Christmas Past

The big day is here, and so is our final episode of 2024. As we so do every year, we'll take a look back at all the news, trends, sights, and sounds that made this Christmas what it was. We'll also hear some Christmas memories from the Christmas Past family.Thank you for another wonderful season. I'll see you next year.Merry Christmas!Music in this episode"Jazz Podcast Night Relaxing Vibes" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay"Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Calm Piano Music" — Piotr...

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2024

The small, unassuming wren may be nothing much to look at, but wait till it starts singing. Its loud, complex songs, and its tendency to sing them throughout winter, has earned it the title of “King of Birds.” But on December 26, the king is dead. Wren Day is a traditional hunting of the wren, followed by celebrations that include disguise, door-to-door visiting and parading, and song. It’s certainly one of our most strange and mysterious Christmas customs, a mixture of Celtic mythology, old ...

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2024

One by one, over a series of nights during Christmastime in Iceland, the Yule Lads come down from a mountain, making mischief, rewarding good behavior and punishing bad. These lovable scamps are unique melding of folkloric traditions, and a reminder that Christmas once was — and still can be — haunted and scary. Terry Gunnell, professor emeritus of folkloristics at the University of Iceland, joins Brian to tell the story. Thanks also to Baldur Gylfa for appearing in this episode!Music in this...

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2024

Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"), went from folk tale to fairy tale, from beloved symbol of Christmas to exile, and then back to beloved symbol, all in surprisingly short order. It’s a story of ups and downs, set against the backdrop of a violent social and political revolution, and which resulted in a strange stint as the “Soviet Santa Claus.” Karen Petrone, University of Kentucky history professor and author of Life Has Become More Joyous, Comrades, joins Brian to tell the story. C...

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2024

Once again it’s time for one of my favorite traditions here on Christmas Past: dedicating an entire episode to you and your Christmas memories! I love these little glimpses into other people’s lives, families, memories, and all the different ways that Christmas can be celebrated and loved and made special and personal. So, get cozy. You’re invited to another Christmas Past family gathering, and trip down memory lane. Music in this episode"Cozy Jazz Podcast Music with Christmas Bells" — D...

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

For a long time, ivy conjured images of all things pagan, superstitious, gluttonous, debauched, and morbid. For those reasons, it would be forbidden from churches and Christian homes. Today, it's a classic symbol of Christmas. Sue Hunter joins Brian to tell this uniquely Christmassy turnaround story. Thank you to composer Sarah Cattley for permission to share the beautiful rendition of "Ivy, Chief of Trees it Is," performed by the Granta Chorale and conducted by Janet Wheeler. Musi...

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2024

Forty years ago, audiences got into the Christmas spirit by watching a little green creature get killed in a blender. Gremlins was more than a movie that combined horror, comedy, gory violence, and Christmas. It was a massive a pop culture phenomenon, and one of the last movies of its kind to be rated PG. Alonso Duralde, film critic, podcaster, and author of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas and Hollywood Pride joins Brian to discuss this iconic 80's hit. Music in this episode"...

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

If Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus, and we celebrate it on December 25, then Jesus must have been born on that day, right? Not so fast! We actually have no good idea when Jesus was born. And besides, the observance of his birth on December 25 is a 4th century contrivance. But why December 25 of all days? In today's episode, professor and author Michael Foley joins Brian to make sense of it all. Get a copy of Dr. Foley's book, Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe.Music in this episode"Str...

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2024

Who doesn't love a parade? The very idea of a procession, usually involving costumes and music, is at least 4,000 years old. But grand parades to kick off the Christmas season are much newer. The kind we're most familiar with nowadays developed when large retail chains held parades to stimulate shopping and define a new, earlier start to the Christmas season. All that capitalism sounds very American, but — surprise! — Canada beat us to it!In today's episode, Clayton Charters, president and CE...

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2024

The three kings. The wise men. The magi. They're the supporting cast in many a Nativity scene...the subject of several postage stamps and greeting cards...the subject of that classic Christmas song. Who were they? Where were they from? Why did they traverse afar following yonder star? What was with the gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Were they even real? And does it matter? Today, professor and author Eric Vanden Eykel joins Brian to tell the story of these mysterious figures. Check out E...

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

The creative team of Rankin and Bass have produced some of the most enduring, nostalgia-producing Christmas specials in television history. Historian and biographer Rick Goldschmidt joins Brian to tell the story of how an art director and an ad jingle writer became "the kings of Christmas."LinksMore info about Rankin/Bass and Rick GoldschmidtRick's books about Rankin/BassMusic in this episode"Kettled" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Soft Piano" — Anastasia Kir, via Pixabay"O Holy ...

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2024

The more than 75-year success story of Toys for Tots may seem like a fairly simple story: the Marine Corp reserve starts up a holiday charity for needy kids. But there’s more to it than that. From humble, almost accidental beginnings in 1947, the program was able to grow through a unique mix of show business connections, celebrity endorsements, political influence, post World War II America, and...Walt Disney. Music in this episode"Lullaby" — Maarten Schellekens, via Free Music Archive"T...

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2024

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...

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2024

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 Twit...

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2024

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 Twitter / X Email: [email protected] Website BookChristmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a great g...

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2024

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...

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2024

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...

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2024

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 Twitter / X Email: [email protected] Website BookChrist...

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 22 December 2023

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 Twitter / X Email: [email protected] Website Book...

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2023

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 Twitter / X Email: chri...

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2023

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 ...

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 23 November 2023

Connect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Twitter / X Email: [email protected] 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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 November 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 9 November 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2023

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...

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2022

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" ...

Transcribed - Published: 21 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2022

"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...

Transcribed - Published: 7 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2022

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 ...

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 30 November 2022

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...

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2022

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,...

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2022