The festivities that grew into modern day Christmas have spanned millennia. But most of the traditions we recognize today began under the reign of Queen Victoria. Take a listen for the history of Christmas cards, kissing balls, Christmas trees, and presents. Check out the links below for some creepy Victorian cards. Happy holidays! See you in 2021!

More Info

Queen Victoria’s Christmas Tree - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Victoria_and_Albert_Christmas_tree.jpg

Creepy Victorian Christmas Cards - https://www.boredpanda.com/creepy-victorian-vintage-christmas-cards

The First Christmas Card - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-christmas-card-180957487/

Storical Holiday Reading - https://www.immortalperfumes.com/sweet-tea-apothecary/2020/11/21/8-historical-holiday-books-to-read-this-winter

Charles Dickens Storical Series - https://www.immortalperfumes.com/storical?tag=charles%20dickens

Pssst…it turns out Christmas is a super pagan holiday. On today’s episode we’re doing a brief overview of the origins of Christmas and how Charles Dickens brought the holiday back after Oliver Cromwell had Christmas canceled. For all those who think there’s a war on Christmas…just be glad Oliver Cromwell’s not still around.

Happy Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas! I’ll talk to you in the New Year.

This is a rebroadcast from the sunnier days of 2019.

New episodes on Mondays. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Stitcher. Follow on Instagram or Facebook @storicalpodcast

Further Listening

Charles Dickens episodes of Storical Podcast

It’s Native American Heritage Day! For today’s episode, I’ll be shining a light on an important Native woman in Nevada history: Sarah Winnemucca. She was the first Native woman to write an autobiography and traveled around the US on a lecture tour educating and protesting the plight of her people. Take a listen and get inspired, then research the tribes indigenous to your area. There is fascinating history all around us.

New episodes on Mondays. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Audible, or Stitcher. Follow on Instagram or Facebook @storicalpodcast

Recommended Reading

Life Among the Paiutes by Sarah Winnemucca

Paiute Princess: The Story of Sarah Winnemucca by Deborah Kogan Ray

Edgar Allan Poe had a mind for the macabre. But as it turns out, some of his most famous works were based on true tales of horror. Listen to the episode for the origin stories of 5 of Poe’s spookiest works.

New episodes on Mondays. You can listen on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Audible, or Stitcher. Follow on Instagram or Facebook @storicalpodcast

Read Edgar Allan Poe’s Stories on Project Gutenberg

The Cholera Masquerade

Houdini Episodes of Storical

Elizabeth Bathory on Storical

Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849, but there are still places standing that housed the author. This week, we’re traveling from Richmond to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston for a look at some of the most interesting places to visit on your very own Poe Pilgrimage.

Sites Mentioned

Richmond

The Poe Museum - https://www.poemuseum.org/

The Raven Room - https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-raven-room-charlottesville-virginia

Baltimore

The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum (Virtual tours available) - https://www.poeinbaltimore.org/museum/

Edgar Allan Poe’s Grave - https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/edgar-allan-poe-s-grave

Philadelphia

The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site - https://www.nps.gov/edal/index.htm

Grip the Raven at Free Library of Philadelphia - https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/3554

New York

Edgar Allan Poe Street - https://viewing.nyc/vintage-photograph-from-1879-shows-the-uws-house-where-edgar-allan-poe-wrote-the-raven/

Edgar Allan Poe Cottage - http://bronxhistoricalsociety.org/poe-cottage/history-of-the-cottage/

Boston

Edgar Allan Poe Square - https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/edgar-allan-poe-square