It’s time for a Christmas story. This one’s really nice. Make sure you’re caught up with all the episodes at MyChristmasStocking.net. Keep up with the show on Facebook. Oh–I didn’t mention in the open that the closing of the episode mentions a song that I won’t be re-releasing. That was in 2014. Thanks for sticking with me this year. I hope to talk to you next year!

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Featured music:

“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” by Peter Furler featuring David Ian from “Peter Furler Christmas featuring David Ian”
Buy from Amazon

Background music:

“Away in a Manger – Traditional Christmas Carol for Piano” by Mario Ajero (from Mevio.com)

“After Christmas” by Dexter Britain from “Dexter Britain: Creative Commons Vol. 2” (from the Free Music Archive)

“The Gloucestershire Wassail” by IKOS featuring Dave Clifton from “Christmas Carols and Songs” (Little Room) (from the Free Music Archive)
Buy at Amazon

“Silent Night” by Kevin Macleod (incompetech.com)

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Paul and Brenda Neal from “Two Harps Christmas” (from Mevio.com)

“Snow Day” by Rosie Thomas from “A Very Rosie Christmas”
Buy on Amazon

“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”” by IKOS featuring Dave Clifton from “Christmas Carols and Songs” (Little Room) (from the Free Music Archive)
Buy at Amazon

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas” by the United States Marine Band from “Holiday Music Selections” (from the Free Music Archive)

More:

Read the story yourself thanks to AmericanLiterature.com.

A local tradition in upstate New York, the peppermint pigs are spreading around the country and the world thanks to the internet. Michael requested it! Call the Christmas Stocking anytime at 323-487-12-25 . All the episodes are at that address, too. Join the party on Facebook and tell me where you spend your social media time, or just online social time.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Christmas Time Again” by Smalltown Poets from “Christmastime Again”
Buy from Smalltown Poets
Buy on Amazon

Background music:

“Deck the Halls B” by Kevin McLeod (from Incompetech)

More information:

The Saratoga Candy Company’s website has some information on the peppermint pigs tradition, and of course you can order directly from them online.

The New York Daily News covered them in 2012.

Who was that who introduced the show? W.E.L.F.–An Elf Run Podcast

Erin in Arkansas wanted to hear about the 80s again. Did you love any of these toys? Let me know on  Facebook, which is pretty much where you can find me these days. And of course MyChristmasStocking.net. Also, call (323) 487-12-25 and share what Christmas IS to you!

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Infant Lowly Infant Lowly” by Chris Rupp featuring the Hound + the Fox from “A Little Bit of Christmas”
Buy on Apple Music
Buy on Amazon

Background music:

“Christmas Rap” by Kevin McLeod (from Incompetech)

“Winter White Forest” by Howard Eddy
Buy on Apple Music
Buy on Amazon

More information:

About the Rubik’s Cube from Wikipedia and The Telegraph.

About the Care Bears from Wikipedia.

About My Little Pony from Wikipedia.

Wikipedia will tell you about the Cabbage Patch Kids, the Transformers, the Koosh Ball, Pictionary, American Girl (and AmericanGirl.com), and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

They’re more popular than ever–and they’ve been around a long time!  Like the show on Facebook. What does Christmas mean to you? Call me at (323) 487-4225.  Find all the episodes at MyChristmasStocking.net

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“A Star Shall Rise Up Out of Jacob” by BYU Combined Choirs and Orchestra from “There Is a Star: Celebration of Christmas (Live at BYU)” (BYU Records)
More On This Album

More Christmas albums available from BYU Music.

Background music:

“In Dulce Jubilo” by The Manor House String Quartet from “I Saw Three Ships and Other Carols”
The Manor House String Quartet also make their scores available.

“Ding Dong! Merrily on High” by Davyd Booth, Michael Stairs from “It’s Christmas Again At Longwood Gardens” (DTR) Buy at Amazon

More information:

Wikipedia has a lot to say about the markets.

Dave in Texas wanted to hear about the Christmas Pickle. It’s actually real! Sort of. Let me know what to talk about on Facebook. All the episodes are at  MyChristmasStocking.net. Thanks to Dave in Arizona for your gift to the show! Go to MyChristmasStocking.net to give to the show, and encourage me to get back to putting together new shows!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/89TheChristmasPickle2025.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Go Tell it on the Mountain” by Roger McGuinn (from the Free Music Archive)

Background music:

“Angels We Have Heard on High” by Michael Ryan from “A Classical Guitar Christmas”

“Carol of the Bells” by Gato (found on MacJams.com)

More information:

WhyChristmas.com boils it down.

