Christmas Past

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"Jingle Bells" — The Edison Male Quartet, via Internet Archive"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells" — Vernon Geyer, via Internet Archive"Jingle Bells Calm" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Atmospheric Jingle Bells" — Royalty Free Music, via SoundCloudShare 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

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 Earth" — Peter D. Helland, via Soothing RelaxationShare 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. Keep in touchchristmaspastpodcast@gmail.comFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasPastPodcastFacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173778110150282Twitter: https://twitter.

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 Music Archive"Snowy Afternoon" — Borrtex, via Free Music Archive"Green Fields" — Scott Holmes, via Free Music Archive"Oh Christmas Tree" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech 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. Keep in to

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 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. Keep in touchchristmaspastpodcast@gmail.comFacebook pageFacebook groupTwitterInstagramBrian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason.&nbs

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 major podcast platforms starting today. You can find more information on their Facebook page, and also on creator Vincent Robert-Nicoud's Website.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. Keep in touchchristmaspastpodcast@gmail.comFacebook pageFacebook groupTwitterInstagramMusic in this episode"A Little Powder" —

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 episode this season. Record yourself into your phone's voice memo app, and sent it to the email address above. Music in this episode"June" — Kai Engel, via Free Music Archive"Calmant" — Kevin MacLeod, viaFree Music Archive"Snowfall" — Shady Dave, via Freesound"Meditation Impromptu 03" — Kevin MacLeod, via Free Music Archive"Hark! The Herald Angles Sing" — via NuBeat Music Brian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes

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 LibraryBrian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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 Christmas Song" — Don Maue, shared directly by the artistBrian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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 literary tour through a century — with many surprises along the way. This is our final episode of September. One Ber Month down, three to go! Stay subscribed for more Ber Month fun leading up to the "official" Christmas Past season, starting on Thanksgiving Day. Share your Christmas memories on the podcast! Record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast at g mail dot comMusic in this episode"Allie Mine" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music ArchiveBrian is getting ready to return for

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 yours truly quizzes Todd and Gerry on Christmas of 1980 - 1983. Stay subscribed for more Christmas fun throughout the Ber Months, and into the Christmas season. Music in this episode"A Peaceful Winter" — Scott Holmes, via Free Music ArchiveBrian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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, actually! Record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast [at] g mailMusic in this episode"On Top of itTAL" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music ArchiveBrian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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 too early to send a Christmas memory to appear on the show this year. The earlier the better, actually! Record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast [at] g mailMusic in this episode"Just Stay" — Aakash Ghandi, via Youtube Audio Library"Almost in F - Tranquility" — Kevin MacLeod, via Youtube Audio Library"Springtime" — Gillicuddy, via Free Music Archive"Three Little Drummers from the George Washington Show" — The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum

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 and Favor — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music ArchiveBrian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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 episodeJingle Bells Calm — Kevin MacLeod, via IncompetechWish Background  — Kevin MacLeod via IncompetechIt Came Upon a Midnight Clear — Kevin MacLeod via IncompetechBe 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 short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. Christmas trees are for decorating, admiring,

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, and happy new year. Music in this episode Silent Night — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Deck the Halls A — Kevin MacLeod via Incompetech O Holy Night — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist Brian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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 Christmas memories with the rest of the Christmas Past family.  Mentioned in this episode Echo Boomers podcast Kringle Talks Football podcast Music in this episode Wish Background — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Brian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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 making of modern Christmas.Thank you to Debra Schmidt Bach from the New-York Historical Society 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. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. Keep in touchchristmaspastpodcast@gmail.comFacebook pageFacebook groupTwitterI

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 check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"Brian is getting ready to return for the 2024 Christmas season with an all new series of episodes. Join Christmas Past on Halloween for our traditional ghost story to kick off the preseason. 

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"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. Keep in touchchristmaspastpodcast@gmail.comFacebook pageFacebook groupTwitterInstagramMusic in this episodeMrs Claus — Tiffany Houghton and Tiffany Alvord, via YouTube (used with the artists' permission) Lullaby — JVNA via YouTube AudioWish Background  — Kevin MacLeod via

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 involve a kidnapping, possibly a murder, international diplomacy, and a good old fashioned American success story.Thanks to Mark Schmeller 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. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. Keep in touchchristmaspastpodcast@gm