Christmas Past

Happy 10th birthday to Christmas Past. As we celebrate a decade of Christmas storytelling, I'll be looking back at some of my favorite episodes from previous seasons. This episode about the history behind The Nutcracker is from season 2 in 2017. 

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Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

It's a milestone birthday for Christmas Past. We're turning 10 years old this year. Throughout the season we'll be taking a look back at a decade of Christmas storytelling. Here's an old favorite from season 1 of the show. It's the story behind everyone's favorite Christmas underdog. 

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Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

It's a Wonderful Life turns 80 years old this year. When it first hit theaters in 1946, there was little indication that it would become the juggernaut it is. 

Film critic and author Emily St. James joins Brian to discuss the history and legacy of this American classic. Her new book is Every Time a Bell Rings: The Legacy of It’s a Wonderful Life, America’s Most Beloved Holiday Film. 

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE

“Christmas Slow Jazz” — PulseBox, via Pixabay

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

Christmas Past is turning 10 this year! To celebrate a decade of Christmas storytelling, throughout the season, we'll look back at episodes from previous years. Today, it's the history behind writing letters to Santa. This episode first appeared in season one, on December 1, 2016. 

May your days be merry and bright! 

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

Christmas Past is turning 10 this year! To celebrate a decade of Christmas storytelling, throughout the season, we'll look back at episodes from previous years. Today, it's Gift Wrap, which appeared in season one, released on December 9, 2016. 

May your days be merry and bright! 

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

Happy Halloween! 👻 And welcome to another season of Christmas Past. 

We're continuing our tradition of kicking things off with a ghost story from my friends at Biblioasis Books. Every season, they issue a set of three classic ghost stories for Christmas, designed and decorated by the acclaimed artists known only as Seth. 

Today's story is Edith Wharton's "The Duchess at Prayer," first published in Scribner's Magazine in 1900. Neglected by her absent husband, the beautiful Duchess Violante turns to prayer and, seemingly, the company of the Duke's cousin. Suspicious of his wife, the Duke returns unexpectedly one day and an argument breaks out which takes a dark turn—and leaves the memory of that day immportalized in the haunting face of a stone statue. 

I'm so excited to kick off another season with you and celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Christmas Past! 😮

May your days be merry and bright!

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE

• “Relaxing Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• “Halloween Lofi” —  Marek Zielinski, via Pixabay

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

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" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

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" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay
• "Podcast Jazz Waltz Cozy Relaxing Vibes" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

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" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• "Elegy for Manush" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "The Agency Man" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Velvet Ladder" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Soft Piano Music" — Clavier Music, via Pixabay
• "A Very Brady Special" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" — Unnamed Artist, via Pixabay

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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) 

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" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay
• "Podcast Jazz Waltz Cozy Relaxing Vibes" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay

CONNECT WITH ME
Links to social media and more https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links

Email: [email protected]

MY 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)