Christmas Past

Brian Earl

Behind every Christmas tradition is a story, often a forgotten one. Every year as we put up a tree and pour the eggnog, we’re continuing generations-old narratives, while being mostly unaware of their starting chapters.
Join Brian Earl to explore the fascinating stories behind the most wonderful time of the year. It's equal parts nerdy deep dive and warmhearted celebration. Think: NPR meets Clement Clarke Moore!
Christmas Past is one of the longest running Christmas podcasts, now in its tenth season. Vanity Fair says: "With excellent production, engaging narration, and short, digestible running times, Christmas Past is perfect to put on while decorating your tree or preparing Christmas dinner."
Brian's 2022 book, Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions, is available in hardcover from Lyons Press and an audiobook from Recorded Books! Get your copy today wherever books are sold. And remember...it makes a great gift!

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Top 10 Christmas Past Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Christmas Past episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Christmas Past for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Christmas Past episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Backstory: Gingerbread Houses

Christmas Past

11/27/16 • 10 min

For centuries, gingerbread has been connected with all kinds of celebrations and holidays. And what could be more Christmassy than a gingerbread house? In this episode, we look at the history of gingerbread and the somewhat mysterious origins of the gingerbread house.

We'll hear from my mom, who made a gingerbread house every year when I was growing up. We'll also hear from Melissa Ferrar from San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel, which builds a life size gingerbread house annually.

Subscribe to Christmas Past on iTunes or however you get your podcasts. Search for "Christmas Past podcast" on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Visit www.christmaspastpodcast.com for show notes.

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Christmas 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.

2 Listeners

Christmas Around the World: Japan

Christmas Past

10/28/19 • 14 min

I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode! This time, I have the honor of sharing an audio piece by Chantelle from All Things Christmas. Learn all about Christmas in Japan! And then, check out Chantelle's blog and YouTube channel.

Announcements

If you leave a review I’ll send you a Christmas card containing a Christmas Past sticker. Write me at [email protected] for details.
Send your Christmas memory for the 2019 season. Record yourself on your phone’s voice recorder app and send it to the email address above.
I’m doing a live show this year at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco in November. I’m teaming up with Tim Babb from Can’t Wait for Christmas for a fun and very Victorian hour or Christmas spirit.
I’ll be appearing on a podcasters panel at Christmas Con in Edison New Jersey on November 9, but tickets are sold out.
I'll be at ChristmasLand on December 15 in Los Angeles! It’s an immersive Christmas movie experience that'll give you "all the feels.” Follow them on Instagram @christmaslandexperience.

Follow Christmas Past on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and check out all the bonus Christmas content at christmaspast.media

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Backstory: Letters to Santa

Christmas Past

12/01/16 • 12 min

The history of writing letters to Santa has some strange surprises in store for us.

In this episode we hear from Gus Ruiz from the US Postal Service, Nancy Pope from the Smithsonian Institution's Postal Museum, and a Christmas Memory from Kenny in Ontario.

Subscribe to Christmas Past on iTunes or however you get your podcasts. Search for "Christmas Past podcast" on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Visit www.christmaspastpodcast.com for show notes. Write me at [email protected]

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Backstory: Santa Claus, Part 1

Christmas Past

11/15/16 • 12 min

We're kicking off the 2016 season with a 3-part series on the evolution of St. Nicholas to Santa Claus. Most episodes this season are for the whole family, but this series is just for the grownups.

In this episode, I cover the life of the historical St. Nicholas, a 4th century bishop from Myra (modern day Turkey), and the legends that followed his death.

Don't forget to subscribe to Christmas Past on iTunes (or however you get podcasts) to make sure you don't miss any episodes this season. And search for "Christmas Past podcast" on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more Christmas fun!

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Backstory: Santa Claus, Part 3

Christmas Past

11/23/16 • 12 min

We're finishing off the series about Santa with a look at what happened to the legend when it reached America. The Santa we know today is largely an American invention, based on the Dutch legend of Sinter Klaas. Dr. Bruce David Forbes joins one last time to tell us about the American contributions that put the finishing touches on Santa.

Subscribe to Christmas Past on iTunes or however you get podcasts. Leave a review on iTunes, if you like what you hear. You can reach me at [email protected].

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Backstory: Santa Claus, Part 2

Christmas Past

11/19/16 • 10 min

Continuing where we left off in part 1, we continue exploring the legend of St. Nicholas. This time, we look at how many cultures left their own imprint on the legend as it spread across Europe.

