gingerbread. And then, just a few years after Nat King Cole recorded his iconic version of that song...they weren't. What happened? It's one of the few examples from recent history of a Christmas tradition dying out — literally — in a single generation. Is it lost forever? Or are we poised for a roasty toasty Christmas comeback st...

It's our first family gathering of the season...the kind dedicated to members of the Christmas Past family and their Christmas memories. Pour the hot chocolate and snuggle up by the tree! It's time for a trip down memory lane. Music in this episode "Just Stay" — Aakash Gandhi, via Youtube Audio Library "Frozen in Love" — Aakash Gandhi, via Youtube Audio Library "Waterfall" — Aakash Gandhi, via Youtube Audio Library "Arms of Heaven" — Aakash Gandhi, via Youtube Audio Library "Falling Sn...

In 1937, radio audiences were introduced to The Cinnamon Bear, a magical twenty-six-part Christmas miniseries. Twins Judy and Jimmy search through the enchanted world of Maybeland for their lost Christmas ornament with the help of a talking bear. The series delighted audiences for many seasons before falling out of the mainstream. But a new audience is discovering the program in the Internet age. Thank you to Jack French from the Metropolitan Washington Old Time Radio Club for appea...

Today is an episode for the whole family! A Christmas story about two elves who decide to bring their special month-long celebration to humans. I'll narrate Festive of the Elves, a 2020 book, as told by Holly Figgyworth. After the reading, I speak with Angeli Elliott about the origins of the story, and how families can bring a little elfin magic to their own Christmas! Visit www.festivaloftheelves.com to find out more about the book, and to register for Elf Notes. And find Festival of th...

Christmas and sweaters naturally go together. But how did the idea of a festive holiday sweater become the multimillion dollar industry of recent decades? Is the gawdy, ironic, edgy humored Christmas sweater a passing fad, or are we at the start of something enduring? Today on Christmas Past: The "ugly" Christmas sweater!Thank you to Evan Mendelsohn from Tipsy Elves for joining me. And thanks to my mom, making her third appearance here on Christmas Past!Music in this episode"Wish Background" ...

All the different landscapes and climates and cultures in America make for a seemingly endless number of settings for celebrating our favorite holiday. And one kind of setting in particular has earned a special place in American Christmas culture and lore: the small town. That homey, local Christmas spirit is the topic of Small Town Christmas, the new series on UPtv. Series creator and host Megan Alexander joins Brian to discuss. Plus, Brian shares a small town Christmas memory of his o...

A Charlie Brown Christmas became one of the most successful Christmas television specials ever. But the odds were stacked against it in 1965. Written and produced under a crazy deadline, the network executives were sure it would flop like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. But of course, things turned out differently. This episode includes an interview with Benjamin Clark, curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA.Music in this episode"Nouvelle Noel" — Kevin MacLeod, via Inc...

What happens when a Christmas tree from a secret admirer comes between a young woman and her fiance in New York in 1902? That's the subject of the new Christmas audio drama from Sagacity Productions: "Christmas on Henry Street." This one-hour program, based on real events, will air on several NPR affiliate stations in December. Christmas Past is pleased to share it with you in this special full-length presentation. For more information about "Christmas on Henry Street"https://www.sagacit...

The song now known as "Jingle Bells" is synonymous with Christmas, even though it never mentions Christmas by name. There's much more to the story of this beloved song than you ever could have imagined. Tracing its history will take us through Boston minstrel halls, "sleigh ride culture," and a feud between two American towns that each claim to be the song's birthplace. This episode features Kyna Hamill from Boston University and the Medford Historical Society. Music in this episode...

There's nothing like curling up with an old fashioned ghost story on a chilly evening during the Christmas season. This one's more ghostly than Christmassy, but it first appeared in a Christmas supplement to the Illustrated London Times. It's The Doll's Ghost, by F. Marion Crawford. And today, I'm reading it to you from the 2021 collection of Seth's Christmas Ghost Stories from from Biblioasis. Music in this episode"Sal's Piano Solo" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Planet Ear...

Get ready for small town Christmases and hometown hunks! Today, we're looking at made-for-TV Christmas romances, and exploring how and why they've become the dominant form of Christmas entertainment in recent decades. Brandon Gray and Alonso Duralde, co-authors of I'll Be Home for Christmas Movies, help us make sense of it all.Mentioned in this episodeI'll be Home for Christmas Movies: Amazon, Barnes and NobleMusic in this episode"Hardwood Lullaby" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Mu...

