It's dark, it's cold. You're surrounded by your friends and possibly some family relatives

as well. There's a fair amount of booze going around. Is this Christmas or is it you all

or Mother night or satan alia? The darkest nights of the year have long been a time for celebrations

and today the Twix the Sheets we are going to find out how these celebrations have changed

and just what has stayed the same.

Why do you look for a man? Oh, money of course. You're supposed to rise when an adult speaks to you.

I make perfect carpets of whatever my boy needs. I just turn in the knob and push him

a button.

Yes, social courtesy does make a difference.

Hello and welcome back to the Twix the Sheets, the history of sex, scandal and society,

with me, Kate Lister. What have you been up to this festive period? Have you been sipping

mould wine, sharing gifts with friends and family or patiently shoving mistletoe down your

pants? If so, have you ever wondered where some of these customs come from? From Dickens

to Coca-Cola, winter celebrations have grown and developed for centuries. And in this episode,

I'm only joined by Professor Ronald Putton, who's going to tell us how Christmas and New

Year have changed, developed, adapted since the days of your old time Z and what other holidays

have been celebrated throughout the years. I am ready if you are.

So hello and welcome to the Twix the Sheets, Professor Ronald Putton. Hello. Hello. I am so

excited to talk to you. You have absolutely no idea. I'm having a proper academic

fun girl moment here. Thank you. No pressure, no pressure. But I love your work and I love

what you write about and pop up on TV shows all the time. I know you're here and I'm so

excited about it. Although I think that perhaps what you're going to talk to me about today,

...