It's fluffy, sweet, and studded with raisins and candied fruit peel. It's the Italian Christmas cake known as Panettone. Get ready to talk with your hands, along with me and Max Miller of Tasting History as we dig in. 

Mentioned in This Episode

Tasting History

Music in This Episode

• "Bushwick Tarantella" — Kevin MacLeod, via Youtube Audio Library
• "Saloon Piano - Ragtime Retro Vintage Jazz Comedy Music" — FreeGroove, via Pixabay
• "We Three Kings" — James Edwards, via Magnatune Compilation
• "PianoCello" — Reverie Now, via Pixabay
• "Pop Vibration" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Good King Wenceslas" — Richard Irwin, via Hymns Without Words
• "Jingle Bells" — Scott Holmes Music, via Free Music Archive

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

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Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

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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)

Cozy up with the Christmas Past family for some reminiscing! It's one of our favorite annual traditions...where I turn things over to you and let you guide my sleigh tonight on a trip down memory lane!

Music in this episode

• "Instrument 12092021" — orangiromusik, via Pixabay
• "This Christmas" — Hot Music, via Pixabay

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

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IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

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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)

Most of the classic American Christmas songs come from the 1940s. What was it about that decade that accounts for an explosion of Christmas music that's stood the test of time? What is it about those songs that sounds so Christmassy? And why are Christmas classics so few and far between in recent generations? Join me and Berklee College of Music professor Chris North to dive in! 

Music in This Episode

• "Sleigh Ride" — Marcus Staab, via Musopen
• "Home for the Holidays" — Track Tribe, via Youtube Audio Library
• "Christmas Jazz" — Audio Coffee, via Pixabay
• "171221 - jazz style piano / day / happy / love / life" — WELC0MEИ0, via Pixabay
• "Christmas Magic Night" — Lesfm, via Pixabay
• "Night Jazz" — Music for Videos, via Pixabay

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

Amazon

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Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

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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)

Strictly speaking, a Christmas carol is a song that tells the Nativity story. That's what made Edmund Sears's song, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" so unusual when he wrote it. It didn't tell the story of Jesus's birth; it told the story of how people reacted to the news. This "humanist carol"  arrived at a time when music itself was in the midst of some major changes. 

Music in This Episode

• "Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9 no. 2" — Aya Higuchi, via Musopen
• "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" — Kevin MacLeod, via Youtube Audio Library
• "Lullaby for a King" — Cathy Oakes, via Feels Like Christmas
• "Endless by PrabajithK"—Mild Relaxation, via Pixabay
• "Night Jazz" — Music for Videos, via Pixabay
• Piano samples from "Carol" and "Noel" generously played by Carrie from the Christmas Past family!

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

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IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

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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)

They're the festive party favors containing a paper crown, a trinket, and a joke — and wrapped in a package that goes "bang" when you open it! Christmas Crackers are an invention of the Victorian age. And more specifically, one confectioner named Tom Smith. Smith single handedly created a tradition that has endured for generations. 

Mentioned in This Episode

• Peter Kimpton's Website
• Tom Smith's Christmas Crackers — Book by Peter Kimpton

Music in This Episode

• "The Kishner Method" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Forget" — Lesfm, via Pixabay
• "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen Christmas Piano Background Music" — Lesfm, via Pixabay
• "Sedative" — Lesfm, via Pixabay
• "Stress Relief Piano" — PianoAmor, via Pixabay
• "Night Jazz" — Music for Videos, via Pixabay

 

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

Facebook page

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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)

"Father Christmas"...that's what they call Santa Claus in England, right? Well, sort of, but there's more to it than that. Join me and guest professor Gerry Bowler to look into the origins of this often misunderstood Christmas character. 

Music in This Episode

• "A Peaceful Winter" — Scott Holmes, via Free Music Archive
• "Sentimental Light Hopeful Tender Piano" — Ashot-Danielyan-Composer, via Pixabay
• "Classical Piano And Cello" — Ashot-Danielyan-Composer, via Pixabay
• "Romanesca" — Cheryl Ann Fulton, via Magnatune Compilation
• "I Saw Three Ships" — James Edwards, via Magnatune Compilation
• "Modern Christmas Full no Santa" —Muzaproduction, via Pixabay

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

Amazon

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Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

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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)

It's the theater experience that's as rollicking and raucous as it is festive! And it's also mostly unknown to American audiences. Join Brian in this episode to hear all about the British tradition of Pantomime.

Mentioned in This Episode

• http://www.evolution-productions.co.uk/
• https://www.vam.ac.uk/

Music in This Episode

• "Vaquero Perdido" — The Mini Vandals, via Youtube Audio Library
• "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• "Dona Norem" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Twinkle Like a Star" — Monday Hopes, via Pixabay
• "Ding Dong Merrily on High" — Steve's Bedroom Band, via Musopen
• "Snowflakes - Winter & Christmas Swing Music" — Julius H, via Pixabay

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

Facebook page

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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)

Since the early 1930s, Rockefeller Center has been home to an enormous Christmas tree, elaborately decorated and introduced each season with great fanfare and spectacle. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has become America's Christmas tree. Christine Roussel, the official Archivist of Rockefeller Center, joins Brian to tell the tale of this iconic institution. 

Music in This Episode

• "The Broker" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Angels We Have Heard on High - Hark The Herald Angels Sing" — James Edwards, via Magnatune Compilation
• "Glow"— Scott Buckley, via scottbuckley.com.au
• "A Jazz Piano" — Music for Videos, via Pixabay
• "Owl's Christmas" — Owl Glance, via Pixabay
• "Jingle Bells Violin (Main)" — Daddy's Music, via Pixabay

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

Facebook page

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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)

They were a symbol of the Space Age and then, quickly, they were a relic of the past. Aluminum Christmas trees burst onto the Christmas scene in the late 1950s and reached peak popularity during the 60s. And then...they were gone. But a new generation is discovering the kitschy, retro charm of this uniquely American invention. 

Mentioned in This Episode

 The Evergleam Book, by Theron Georges

 Theron Georges's Aluminum Christmas Tree displays

Music in This Episode

• "Dunder" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Acoustic Motivation" — Coma Media, via Pixabay
• "O Christmas Tree - O Tannenbaum - Piano Christmas Carol" — JuliusH, via Pixabay
• "Silent Night" — Zakhar Valaha Music, via Pixabay
• “Shades of Spring” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• "This Christmas" — Hot Music, via Pixabay

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

Facebook page

Facebook group

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Website

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)

It's the universal symbol of the Christmas season: a tree (typically a fir) adorned with ornaments and lights. But...what does any of that have to do with Christmas? The Christmas tree has a long history. But only fairly recently has it become especially common in homes at Christmas time. 

Music in this episode

• "Eternal Hope" — Kevin MacLeod, via Youtube Audio Library
• "O Christmas Tree - Ernst Anshutz Christmas Piano Music" — Lesfm, via Pixabay
• "March" — Kai Engel, via Free Music Archive
• "Ambient Piano" — Balance Bay, via Pixabay
• "Greensleeves" — Lesfm, via Lesfm.net
• "Christmas Atmosphere" — Lesfm, via Pixabay

Buy the Christmas Past Book!

Order your copy today. And remember...it makes a great gift!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Share a Christmas memory

 Be on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to [email protected]. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from. 

Keep in touch

[email protected]

Facebook page

Facebook group

Twitter

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Website

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)