What You Don’t Know About Christmas

Happy, Crappy, Carpy Christmas

Hello again, this shownote reading is becoming a habit with you.  Merry Christmas! We made it. It's the night before Christmas and we managed to get the final episode out! Find out why that is a Christmas miracle when you listen to the show. In this episode, you can marvel at my ability to get drunk on three sips of espresso martini while I present you with a little Christmas Eve buffet of Christmas facts to small for an episode for themselves. Thank you everyone has listened this year. It's been ace! I'll probably write a couple of bits on my Substack so keep an eye out. I'm definitely going to do another podcast in the new year so keep this feed live. I hope you all have the Christmas you want.  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!   Content warning: I say the 's' word, sometimes with relish in the discussion of a defecating log!   Sources: My brain, 1974 edition. Here's all the ways you can contact me. Email – wydkachristmas@gmail.com  [wydkachristmas@gmail.com] Bluesky - @solsixer.bsky.social  Newsletter - What You Don't Know About Christmas | Neil Chapman | Substack [https://neilchapman.substack.com/] Discord: -What You Don't Know About Christmas Discord [https://discord.com/invite/Np9Qf4thPB]  If you hear anything you think needs correcting, get in touch. If there’s anything you would like to know, get in touch! I’d also love to hear your own Christmas traditions whether it’s specific to your family, your country, or your culture. Some photos of Christmassy stuff would be great too. Feeling generous?  Christmas is coming,  The goose is getting fat,  Please put a penny in the podcasters hat.  If you haven’t got a penny,  A ha’penny will do,  If you haven’t got a ha’penny,  Then don’t worry about it just enjoy the show guilt free.  Hey, I get it, times are tough and shelling out extra for a podcast is not what you need to be doing, especially at Christmas. But if you’re doing okay or recently had a visit from three ghosts and feel compelled to buy everyone big poultry you can always tip us instead at:  https://ko-fi.com/whatyoudontknow [https://ko-fi.com/whatyoudontknow]

It’s Beginning to Look A Bit Like A Podcast - Little Update for Ya’

Hello, reading the shownotes even when there's no show. Good for you! And a great big thank you to everyone who has listened over the past couple of weeks. I've had a word with Santa and you're all granted immunity from the naughty list. Here's all the ways you can contact me. Email – wydkachristmas@gmail.com  [wydkachristmas@gmail.com] Bluesky - @solsixer.bsky.social  Newsletter - What You Don't Know About Christmas | Neil Chapman | Substack [https://neilchapman.substack.com/] Discord: -What You Don't Know About Christmas Discord [https://discord.com/invite/Np9Qf4thPB]  If you hear anything you think needs correcting, get in touch. If there’s anything you would like to know, get in touch! I’d also love to hear your own Christmas traditions whether it’s specific to your family, your country, or your culture. Some photos of Christmassy stuff would be great too. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Yo-ho-ho-ho! - The ghostly Christmas tree ship

Psst, hey you! Wanna read some shownotes? Follow me. First one is free.  In this episode we get a little spooky and a lot heart warmy, as Neil tells the tale of Captain Santa and the Ghostly Christmas Tree Ship.   Content warning: I’d say this one is PG. We talk about a shipwreck so there’s some death by drowning but no details and there is the ghost element but honestly, I’ve watched scarier Scooby Doo’s.   Thank you to everyone who has listened so far. I see you New Jersey, bis bald, Bayern! I’ve had a lot of fun putting my Christmas decorations up this week. I might even post them on the Ko-fi page, Feel free to send me yours too.    Get in touch!  If you hear anything you think needs correcting, get in touch. If there’s anything you would like to know, get in touch! I’d also love to hear your own Christmas traditions whether it’s specific to your family, your country, or your culture.  Email – wydkachristmas@gmail.com  Newsletter - What You Don't Know About Christmas | Neil Chapman | Substack [https://neilchapman.substack.com/]    Sources:  Captain Santa’s Last Sail: The Mysterious Fate of the Christmas Tree Ship | Mental Floss [https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/521384/captain-santas-last-sail-mysterious-fate-christmas-tree-ship]  1912, the Year Without Christmas: The ‘Rouse Simmons,’ the Christmas Tree Ghost Ship (revisionist.net) [http://www.revisionist.net/hysteria/rouse-simmons.html]  The Christmas Tree Ship | National Archives [https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2006/winter/christmas-tree.html]    Feeling generous?  Christmas is coming,  The goose is getting fat,  Please put a penny in the podcasters hat.  If you haven’t got a penny,  A ha’penny will do,  If you haven’t got a ha’penny,  Then don’t worry about it just enjoy the show guilt free.  Hey, I get it, times are tough and shelling out extra for a podcast is not what you need to be doing, especially at Christmas. But if you’re doing okay or recently had a visit from three ghosts and feel compelled to buy everyone big poultry you can always tip us instead at:  https://ko-fi.com/whatyoudontknow [https://ko-fi.com/whatyoudontknow]

