Who doesn't love a parade? The very idea of a procession, usually involving costumes and music, is at least 4,000 years old. But grand parades to kick off the Christmas season are much newer. The kind we're most familiar with nowadays developed when large retail chains held parades to stimulate shopping and define a new, earlier start to the Christmas season. All that capitalism sounds very American, but — surprise! — Canada beat us to it!

In today's episode, Clayton Charters, president and CEO of the Original Santa Claus Parade in Toronto, joins Brian.

Watch the playback of the 2024 Santa Claus Parade on Youtube!

Music in this Episode

• "Happy Christmas Day" — LudoSoundX, via Pixabay
• "I'm Not Feeling Well Today" — u_0tyyfec3hz, via Pixabay
• "O Little Town of Bethlehem" — Calvin Clavier, via Pixabay
• "Jazz Theme 5" — Erkki Marjasvaara, via Pixabay

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Book

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.