Christmas Culture Club

Let’s be honest: the holidays are magical, but they can also be brutal on your bank account. If you’re feeling the pressure of gift lists, holiday groceries, and travel costs, take a deep breath. You do not have to go into debt to make Christmas special.
Today we are sharing some practical tips to budget and plan for a very merry and affordable Christmas without losing your holiday cheer.

Welcome to Season 2 of Christmas Culture Club and to start off the year we are going to talk through what Santa and Mrs. Klaus did in their offseason and get you ready to transition from summer beach bodies to our favorite time of the year!

In our final episode of the Christmas Culture Club 2025 season, we explore Epiphany—what it is, why it matters, and how it serves as the ceremonial handshake between Christmas and the start of Carnival and Mardi Gras season. We’ll uncover the history of a day that once stood at the very heart of the Christmas calendar, trace how its meaning has shifted over time, and travel around the world to see the many ways Epiphany is still celebrated today. From king cakes and parades to quiet rituals and community feasts, this episode closes our season by revisiting a tradition that shaped Christmas as we know it—even if it’s faded from modern pop culture.

In honor of it being New Year’s Eve, we’re sharing a wonderful brief interview we recorded with Nanna Gunnarsdottir, all about the unique and meaningful ways New Year’s Eve is celebrated around in Iceland!

We’re diving headfirst into the strange, wonderful no-man’s-land between Christmas and New Year’s. The days blur, the rules disappear, and suddenly cookies feel like a valid breakfast choice. What are you binge-watching? Are you deep-cleaning your way into the New Year—or avoiding it entirely? Are you traveling to escape family, or spending even more time with them? And honestly… how many times today did you forget what day it is?

This weird, cozy, snack-filled limbo is what Twixmas is all about.

It’s Christmas Eve, a night steeped in tradition, memory, and a whole lot of magic! In this episode, we settle in for a cozy deep dive into the history of Santa Claus. How did he journey from a 4th-century Turkish bishop to the Dutch Sinterklaas, and eventually become the familiar figure woven into American Christmas traditions? We explore how 19th-century New York reshaped Santa to soften rowdy holiday celebrations, how Civil War era propaganda helped define his image, and whether Coca-Cola really cemented the Santa we know today. Pour some cocoa and milk (for Santa!), gather close, and listen in as we trace the long, fascinating story behind the man who may be shimmying down your chimney tonight!

The holidays are often painted as a season of joy and celebration—but for many, they can also be wrapped up in grief and loss. In this episode, we talk honestly about how to show up for ourselves, and for the friends and family around us, when the season feels heavier than joyful. We are joined by grief counselor and hospital chaplain Jim Manzardo, who shares gentle guidance on navigating a tough holiday season with kindness, compassion, and care—for ourselves and for others.

Food is at the center of so many holiday traditions, and this week we’re exploring why these dishes mean so much. We’re taking a thoughtful look at the foods we share for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa — from beloved family recipes to the dishes our ancestors carried across generations. Together, we’ll uncover the stories behind these meals and how they help us stay connected to our heritage, our communities, and each other during the holiday season.

This week, we’re taking you on a whirlwind sleigh ride around the globe!
We’re exploring the customs, quirks, and beloved traditions that make Christmas unique in every corner of the world. From Iceland’s mischievous Yule Lads to Greece’s festive seaside rituals, from Tanzania’s community music filled feasts to Germany’s storybook markets, all the way to Australia’s sunny beachside celebrations with lots of shrimp—you’ll hear firsthand experiences of what Christmas really looks like across cultures. It's a longer episode but worth it so pour yourself some hot cocoa and settle in!

A little wonder, a little wanderlust, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit.

This week, we’re taking on Christmas music in all its forms: the classics, the catastrophes, and the guilty pleasures we can’t help but sing along to. We’re digging into what makes a holiday song iconic, what makes it delightfully terrible, and why those so-called “worst” Christmas tracks are often the ones that spark the most nostalgia and joy. Plus, we’re tracing the wild, winding history of how Christmas music even started—from ancient chants to modern jingles—and uncovering how it became the soundtrack of the season.