Christmas Past

Christmas 2025

Merry Christmas! The festive season reaches its peak today. And for the tenth year in a row, I'm here on Christmas Day to take a look back. We'll reflect on the news and trends, the sights and sounds that made Christmas of 2025 what it was.  Plus, a little report from Christmas Past headquarters, and a guest appearance from little Dashiell!  Wishing all of your a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'll see you all again in 2026!  Music in this Episode "Deck the Halls A [https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100263&Search=Search]" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Connect with Me * Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links [https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links] * Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Books Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past [https://www.amazon.com/Christmases-Long-Ago-Surprising-Traditions/dp/149308965X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RXSI9XDR82J3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.reIYlN0fAk-fXReS-4n4GsLCPCka3-CQDzVOJsuhhDg.c8Ezi77Xgkg-Pl6wg58PB7-CxAnEe1Cawg4I1NDfUyY&dib_tag=se&keywords=brian+earl&qid=1761868527&sprefix=%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions [https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Past-Fascinating-Favorite-Traditions-ebook/dp/B0B8QGCVW3?ref_=ast_author_mpb] (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)

Christmas Memories 2025 - vol 4

This episode arrives on Christmas Eve Eve. It's our final family gathering of the season, where members of the Christmas Past family share some of their favorite Christmas memories.  Music in This Episode * "Cozy Podcast Music with Christmas Bells [https://pixabay.com/music/christmas-cozy-jazz-podcast-music-with-christmas-bells-248907/]" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay * "Podcast Jazz Waltz Cozy Relaxing Vibes [https://pixabay.com/music/traditional-jazz-podcast-jazz-waltz-cozy-relaxing-vibes-233733/]" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay Connect with Me * Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links [https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links] * Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Books Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past [https://www.amazon.com/Christmases-Long-Ago-Surprising-Traditions/dp/149308965X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RXSI9XDR82J3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.reIYlN0fAk-fXReS-4n4GsLCPCka3-CQDzVOJsuhhDg.c8Ezi77Xgkg-Pl6wg58PB7-CxAnEe1Cawg4I1NDfUyY&dib_tag=se&keywords=brian+earl&qid=1761868527&sprefix=%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions [https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Past-Fascinating-Favorite-Traditions-ebook/dp/B0B8QGCVW3?ref_=ast_author_mpb] (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)

The Secret Santa of Kansas City

A mysterious philanthropist spent more than 25 years handing out cash anonymously around Kansas City at Christmastime.  Music in this Episode * "I Knew A Guy [https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html]" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech * "Elegy for Manush [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/hojarasca/elegy-for-manush/]" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive * "The Agency Man [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/greenfire/the-agency-man/]" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive * "Velvet Ladder [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/TinyTiny_Trio/Velvet_Ladder/]" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive * "Soft Piano Music [https://pixabay.com/music/modern-classical-soft-piano-music-312509/]" — Clavier Music, via Pixabay * "A Very Brady Special [https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html]" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech * "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [https://pixabay.com/music/christmas-hark-the-herald-angels-sing-classical-piano-and-orchestral-strings-315s-11501/]" — Unnamed Artist, via Pixabay Connect with Me * Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links [https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links] * Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Books Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past [https://www.amazon.com/Christmases-Long-Ago-Surprising-Traditions/dp/149308965X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RXSI9XDR82J3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.reIYlN0fAk-fXReS-4n4GsLCPCka3-CQDzVOJsuhhDg.c8Ezi77Xgkg-Pl6wg58PB7-CxAnEe1Cawg4I1NDfUyY&dib_tag=se&keywords=brian+earl&qid=1761868527&sprefix=%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions [https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Past-Fascinating-Favorite-Traditions-ebook/dp/B0B8QGCVW3?ref_=ast_author_mpb] (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)

Christmas Memories 2025 - vol 3

We're at the end of the last full week of the Christmas season. Christmas 2025 is right around the corner. And today, we're back with another family gathering to reminisce about Christmases past. It's another visit dedicated to you and your Christmas memories!  Music in This Episode * "Cozy Podcast Music with Christmas Bells [https://pixabay.com/music/christmas-cozy-jazz-podcast-music-with-christmas-bells-248907/]" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay * "Podcast Jazz Waltz Cozy Relaxing Vibes [https://pixabay.com/music/traditional-jazz-podcast-jazz-waltz-cozy-relaxing-vibes-233733/]" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay Connect with Me * Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links [https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links] * Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Books Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past [https://www.amazon.com/Christmases-Long-Ago-Surprising-Traditions/dp/149308965X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RXSI9XDR82J3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.reIYlN0fAk-fXReS-4n4GsLCPCka3-CQDzVOJsuhhDg.c8Ezi77Xgkg-Pl6wg58PB7-CxAnEe1Cawg4I1NDfUyY&dib_tag=se&keywords=brian+earl&qid=1761868527&sprefix=%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions [https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Past-Fascinating-Favorite-Traditions-ebook/dp/B0B8QGCVW3?ref_=ast_author_mpb] (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)

The Silent Night

During the Great War, the fighting briefly ceased on Christmas on some parts of the front line. The so-called "Christmas Truce" has become almost legendary. What really happened?  Read some of the newspaper articles from 1914 and 1915 [https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-wwi-christmas-truce/selected-articles] reporting on the story at the Library of Congress's Chronicling America archive.  Music in this Episode * "Drum Feature: Generations from the Simple Gifts Show [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_United_States_Army_Old_Guard_Fife_and_Drum_Corps/Celebrating_50_Years/16/]" — The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, via Free Music Archive * "Silent Night [https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html]" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech * "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear [https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html]" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech * "Slowest Time [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/manuscript/slowest-time/]" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive * "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen [https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-132207/]" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress * "The First Noel [https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-132207/]" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress * "Silent Night [https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-132207/]" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress * "Gentle Soft Piano | Christmas Vibes [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/alex-productions/single/gentle-soft-piano-christmas-vibes/]" — Alex Productions, via Free Music Archive Connect with Me * Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links [https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links] * Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Books Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past [https://www.amazon.com/Christmases-Long-Ago-Surprising-Traditions/dp/149308965X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RXSI9XDR82J3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.reIYlN0fAk-fXReS-4n4GsLCPCka3-CQDzVOJsuhhDg.c8Ezi77Xgkg-Pl6wg58PB7-CxAnEe1Cawg4I1NDfUyY&dib_tag=se&keywords=brian+earl&qid=1761868527&sprefix=%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions [https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Past-Fascinating-Favorite-Traditions-ebook/dp/B0B8QGCVW3?ref_=ast_author_mpb] (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)