Now that Halloween is behind us, it's officially Christmastime! Time for a mug of cocoa, some foofy jammies, and the Hallmark Channel. Today, Brandon Gray, co-host of Deck the Hallmark, recalls some of the best, worst, and most romantic ones reviewed in his new book, I'll Be Home For Christmas Movies. Get the book on AmazonMusic in this episode: "This is Christmas" — Scott Holmes, via Free Music ArchiveBe sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"Share a Christmas...

Happy Halloween, everybody! Christmas and Halloween go together perfectly because they have something very special in common: a tradition of telling ghost stories. Today, I'm pleased to introduce you to an all new Christmas ghost story audio drama series, The Midnight Carols. Follow along as a group of Oxford students tell ghost stories on Christmas Eve to gain entry into the mysterious secret society, the Venerable Order of Saint Nicholas of Myra. The Midnight Carols is available on all...

Just in time for Halloween, it's another Christmas ghost story — sorta. This story does involve Christmas, and it does involve a ghost, but it's unlike anything you've ever heard before here on Christmas Past. This is a 2017 episode from my other — now-defunct — podcast, Illusion. I thought you might like it. Stay subscribed all season long, and stay connected! christmaspastpodcast@gmail.comFacebook pageFacebook groupTwitterInstagramSend your Christmas memories to appear in an ...

It's almost Halloween, so how about a ghost story? Well, this one won't exactly send a shiver down your spine, but maybe it'll get you into the spirit...or at least pass the time on a cool autumn evening. It's the 1893 story, the Wicked Editor's Christmas Dream. Music in this episode"Angel's Dream" — Aakash Ghandi, via YouTube Audio LibraryConnect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website BookChristmas Past: The Fascinating...

Now that it's October, a lot of us are listening to Christmas music to ease our way into the season. Sure, the classics are great, but sometimes you need to hear something new to keep things fresh. In today's episode, you'll hear five new-to-you Christmas songs from some great independent artists! Songs featured in this episodeChrissy BlazierSoundcloudDotcom DavinciBandcampThe Yule LadsInstagramYoutubeMontgomeryInstagramBandcampGRAZEBandcampFacebookOther music in this episode"The Christm...

The Christmas stories of 19th century America provide a window into American history itself. These stories reflect the values and politics of pre- and post-Civil-War America, in addition to chronicling the makings of our modern Christmas celebration. That's the topic of the new book, Christmas Past: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Nineteenth-Century America. The author, professor Thomas Ruys Smith from the University of East Anglia, joins me in this episode for a Christmassy ...

Today, we're returning to an old crowd favorite: the game where you have to spot the lie! Test your Christmas spirit, deception detection, and knowledge of the 80s with this all new Ber Months bonus episode. Join me, along with Todd Killian from Christmas Clatter and Gerry Davilla from Totally Rad Christmas for a game of two truths and a lie. This game has a special twist. Its a three-round game, taking place on three different podcasts! On Christmas Past, you'll hear round one, where yo...

Brian reads the 1896 short story, The Burglar's Christmas, by Willa Cather. Welcome to another Ber Months bonus episode, sugarplums! I love these classic Christmas stories to help me get into the spirit. Today's story is bit of a 'prodigal son' story that takes place on Christmas Eve. tay subscribed for more fun and surprises throughout September and October, and beyond. It's never too early to send a Christmas memory to appear on the show this year. The earlier the better, act...

It's one of the strangest cases from the pages of American Military history. A Christmas party in 1826 at the United States Military Academy at Westpoint that spun out of control, and would be known forevermore as the Eggnog Riot. Welcome to the Ber Months, everyone! Christmas Past is back to bring some Christmas cheer to the early fall, as we ramp up to the official Christmas season. Stay subscribed for more fun and surprises throughout September and October, and beyond. It's never...

In 1900, an ornithologist suggested replacing the traditional Christmas morning hunt with a "bird census." It's an idea that has been carried out each year since then. The Christmas Bird Count is an important project that contributes to our understanding of bird populations. And you can get involved! LinksJoin the Christmas Bird Count pageMusic in this Episode Cottonwoods — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Labranche — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Cast...