Talking ’bout a Winter Blunderland

Reading the shownotes? Love that for you. Welcome to What You Don’t Know About Christmas. In this episode we talk about Christmas Blunderlands, that annual tradition of press stories about crappy Christmas attractions. Disgruntled parents, crying kids, smoking elves and swearing Santas, we’ve got the lot. Big content warning for the F word and we don’t mean festive. When I say cover your kid’s ears I mean it. 12.15-13.15, if you want to skip it. No trigger warnings but it might be worth stating the shows Santa policy. We believe. We make it clear the Santa’s mentioned in this episode are clearly imposters so you can listen in confidence that there will be no spoilers concerning the man in red. Get in touch! If you hear anything you think needs correcting, get in touch. If there’s anything you would like to know, get in touch! I’d also love to hear your own Christmas traditions whether it’s specific to your family, your country, or your culture. Email - wydkachristmas@gmail.com Newsletter - https://neilchapman.substack.com/ [https://neilchapman.substack.com/] Sources: Music by Looptape: Christmas Relax Beat | Royalty-free Music - Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/music/christmas-christmas-relax-beat-174073/] ‘Even the reindeer were unhappy’: life inside Britain’s worst winter wonderlands | Christmas | The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/dec/13/even-the-reindeer-were-unhappy-life-inside-britains-worst-winter-wonderlands] New Forest Lapland park owners 'could have made £1m' - BBC News [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-11948561] Lapland New Forest nativity was 'drawing on trailer' - BBC News [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-11962334] Staff 'bullied' Lapland New Forest organiser - BBC News [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-12271067] Lapland New Forest Santa 'had three-hour queues' - BBC News [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-11972447] BBC NEWS | England | Dorset | Lapland theme park is closed down [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7765080.stm] BBC NEWS | England | Dorset | Hundreds slam Lapland park 'scam' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7758112.stm] Lapland brothers guilty of misleading customers - BBC News [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12497725] ‘Raging’ Santa Claus rips off beard and tells children to ‘get the f*** out’ after fire alarm disrupts grotto | The Independent | The Independent [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/santa-claus-angry-swearing-father-christmas-children-fire-alarm-grotto-st-ives-cambridgeshire-a8681456.html] Furious parents attack Santa and his elves as tempers fray at Winter 'blunderland' theme park | Daily Mail Online [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1090931/Furious-parents-attack-Santa-elves-tempers-fray-Winter-blunderland-theme-park.html] Scary Scrooge and filthy costumes leave 'kids in tears' at shambolic Santa's grotto - Daily Record [https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/scary-scrooge-filthy-costumes-leave-23197820] 'Fyre Festival' Christmas grotto leaves kids in tears over terrifying Santa with no hands and ‘disastrous’ [https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/20756245/fyre-festival-christmas-grotto-terrifying-santa-no-hands/] rides | The Sun [https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/20756245/fyre-festival-christmas-grotto-terrifying-santa-no-hands/] Kids cry at East Lothian Christmas grotto with handless Santa and 'disastrous rides' - Edinburgh Live [https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/kids-cry-east-lothian-christmas-25750611] Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's Magical Journey Christmas park closes after 1 day | Daily Mail Online [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2846289/22-head-Christmas-attraction-created-Laurence-Llewelyn-Bowen-closes-just-ONE-DAY-following-hundreds-complaints-queues-cheap-toys.html] Mixing, mastering and mumbling: Oliver Chapman. Feeling generous? Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat, Please put a penny in the old podcasters hat. If you haven’t got a penny, A ha’penny will do, If you haven’t got a ha’penny, Then don’t worry, just enjoy the show guilt free. Hey, I get it, times are tough and shelling out extra for a podcast is not what you need to be doing, especially at Christmas. But if you’re doing okay or recently had a visit from three ghosts and feel compelled to buy everyone big poultry you can always tip us instead at: https://ko-fi.com/whatyoudontknow Even if you don’t want to tip us, it’s worth having a quick look at the page for little behind the scenes posts and previews of what I’m working on. A merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Goddess to Gorefest

Hello, you little shownote reader you. Welcome to What You Don’t Know About Christmas.   In this episode, we talk about Perchta. An ancient goddess that was the subject of a smear campaign.  How did a protector of forests, women and children, end up being an enforcer of social norms? Have you finished your spinning? Is your house tidy? If not hurry up if you value your intestines!   Content warning: Perchta is into inflicting gory punishments on adults and children and we do talk about them so if you have sensitive little ones or that’s not your bag you might want to give this one a miss. We also mention child death.   Get in touch! If you hear anything you think needs correcting, get in touch.  If there’s anything you would like to know, get in touch! I’d also love to hear your own Christmas traditions whether it’s specific to your family, your country, or your culture. Email - wydkachristmas@gmail.com Newsletter - https://neilchapman.substack.com/   Sources: Perchta: Evil Witch Of The Alps - An Old Tradition That Still Continues - Ancient Pages [https://www.ancientpages.com/2019/12/15/perchta-evil-christmas-witch-of-the-alps-an-old-tradition-that-still-continues/] What is Frau Perchta? Alpine White Woman or a Belly-Slitter? (germangirlinamerica.com) [https://germangirlinamerica.com/what-is-frau-perchta-goddess-or-belly-slitter/] Perchta and the 12 Days of Christmas (Part 2) - Stephen Morris, author (stephenmorrisauthor.com) [https://www.stephenmorrisauthor.com/perchta-12-days-christmas/] The Old Magic of Christmas: Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year eBook : Raedisch, Linda: Amazon.co.uk: Books [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Old-Magic-Christmas-Yuletide-Traditions-ebook/dp/B00EYIAMW0/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34422U9YGKYQJ&keywords=old+christmas+magic&qid=1701800183&sprefix=old+christmas+magic%2Caps%2C776&sr=8-1]     Feeling generous? Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat, Please put a penny in the old podcasters hat. If you haven’t got a penny, A ha’penny will do, If you haven’t got a ha’penny, Then don’t worry about just enjoy the show guilt free. Hey, I get it, times are tough and shelling out extra for a podcast is not what you need to be doing, especially at Christmas. But if you’re doing okay or recently had a visit from three ghosts and feel compelled to buy everyone big poultry you can always tip us instead at: https://ko-fi.com/whatyoudontknow Even if you don’t want to tip us, it’s worth having a quick look at the page for little behind-the-scenes posts and previews of what I’m working on.   A Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!