Holly is inseparable from Christmas. But its use in wintertime celebrations goes back even farther than Christmas itself.

Fun Links

• The Story Behind: Podcast by Emily Prokop, who shares a Christmas memory in this episode
• Holly Society of America

Music from this episode

• “Snowing” — Peter Rudenko, via Free Music Archive
• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” — 12 Tracks of Christmas, via SoundCloud
• “The Holly and the Ivy” — Richard M S Irwin, via Hymns Without Words
• "Saltines" — Podington Bear, viaFree Music Archive

Stay connected to Christmas Past

Be sure to follow Christmas Past on social media. I'm posting fun extra Christmassy content on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I also sometimes post things to Pinterest. You can send me messages in any of those places, or you can write me at christmaspastpodcast AT gmail DOT COM. I reply to every email I get!

You can subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts, like iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn. If you're on an Android device, the simplest way to subscribe may be right here.

And please rate and review the show on iTunes. It's a quick and painless way to show support. It takes less than a minute, and it helps more people find the show.

Connect with Me

• Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links
• Email: [email protected]

Books

Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past (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 (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)