FtV - The Ghost Who Saved Christmas
New England Legends Podcast
Jeff Belanger
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 28 December 2023
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 40 – In Episode 70, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to Boston to the haunted Parker House Hotel in search of the ghost of the man who brought Christmas to America. We learned in last year’s holiday podcast that the Puritans of Boston banned Christmas back in 1659 because they claimed making merry and dressing festive was “satanic.” They’d fine you five shillings if you were caught! Though the ban was lifted in 1681, that doesn’t mean Christmas was celebrated. You still had to go to work and school that day for almost the next two centuries. But something changed in 1867 when a man came to Boston with a story that transformed everything. Be careful, this episode may just squish your inner Grinch! This episode first aired December 20, 2018.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome, legendary listeners. |
| 0:01.7 | Thanks for tuning in to From the Vault, a second look at some of our classic episodes. |
| 0:06.1 | Look for a new episode every week. |
| 0:07.8 | Now, can you go back and listen on your own at our New England Legends.com? |
| 0:11.6 | You bet. |
| 0:12.2 | But you won't get the added bonus of an after-the-legion segment featuring new commentary about that episode from your old pals Jeff and Ray. |
| 0:20.7 | So let's open up the New England Legends Vault and revisit another legendary episode. |
| 0:29.1 | Season's greetings, everybody. |
| 0:30.8 | Season's greetings. Christmas just a few days ago, another vault episode to get us through |
| 0:35.6 | the holidays while Ray and I spend a little time |
| 0:37.6 | with our family and friends. This one first aired December 20th, 2018. Enjoy. I love Boston, |
| 0:46.2 | especially during the holiday season, the lights, the smells, the cold nip in the air. It feels |
| 0:51.4 | like Christmas here. Hey there. Every Christmas. |
| 0:55.8 | Yeah, I guess. |
| 0:56.8 | Come on, what's it matter? Ray, to the holidays have you bummed out? |
| 1:00.1 | It's tough not to give in to the stress, the hustle, the commercialism. |
| 1:04.2 | Plus, isn't Boston the very city that banned Christmas back in 1659? |
| 1:08.5 | I mean, ever since I learned that during last year's New England Legends Christmas podcast, I can't help but think we're better off that way. Oh, Ray, I mean, sure, Boston is the city that banned Christmas, but it's also the city that saved it, and arguably brought the holiday back to not just New England, but all of America. All right. So what are we looking for while we're here in town, Jeff? |
| 1:28.2 | The Spirit of Christmas. |
| 1:29.4 | That's exactly what we're looking for. |
| 1:31.5 | We're going to head into the lobby of the Parker House Hotel right here in the heart of |
| 1:35.1 | downtown in search of the ghost of the man who brought Christmas to Boston. |
... |
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