As I'm recording this, I have my holiday candle burning, my kids hopped up on Christmas cookie sugar, and I'm struggling to find a way to hide Christmas presents from my husband before being able to wrap them. If you're listening to this way later, and you haven't already looked at the title of this episode, get ready for a throwback to what kids and retailers call The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

When I first started this podcast back in 2016, I did an episode like this and I liked it a lot, and it's a nice way to cap off the year, since I'll be taking a winter break with the show until the new year.

You're listening to The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History of the Ordinary. I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Christmas Traditions: Part 2.

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Media:

• Music for Makers
• FreeXMasMP3.com

Sources:

• The Death of Baldur - Norse-Mythology.org
• Why Do We Kiss Under the Mistletoe? - History.com
• Pucker Up! Why Do People Kiss Under the Mistletoe? - Live Science
• Mistletoe Traditions - Mistletoe.org.uk
• 15 Fun Facts About Fruitcake - Mental Floss
• The secret history of fruitcake - CBC
• FOOD; Lasting Legacy of Fruitcake - The New York Times
• Why We Eat Fruitcake on Christmas - The Daily Meal
• A Short History of Fruitcake - The Village Voice
• Fruitcake Toss - Visit Colorado Springs
• The Legend of the Christmas Stocking - Smithsonian.org
• The Christmas Stocking - The New York Times
• History of Christmas Stockings - Love to Know
• Christmas Stocking - Love to Know
• Socks or Shoes? Why We Hang Christmas Stockings - Socks or Shoes? Why We Hang Christmas Stockings

Referenced:

• The Story Behind Christmas Traditions (Part 1)
• Christmas Past podcast