Christmas trees are for decorating, admiring, and placing decoratively wrapped gifts underneath. But how about...for eating? Baker and designer Julia Georgalis joins me in this episode to discuss her new book, How to Eat Your Christmas Tree. It's the result of a five-year culinary experiment centered around sustainability at Christmas time. Mentioned in this episodeJulia Georgallis on InstagramThe book: How to Eat Your Christmas TreeJulia's Web siteThe Edible ArchiveMusic in this episode...

Merry Christmas! The big day is here, and that means it's time for Christmas Past's annual "Christmas in Review" episode. We'll take a look back at Christmas of 2020 to review the trends and headlines that made this Christmas uniquely its own. After all, starting tomorrow, Christmas of 2020 belongs to Christmas past. Does anything from this year have the makings of a lasting tradition? Only time will tell. Wishing you and your loved ones all the warmth and magic of the season. Merry Christmas...

It’s Christmas Eve. It’s all been building up to this: tonight and tomorrow — basically one continuous celebration with a long winter’s nap in the middle of it. It's the ideal day for reminiscing about Christmases past. And so, as you and I spend part of Christmas Eve together, I’m so happy to present the fourth and final memories episode for the season. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s shared a memory this year, making 2020 truly the biggest and best season yet for sharing warm Christ...

A Visit from Saint Nicholas wasn't the first published poem to describe Santa Claus arriving on a sleigh to deliver toys on Christmas Eve. But it is the best known poem to do it. In fact, it's one of the best known poems in the English language. But the story behind A Visit from Saint Nicholas, is in its own way, almost as elusive as catching a glimpse of Santa Claus himself on Christmas Eve. It’s a story of somewhat mysterious origins, disputed authorship, combining of legends, and the makin...

Christmas is just days away. At this point in the season, maybe you're feeling like you wish you could slow down time and make it all last just a bit longer. It's the perfect time to really reflect on the warmth and magic of the season, and the memories of Christmas Past. So I'm proud to present another episode this season dedicated to just that! Music in this episode Wish Background — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Christmas Memories — Jim Witter, shared directly by the artist Be sure to c...

Just who is Mrs Claus? A token character, destined to play second fiddle? A grandmotherly figure baking cookies? The queen of Christmas? The CEO of the North Pole? Since her off-hand introduction in 1849, the story of Mrs. Claus has been one of a legend that’s been writing itself.Thanks to Deeana Golden from IBRBS for appearing in this episode. And special thanks to Tiffany Houghton for permission to use her song, Mrs. Claus.Be sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts...

According to legend, a little girl named Pepita saw her humble nativity offering of roadside weeds miraculously transform into bright red flowers on Christmas eve. For generations, the legend was part of the Christmas celebration for many communities in Mexico. And that's where it could have stayed, if it weren't for a man named Poinset. The story of how the poinsettia came to America and how they came to be so ubiquitous at Christmas, has some strange twists and turns in it. Ones that involv...

It's a first! The 2020 season of Christmas Past includes multiple episode dedicated just to you and your Christmas memories. So let's cozy up by the fire and reminisce with the rest of the Christmas Past family with some treasured memories from our listeners. Don't forget to check out the Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts! Links A Cozy Christmas podcast Your Creative Brief Youtube channel Music in this episode Wish Background — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Share a Christmas me...

The mince pie is one of the least understood, most maligned, and sometimes subversive Christmas traditions we have. And yet, it’s still here. With its pastry crust and spiced — and often, boozy — fruit filling, it’s a survivor. And its story touches on hallucinogens, Prohibition, food preservation, the Puritans, and a Christmas dessert with a bad-boy reputation. A dessert that’s as American as, well...as American as mince pie. Thanks to Veronique Greenwood for appearing in this episode.B...

I'm back with another surprise episode. This time, author Mark Voger and I talk about Christmas nostalgia in popular culture. It's the topic of his new book, Holly Jolly. Linkshttp://markvoger.com/ Holly Jolly on AmazonMusic in this episodeTurning — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music ArchiveBe sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"Share a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com...

When is a Christmas movie not a Christmas movie? Well, for starters, when it’s released in August. But even more so, when it arrives before a time when the very notion of Christmas movies even existed. Christmas in Connecticut checks all of the boxes of a Christmas movie. Its events occur over Christmas, and there's plenty of Christmas imagery. But at the time of its release, Christmas movies didn't really exist. But of course they do today, and it's mostly thanks a single, revolutionary, inv...

