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.

From Christmas 2010: Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy it. Stay in touch on Twitter.com/XmasStocking and our Facebook page. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.net. Other ways to communicate and a lot more are at MyChristmasStocking.net.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Santa’s On His Way” by The Pipettes
from “Santa’s On His Way”
(Fortuna POP)
 Buy at Amazon Music

Background music:

“A Silent Night” by Bernd Rover (from MacJams.com) I could not find this recording on the internet in 2024.

“Christmastime” by illuminati (from MacJams.com)Again, I couldn’t find this recording on the internet in 2024.

“I Saw Three Ships” by The Manor House String Quartet from “I Saw Three Ships and Other Carols”

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Joemy Wilson from “Gifts – Traditional Christmas Carols”
(Dargason Music)
 Buy at Amazon Music

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by TennesseeVic (from MacJams.com)Another recording lost to time in 2024

More info:

Several versions of the poem, including four published in the 19th century, are on Wikisource.org

From Christmas 2010: I love the dancing twins, the pink aluminum Christmas tree, and everything else about A Charlie Brown Christmas. We go behind the scenes. Many ways to get involved. I post a ton of Christmas info on Twitter.com/XmasStocking, and will reply if you message me. The  Facebook page is hopping, too. Email TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET. And what do you want for Christmas? Go to MyChristmasStocking.net, click the Call Me button and enter your phone number. My voicemail will call you privately and for free.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Sing Hallelujah (Christ Is Born of Mary)” by 1 Less Stone (from Soundclick.com)

Background music:

“The First Nowell” by David Shelley from “Christmas Sax – Seasonal Favorites With Smooth Jazz”
(Classic Fox Records)
Buy on Amazon Music

“O Come All Ye Faithful” by Michael Ryan from “A Classical Guitar Christmas”  
Buy on  Amazon Music

More information:

Infoplease.com, MentalFloss.com, Wikia.com and, of course, Wikipedia.com have some more about the production.

Amazon has many DVD versions, including this one and the Holiday Collection, some Blu-rays (this is the most basic version),  (oh–and this is the Holiday Collection Blu-ray).

I’m not positive this is completely accurate, but this claims to be the original ending of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. The original link was taken down.

From Christmas 2008: In this super-stuffed Christmas Stocking episode, one of my favorite Christmas stories. I hope you enjoy it. Find info at MyChristmasStocking.net. If you have any stories or poems you would like to be shared on The Christmas Stocking, you can email me: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.  Also follow me on Twitter.com/XmasStocking. And join us on Facebook. And talk to me be on MyChristmasStocking.net, click the Call Me button, and my voicemail will call you.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Away in a Manger” by Amy Caldwell and Tom Moore (from Soundclick.com)

Background music:

“All Poor Men And Humble” by The Eden Symphony Orchestra from “20 Classical Christmas Favorites”

(Classic Fox Records)

“Christmas Pathetique” by Michael Allen Harrison from “Enchanted Christmas Volume Three”
(MAH Records)
 Buy at Amazon Music

“Angels We Have Heard on High” by Tommy Harden (from “Peace On Earth”)
(IMI)

You can read the story yourself.

Wikipedia has a nice overview of other versions of the story.

If you want to find out more about O. Henry (including his real name) The Literature Network is a good resource.

From Christmas 2009: A Mini Irish Christmas Music Spectacular! Info, music and Christmas traditions from a listener who emailed TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET. You can be on the Christmas Stocking. Just 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. Follow us on Twitter.com/XmasStocking. And join us on Facebook.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Mrs. Fogarty’s Christmas Cake” by Darby O’Gill (I originally found it on Soundclick.com. It’s now on Archive.org)

“Children Go Where I Send Thee” by Darby O’Gill (also originally from Soundclick.com, now on Archive.org) An African-American spiritual they say is based on an ancient Irish patter song.

“Silent Irish Night” by Rebsie Fairholm (I originally found it on MacJams.com. I could not find it anymore.)

Background music:

“Christmas Day in the Morning” by Shira Kammen (from Magnatune)

“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by Monika Herzig from “Peace on Earth” (Owl Studios, now Owl Music Group)
Buy at Bandcamp

More information:

Santa’s Net, Kaboose.com, and WhyChristmas.com all have cool tidbits.

All of the represented episodes (will probably) have intros.

