It’s all about tinsel. Find the Christmas Stocking on Twitter (@XmasStocking), on Facebook, Pinterest and Google+. Call (323) 487-12-25 and tell me what Christmas IS to you. Thanks to Rick in Pennsylvania for the generous gift to the Christmas Stocking! Go to MyChristmasStocking.net and click Contribute.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/125TheLegendOfTheChristmasSpider.mp3

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Featured music:

“The Lights on the Trees” by Matt diVenti from the EP “Christmas Songs Vol. 1” (from Noisetrade)

“This is Christmas” by Katey Laurel from the double album “This is Christmas”

Background music:

“The First Noel” and “Good King Wenceslas” by Chris Friesen from “I Heard the Bells” (from Noisetrade)

“Unto Us a Child is Born”by the California Guitar Trio from the album “A Christmas Album”

“This is Christmas Instrumental” by Katey Laurel

More information:

Wikipedia has more on the legend itself, tinsel, and the Christmas spider of Australia.

Kraftmstr.com has a version of the legend.

The Pet Poison Helpline has more information on the dangers of tinsel.

You may have heard the story of the origin of “Silent Night,” but I may have some info you didn’t know about. Find out about more carols at MyChristmasStocking.net. The phone number is (323) 487-12-25 What IS Christmas to you? We do the social thing–on Facebook, on Twitter (@XmasStocking), Pinterest and Google+.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/124SilentNight.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Silent Night” by Shuree from the EP “Christmas Soul Unplugged” (from Noisetrade)

Background music:

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

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

“Silent Night No Percussion Instrumental” by Katey Laurel from the album “This is Christmas”

More information:

Find more information about the hymn from the BBC, In Mozart’s Footsteps and Stille Nacht Gesellschaft.

Find many English translations, including the one you probably know, on the Silent Night Web.

We continue on our march through toy time. Did you love any of these toys? Let me know on Twitter (@XmasStocking),on Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest. And of course MyChristmasStocking.net. Call (323) 487-12-25 and share what Christmas IS to you!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/123ChristmasToys1980-1989.mp3

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Featured music:

“Infant Lowly Infant Lowly” by Chris Rupp featuring the Hound + the Fox from “A Little Bit of Christmas”

Background music:

“Christmas Rap” by Kevin McLeod (from Incompetech)

“Winter White Forest” by Howard Eddy

More information:

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

About the Care Bears from Wikipedia and AG Kids Zone.

About My Little Pony from Wikipedia and Hasbro.

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.

Eddie Lee on Facebook suggested I talk about “Elf.” Here we go! Plus a call from Terry in New York about what Christmas IS to him. You can call (323) 487-12-25, too! We’re all over social media: on Facebook, on Twitter (@XmasStocking), and Pinterest and Google+.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/122_elf_TheMovie.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Key to Christmas” by William McKechnie from “Key to Christmas Fluffy Snow”

Background music:

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Dave Jones (from MacJams.com)

“Jingle Bells” by Kevin Macleod (incompetech.com)

“The Holly and the Ivy” by Chris Friesen from “I Heard the Bells” (from Noisetrade)

“Joy to the World” by The Manor House String Quartet from “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Other Carols”

More information:

Wikipedia has lots of information.

IMDb will tell you a lot.

Mental Floss will tell you some things you might not know about the movie.

Jon Favreau talked about “Elf” with Rolling Stone.

Do you say “Happy Christmas” or “Merry Christmas”? Either way, you’re right. Find out how the expressions developed.  Plenty of Christmas news and info on Twitter (@XmasStocking), a great Christmas community on Facebook, and Google+ and Pinterest. Call (323) 487-12-25 and tell me what Christmas IS to you, and you may be on the show. Thanks to everyone who contributes, MyChristmasStocking.net, click Contribute.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/121HappyVs.MerryChristmas.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Sing We Noel” by Found Wandering from the album “On a Christmas Night”

Background music:

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

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Jason Shaw (from Audionautix.com)

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by The Manor House String Quartet from “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Other Carols”

“Sing We (Merrily on High & Now of Christmas)” by Frank Carter from the album “Christmas Cheer”

More information:

Patheos delves into the Happy vs. Merry conundrum. Hello Giggles’ take on the same thing. And so does Wonderopolis.