Here’s Wikipedia’s article.

From Christmas 2009: Most of us probably know why we put Christmas Seals on our envelopes and packages, but do you know where they came from? You will. Go to MyChristmasStocking.net for more. Join us on Facebook.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Wake Up, It’s Christmas!” by Peter Combe
Buy at AmazonMP3
 Get the songbook with this song and his whole Christmas album.

Background music:

“O Holy Night” by The London Fox Players from “Christmas – Guitar” (Classic Fox Records)
Buy at Amazon MP3

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” by Monika Herzig from “Peace on Earth” (Owl Studios)
Buy at Bandcamp

Buy a CD(!) at Acme Records

More On This Album

More information:

To get your Christmas Seals or just donate to the American Lung Association, go here. The ALA has a decent history of the Seals, though glossing over some details.

Wikipedia has a more comprehensive history.

From Christmas ’06: The most anticipated shopping day of the year for many shoppers, the most dreaded for others, and for retail employees: Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. What’s up with such a forboding name for such a fun day? We’ll get into that and more on the Christmas Stocking. The music’s a bit crazy this time, just like the day. Comment at MyChristmasStocking.net. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/2BlackFriday2025.mp3
Click here to download the show to your device.

Background music includes:

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Molly Pauken and Rob Brumfiel from the album “Six String Christmas”

Brooklyn Christmas by Peter S. Quinn (originally from GarageBand.com)

Featured song:

Christmas Hopes and Joy by Black Turtle

From Thanksgiving 2009: The Christmas season has returned, and we look at smaller parades around the country. Go to MyChristmasStocking.net to find a lot more. Call me at 323-487-1225. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.   And join us on Facebook.

Featured music:
“Season of Joy” by Sounds Of Blackness from “The Night Before Christmas 2” (Atomic K Records)
Play on Apple Music
Play on Spotify

Background music:

“Christmas Morn (Stop! Stop! Stop!)” by Jeff Tincher from “Well… Where’s The Presents?” (NiteLife Music)

“I Saw Three Ships” by Brian Bunker Christmas (originally from GarageBand.com)

More information:

It may seem like I exhausted the parade list, but this is only the tip of the iceburg. Wikipedia has a list that isn’t exhaustive, either, but if you want to explore….

More on the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

A list of 2009 holiday events in Chicago.

See what Target has cooked up for Winterapolis in Minneapolis.

From Christmas 2009: The day after Christmas means more shopping for many Americans. But for those who celebrate Boxing Day…okay, it means more shopping for them, too. But there’s even more to it! Have a suggestion for the ChristmasStocking?  Go to MyChristmasStocking.net, click the Call Me button and enter your phone number. My voicemail will call you for free; and you can mark your number private so nobody will know where the call came from. Or get in touch on Twitter.com/XmasStocking, Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET. Or Facebook.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Good King Wenceslas and His Merry Band” by  US Air Force Airmen of Note from “Christmas Time Is Here” (Altissimo!)
Buy at Amazon Music

Background music:

“Breakin’ Up Christmas” by Al Petteway & Amy White from “Winter Tidings: An Appalachian Christmas”

Buy at Amazon Music

More information:

Snopes.com disabuses my impression of Boxing Day and gives some info.

Kaboose.com has a little Q&A on the topic.

And of course Wikipedia is full of knowledge.

From Christmas 2011: Merry Christmas! We know Rudolph’s story, more or less, but how did his story come to light?   We’re here all year on Facebook, Twitter.com/XmasStocking, and Google+. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.net and keep coming back to MyChristmasStocking.net whenever you need some Christmas.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Silent Night” by Sounds Of Blackness from “The Night Before Christmas 2” (Atomic K Records)
 Buy at Amazon Music

Background music:

“Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer” by Tema Digital Media from “Instrumental Christmas” (Tema Digital Media)

“Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Jingle Bells” by Bill Cunliffe, Clay Jenkins, Larry Koonse, Joe La Barbera, Tom Warrington from “Snowfall” (Jazz Compass)

“Joy to the World” by Bing Futch (I found it on MacJams.com)

Buy on Amazon Music

More information:

Snopes.com debunks a myth (that I don’t mention), and has lots of good info. And Wikipedia has even more.