Christmas Past

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 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)

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 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)

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 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)

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 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)

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 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" — The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, via Free Music Archive
• "Silent Night" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• "Slowest Time" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress
• "The First Noel" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress
• "Silent Night" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress
• "Gentle Soft Piano | Christmas Vibes" — Alex Productions, via Free Music Archive

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)

1968 was one of the most tumultuous years in modern history. But one bright spot occurred on Christmas Eve: an amazing feat that captivated the world.

Music in this Episode

• "Farewell" — Maarten Schellekens, via Free Music Archive
• "Endless Cosmos" — Serge Quadrado, via Free Music Archive
• "You'll Never Come to Dorset" — C. Diab, from the album Immerro, courtesy of Tonal Union records
• "Dawn Summit" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Cozy Jazz Podcast Music with Christmas Bells" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay

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)

A tragic accident at Christmastime in 1917 gives way to a story of a heroic response, a lasting friendship, and a unique Christmas tradition. 

Read Walter's letter to Harold, described in this story.

Music in this Episode

• "Carrier's Lullaby" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Quiet Serenity" — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive
• "Stay the Course" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• "Oh Christmas Tree" — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist
• "Relax Romantic Jazz Calm Soothing Home" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay

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)

Boy, are we right in the thick of this Christmas season. Thanksgiving was just a little over two weeks ago. Christmas Day is just a little under two weeks from today. I suppose that makes it peak Christmas season. 

So, what better time to come together again for a Christmas Past family gathering? Today, it's another special episode 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 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)

A child's Christmas surprise for his family in 1902 became the stuff of myth and legend. 

Music in this Episode

• "Crystal Dreams" — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive
• "Silent Movie" —Anastasia Chubarova, via Pixabay
• "Dreadnaught Files" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Cannolini" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Lonely Christmas" — Snoozy Beats, via Free Music Archive
• "Calm Christmas Piano" — Clavier Clavier, via Pixabay

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)

In 1953, a Christmas Eve train bound for New Zealand's capital city met a tragic fate. 

Music in this Episode

• "Ourselves at Least" — C. Diab, from the album Imerro on Tonal Union Records
• "Bucharest" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Cozy Winter" — Oleksii Kalyna, via Pixabay
• "Velejo" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Below the River" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Sad Sorrowful Documentary Music" — Ievgen Poltavskyi, via Pixabay
• "Venus Aire" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive

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)