We travel to Pennsylvania Dutch country to visit a regional favorite. Thanks for the suggestion, Steven! He wrote to [email protected] to suggest it. Join us on Facebook, where I’m posting some Live Video among other stuff, on Twitter (@XmasStocking), where I’m posting news and other Christmas links, and Pinterest and Google+, where I post about the show. I want your voice on the show! Call (323) 487-12-25 and explain what Christmas IS to you. Explore MyChristmasStocking.net for over 100 other episodes.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/120TheNationalChristmasCenter.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“December Daze” by Janet Devlin from the EP “December Daze”

Background music:

“Winter Whimsy” by Shay MacKay (from MacJams.com)

“Christmastime” by illuminati (from MacJams.com)

More information:

The National Christmas Center website has pretty much everything you need to know.

The Reading, PA, Eagle talked to the founder and owner of the National Christmas Center, Jim Morrison in 2015.

Travel sites Discover Lancaster, Visit PA, and Roadside America have more info if you want to visit.

If you’ve never cut your own Christmas tree, or haven’t in a while, here are some tips in an extra-sized episode. Lots of Christmas news and fun on Twitter (@XmasStocking), on Facebook (including Live Video), Pinterest andGoogle+. Find everything at MyChristmasStocking.net. Tell me  what Christmas IS to you at (323) 487-12-25 and you could be on the show. Email [email protected].

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/119CuttingDownYourOwnChristmasTree.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Ave Maria” by Bunny Sigler from the album “When You’re in Love at Christmastime”

Background music:

“Oh Christmas Tree” by Frank Carter from the album “Christmas Cheer”

“Oh Christmas Tree” by the California Guitar Trio from the album “A Christmas Album”

“Star on the Tree” by Howard Eddy

More information:

The Pioneer Tree Farm in McHenry, IL, provided most of the tips I gave.

The National Christmas Tree Association tells you how to care for your farm-grown Christmas tree.

The U.S. Forest Service has information for the Rocky Mountain Region tree cutting program and guidelines for getting your tree in the national forests where available.

Some information about the 2016 Rockefeller Christmas Tree and how to be there (maybe next year?) from RockCenter itself. More about the tree itself from Curbed NY.

It just seems like Black Friday doesn’t have the buzz it used to, does it? But we’re still going to shop this year, so I have a few things to say about that. And an email at TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET about what Christmas IS to them. Would love to hear your voice telling me at (323) 487-12-25! You’ll find the Christmas Stocking on Facebook, on Twitter (@XmasStocking), Google+ and Pinterest. And of course at MyChristmasStocking.net.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/118BlackFriday--stillAThing_.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Someone to Love This Christmas” by Michelle Hylan

Background music:

“Jingle Bells” by the California Guitar Trio

“Holiday Glory” by Howard Eddy

“Up on the Housetop” by Frank Carter from the album “Christmas Cheer”

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

More information:

DealNews has what they say are the 12 biggest Black Friday myths.

Digital Strategy Consulting reveals more research on Black Friday post-Brexit in the UK.

What do you eat for the holidays? What’s common? What’s special to regions and families? And a phone call at (323) 487-12-25. You should call! Or email TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET. Tell the world what Christmas IS to you. Lots more Christmas Stocking on Twitter (@XmasStocking), Facebook, and Google+. Find all the episodes, show notes and links at MyChristmasStocking.net.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/117GettingYourEatsOnForThanksgivingAndChristmas.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Ringing Bells (feat. Matty Ride)” “Christmastime” by Hill & Hale and Their Merry Friends from “Christmastime”

Background music:

“Wish Background” by Kevin McLeod (from Incompetech)

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

More information:

As you might expect, Wikipedia has a large article about Thanksgiving dinner.

Foodtimeline.org goes through the history of Thanksgiving meals in North America, all the way back to Native American traditions.

The University of Southern California’s Annenberg Media Center has a history of the Thanksgiving feast of their own.

Sports and political data site FiveThirtyEight had an unscientific look at what different regions of America eat at Thanksgiving.

Lonely Planet has a similar take on regional Thanksgiving foods in the U.S.

Escape is the theme this summer, as we have plenty to escape from. Find every episode, Christmas Stocking merch and more are at MyChristmasStocking.net. Call (323) 487-1225 before you forget–what makes Christmas so special for you? Tell the world!  Or email it, along with music and show ideas, to TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET. There’s room for you on our Facebook  and Google+ communities. Info I discussed is on my Twitter feed @XmasStocking.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/116The10thAnnualChristmasStockingSummerMusicSpectacularTenYearsBaby.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Christmastime” by Hill & Hale and Their Merry Friends from “Christmastime”

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by DJ 8-8008 feat. April Forrest

“Man! It’s Christmas” by the Rev. Jimmie Bratcher from “Man! It’s Christmas”

“I Saw Three Ships” by Found Wandering from the album “On a Christmas Night”

“Christmas of Love” by Tresa Street

“Good King Wenceslas” by Takenobu from “Christmas Songs”

“A Voice is Sounding” by Sojourn from “A Child is Born”

Background music:

“Carol of the Bells (Remix)” Spade from “CEDM Christmas 2014” (from Noisetrade)

“What Child is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by the Jazz Council from “Christmas Sampler”(from Noisetrade)

(Hear more Jazz Council on their album “Dawn” on iTunes)

“The Wassail Song” by Chris Friesen from “I Heard the Bells” (from Noisetrade)

“The First Noel (Remix) by pKal from “CEDM Christmas 2014” (from Noisetrade)

“A Good King (Wenceslas)” by Kevin Zerbe from “Zerbinator’s ‘Under the Tree’”

More information:

More about Dial-A-Carol

Projected top toys for 2016

The Capitol Christmas Tree 2016 website