Once again, I'm joined by professor and author Dr. Bruce David Forbes. We also hear our first Christmas memory of the season from Hope in Massachusetts. You can submit a memory by recording a voice memo on your phone and sending it to christmaspastpodcast at gmail dot com

Subscribe on iTunes or wherever you find podcasts. Search for "Christmas Past podcast" on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And visit christmaspastpodcast.com for show notes and extra content.

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Backstory: The WPIX Yule Log

Christmas Past

12/07/18 • 10 min

Few things are more Christmassy than the flickering glow of a log on the fire. Even when that fire is experienced on a TV or device screen, it still conjures up a cozy and festive atmosphere. A New York city TV station introduced the televised Yule Log in 1966. What began as a quirky experiment would eventually take on a life of its own!

Music in this Episode

"Let There be Joy" — Cathy Oakes, via Feels Like Christmas
"Early Morning Snowfall" — Chuck Brown, via Feels Like Christmas
"Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
"Angels We Have Heard" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech

Rate Christmas Past on Apple Podcasts, and I'll send you a sticker to say thanks. After leaving your review, get in touch through the contact page at http://christmaspast.media/contact and let me know your Apple Podcasts username and an address where you can receive your sticker.

Follow Christmas Past on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Christmas Past is a proud member of the Christmas Podcast Network, a collection of the best Christmas shows around.

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Presenting: The Best of Christmas Clatter

Christmas Past

10/12/19 • 19 min

I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode! This time, I present a special "best of" sampler from Todd Killian's podcast, Christmas Clatter.

Announcements

If you leave a review I’ll send you a Christmas card containing a Christmas Past sticker. Write me at [email protected] for details.
Send your Christmas memory for the 2019 season. Record yourself on your phone’s voice recorder app and send it to the email address above.
I’m doing a live show this year at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco in November. I’m teaming up with Tim Babb from Can’t Wait for Christmas for a fun and very Victorian hour or Christmas spirit.
I’ll be appearing on a podcasters panel at Christmas Con in Edison New Jersey on November 9, but tickets are sold out.
I'll be at ChristmasLand on December 15 in Los Angeles! It’s an immersive Christmas movie experience that'll give you "all the feels.” Follow them on Instagram @christmaslandexperience.

Follow Christmas Past on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and check out all the bonus Christmas content at christmaspast.media

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Backstory: Leon Day (Plus Special Announcements!)

Christmas Past

06/25/19 • 12 min

It's June 25, and that means we're exactly halfway to Christmas! The occasion has come to be known as Leon Day, but nobody's really sure how that all got started. But one thing's for sure: many crafters recognize it as the day to get started on their Christmas crafting. In this episode, I get some insight from Holly, a crafter from Missouri. We also hear from Mary in Ireland, who shares some of her memories about celebrating "halfway to Christmas."

Also, just like last year, this summer episode also includes a midyear check-in and special announcements about the upcoming season of Christmas Past. You'll definitely want to check it out, because 2019 is going to be the biggest and best season yet!

For even more info about Leon Day, check out this article I recently wrote for All Things Christmas.

Mentioned in this episode

Music in this episode

“Comfort and Joy”— Philip Wesley, via Feels Like Christmas
"Golden Hour" — Podington Bear, via Free Music Archive
"Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech

Rate and review Christmas Past on Apple Podcasts, and I'll send you an official Christmas Past sticker and a handwritten Christmas card to say thanks!

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Backstory: The War on Christmas

Christmas Past

12/16/18 • 16 min

Shortly after Thanksgiving, certain cable news and talk radio pundits remind you that it’s that it’s time once again to be outraged. Because sinister forces are working to take Christmas away from you. Is there really a war on Christmas? Listen to this episode and then judge for yourself.

Music in this episode

"Undercover Vampire Policeman"— Chris Zabriskie, via Free Music Archive
"Together we Stand" — Scott Holmes, via Free Music Archive
"Gentle Marimbas" — Podington Bear, via Free Music Archive
"Holiday Gift" — Kai Engel, via Free Music Archive
"We Wish You" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
"Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
"Box Canyon" — Podington Bear, via Free Music Archive

Follow Christmas Past on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Christmas Past is a proud member of the Christmas Podcast Network, a collection of the best Christmas shows around.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Christmas Past have?

Christmas Past currently has 232 episodes available.

What topics does Christmas Past cover?

The podcast is about Society & Culture, Kids & Family and Podcasts.

What is the most popular episode on Christmas Past?

The episode title 'Backstory: Letters to Santa' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Christmas Past?

The average episode length on Christmas Past is 19 minutes.

How often are episodes of Christmas Past released?

Episodes of Christmas Past are typically released every 2 days, 23 hours.

When was the first episode of Christmas Past?

The first episode of Christmas Past was released on Nov 1, 2016.

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Comments

Wayne Clarke

@wayne

Apr 29