Hey everyone, it's Brian.

Here we are just a few days into the Christmas season, and what a celebration we've been having together already.

This season of Christmas past has plenty of what you've come to expect, the backstories to our favorite holidays traditions, and your Christmas memories, plus lots of fun and surprises.

Today is a fun and surprises kind of day.

What happens when a Christmas tree sent from

a secret admirer comes between a young woman and her fiancee in New York in 1902? Well, that sounds

like the makings of a drama, and it happens to be our favorite kind here on Christmas past,

an all-new Christmas audio drama. Today you're going to hear Christmas on Henry Street,

a one-hour audio drama inspired by true events

and set in a rare year when Christmas Eve and the first night of Hanukkah coincided.

This one is suitable for the whole family.

It'll be airing on several NPR affiliates in December,

but I'm pleased to present it to you

here in its entirety. And the program's creator, Bonnie Silva from Sagacity Productions,

has a special message for the Christmas Past family. Bonnie? Thank you, Brian. Hello, Christmas

past listeners. What you're about to hear was inspired by events that really happened.

Once I learned that our hero had a rousing dispute with her financial supporter over a Christmas tree,

I wanted to know why.

But the answer only led to more questions.

What is it that brings us together? That causes us to love and forgive one

another and to open our hearts and our homes to strangers. I think it has something to do with what

happens to us deep down inside at Christmas, which is why I wrote this story. I hope you enjoy it.

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