It's my favorite episode of the year: the one that's all about YOU and your Christmas memories. For the past four seasons straight, Christmas Past has presented an episode filled with Christmas memories from listeners all over the world. Is 2020 the first year that there will be more than one episode like this? Only you can decide that. There's still time to send Christmas memories to appear in this season. Check out the ThreeKicksPodcast from Chris, who appears in this episode Don't forget t...

Nowadays, wassail, like sugarplums or hot buttered rum, is a part of the Christmas season that most of us experience mainly through references in songs and stories and artwork. But this old English custom is about much more than sharing a cup of good cheer. It’s about one of the parts of Christmas that’s mostly likely destined to remain stuck in Christmas past: inverting the normal rules of social order...with a little help from alcohol.Thanks to Conrad Bladey, author of the five-volume The B...

Dana Nachman is the director / writer / producer of Dear Santa. This new documentary follows various people involved in the US Postal Service's century-old "Operation Santa" program, which helps get children's letters to Santa Claus answered. Dear Santa is available on several major streaming platforms. Check this listing to see how you can watch it at home. You can also watch this interview on YouTube!Mentioned in this episode My Dear Santa: A True Crime Christmas Caper: Chris...

Snow globes are one of those items that seems like it could have been around forever. But they are a relatively new invention, and it wasn’t until decades after their invention that they’d become more or less exclusively a Christmas decoration. And that’s a story involving shoemakers, World War II, Austrian souvenir shops, baby food, and a super top secret process for creating fake snow. That literally only one person on earth knows.Thank you to Erwin Perzy III of Original Viennese Snow...

In this bonus episode, Brian's Christmas spirit is put to the test with a fun-filled game of Christmas trivia. This…is…Sherperdy! Today, we take a little break from the typical action. Normally this time of year, the episodes feature the backstories to Christmas traditions and Christmas memories. But a very special member of the Christmas Past family invited yours truly to play a game of Christmas trivia. So, play along at home and see how you do!Thanks again to Rachel in New York f...

For something so closely tied to Christmas — whose very image and flavor is practically synonymous with the season — it may be surprising to realize that origins of candy canes are something of a sweet mystery.Thanks to Kirk Vashaw, CEO of Spangler Candy Company, for appearing in this episode.Be sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"Share a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com....

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Well here we are at the beginning of another Christmas season together. This is Christmas season number five for Christmas Past. Today we're ringing in the 2020 Christmas season with a reading of the 1922 story, The Velveteen Rabbit. Be sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"Share a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com. Keep it re...

We're kicking off November of 2020 with a visit from an old friend. Alex Palmer, author of The Santa Claus Man, appeared in Christmas Past's miniseries, My Dear Santa,: A True Crime Christmas Caper. Now he's back with a new book, The Atlas of Christmas. Join Alex and me for a discussion some of the fun, quirky Christmas traditions around the world that we miss out on here in America.Don't forget to check out the Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts!Music in ...

Just in time for Halloween, it's a story about a very creepy game of hide that takes place on Christmas Eve. Happy Halloween! Christmas Past is back for another Ber Months Bonus episode, for those of us getting an early start on the Christmas season. Share a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. Ke...

We're almost to the end of October. The countdown to Christmas is in full swing, and I'm back again with another Ber Months Bonus episode. This time it's another forgotten work of Christmas fiction: the 1917 short story "It was the same Christmas morning," by Cyrus Townsend Brady.Be sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"Share a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com. Keep it reasonably...

It's mid-October and that means the countdown to the countdown to Christmas is in full swing! Christmas cards and panettones are starting to appear on the shelves. Maybe you're even starting to think about Christmas dinner. So was the protagonist of this episode's short story. I'm reading the 1895 story, published anonymously, called My Christmas Dinner. It's a comedy of manners about a narrator who turns down one Christmas dinner invitation after another, holding out for the "ideal" Christma...

In today's episode, Brian reads the1917 short story titled 'The Lone Scout's Christmas,' by Cyrus Townsend Brady. It's the story of a grieving boy facing a Christmas in an unfamiliar place, when he finds himself stranded in the snow. But he uses his scouting skills to bring everything to a satisfyingly Christmassy conclusion.Be sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"Share a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to chri...