This one is from Christmas 2008: A lot happened in the first half of the 20th century, and we look at how Christmas was affected. More at MyChristmasStocking.net. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.   Follow me on Twitter.com/XmasStocking. And join us on Facebook. And talk to me be on MyChristmasStocking.net, click the Call Me button, and my voicemail will call you.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Jingle Bells” by Joe Williams from “Christmas Remixed 2”
(Rock River Music)
Buy on Amazon
Buy at Bandcamp

Background music:

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Jeffrey Scot Wills from “A Central Standard Christmas”
(IMI)
 Buy from Jeffrey

“Noel Nouvelet/Patapan Medley” by Sarah Whitely (I found it on MacJams.com). I’m unable to find any information on this song. If you have a location for it, I’d love to send folks there!

More information:

OldChristmasLights.com, formerly The Antique Christmas Lights Museum, has information.

History.com has details on the Christmas Truce of 1914.

Wikipedia has a list of Christmas hit singles.

From Christmas ’07: A change of pace this episode. Suzy Clemens, the daughter of Mark Twain, received at least one letter from Santa Claus. Can you imagine? That would be so cool! We will look over her shoulder and read it. Let me know what you think of this special episode at MyChristmasStocking.net. Or email me: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Background music:

“Variations on a West Country Carol” by USAF Concert Band and Singing Sergeants (from “Make the Season Bright”)
(Altissimo!)
Buy on Amazon

“Away in a Manger” by Frank McConnell (from “Christmas Guitar – Warm And Intimate Christmas Favorites”)
(Classic Fox Records)
Buy on Amazon

Featured music:

“Snow” by The von Trapp Children (from “Snow – New Songs of the Season”)
(IMI)
Buy at Amazon

More information:

If you would like a copy for yourself, maybe to read to your child…

From Christmas ’07: A lot of what we know as Christmas came from the Victorian era, and some earlier traditions that we enjoy today were revived in the Victorian era. Call us at (323) 487-1225. Tell us your favorite traditions at MyChristmasStocking.net. Or email me at TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/17VictorianChristmas2024.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Background music:

“O Little Town Of Bethlehem” by The Columba Minstrels (from “Christmas On The Back Porch- 20 Treasured Songs of the Season performed in Simple Folk styles”)

(Classic Fox Records) 

Buy on Amazon 

“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” by Eric Wyse (from “Christmas Angels- 20 Treasured Songs of the Season Performed In Peaceful Styles”)
(Classic Fox Records)
 Buy on Amazon

“We Three Kings Of Orient Are” by London Fox Players & Tim Mather (from “20 Christmas Party Favorites”)
(Classic Fox Records)
 Buy on Amazon

Featured music:
“I Saw Three Ships” by The Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor (from “Cathedral Christmas”)
(Classic Fox Records)
 Buy on Amazon

“Love Came Down At Christmas” by Chichester Cathedral Choir (from “20 Choral Christmas Favorites”)
(Classic Fox Records)
Buy on Amazon

More information:

From the original post, the official web site of the British monarchy had an excellent history, but unfortunately the webpage seems to no longer exist.

Also unfortunately, Stuart Buchanan MacWatt wrote about the personal side of Victoria and her family’s approach to Christmas, which is also gone.

A link to the holiday store windows of the past from Victoriana.com is no longer available.

Ah! But a nice overview of Christmas in Victorian times is still there for you to enjoy, and perhaps learn a bit more.

You’ll find a little introduction before the episode.

From Christmas ’06: The centerpiece of holiday decorating is the Christmas tree. Why do we bring a tree inside the house and put pretty baubles on it? Where did that tradition come from? We’ll answer those questions and more on the Christmas Stocking. Comment atMyChristmasStocking.net. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.

Click here to download the show to your device.

Background music includes:

“Deck the Halls” by Technohazard (from GarageBand.com)

“O Christmas Tree,” one of Patricia’s Christmas Carols (formerly from Soundclick.com)

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by John Morgan, available on a CD of Christmas music. I found it at  feelslikechristmas.com

Featured song:

“Holy Night” by Sandra Mooy (available on Bandcamp.com

If you want to learn more about Christmas trees:

The National Christmas Tree Association has a lot of information, including tree maintenance.

Wikipedia has a decent history, too, although it has a lot of opinions sprinkled in the information.