The Christmas Stocking

A nice story for the little ones on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Merry Christmas.  Call the Christmas Stocking at (323) 487-12-25 or email TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET. All year long you’ll find me on Facebook, on Twitter (@XmasStocking), and Google+. Catch up on all the episodes and check out the extras at MyChristmasStocking.net.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/115_whatHappenedChristmasEve_ByOliverHerfold.mp3

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Featured music:

“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (w/ Hallelujah)” by Kurt Scobie from “A Merry Mixtape” (from Noisetrade)

Background music:

“Iuguetes en Navidad” by junior85 (from the Free Music Archive)

“Memory Box” by junior85 (from the Free Music Archive)

“Joy to the World” by Jason Shaw (from Audionautix.com)

Read the story yourself and find other stories in The Night Before Christmas and Other Popular Stories for Children.

Where did the tradition of getting an orange in the Christmas stocking start? With St. Nicholas, of course! Find everything at MyChristmasStocking.net. Call (323) 487-12-25 to wish someone Merry Christmas! Or email TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET. The Christmas Stocking is on Twitter (@XmasStocking), on Facebook, and Google+.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/114ChristmasOranges.mp3

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Featured music:

“Everywhere I Go” by Joshua and Heather from “Merry Christmas – EP” (from Noisetrade)

Background music:

“Shakespeare’s Carol” by The Manor House String Quartet from “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Other Carols”

“Sans Day Carol” by The Manor House String Quartet from “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Other Carols”

“Angels We Have Heard on High” by Moat Jumper from “Christmas at the Renaissance Fair”

More information:

Why’d You Eat That has a pretty good history.

Dave’s Garden has some theories.

Smithsonian.com will tell you about the orange and the stocking.

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” comes from an intensely personal poem by America’s poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the time of the Civil War. Lots more Christmas info and fun on Twitter (@XmasStocking), on Facebook, and Google+. Catch up on all the episodes at MyChristmasStocking.net. Share your Christmas plans and/or traditions on the show at (323) 487-12-25. Or do it by email at TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/113IHeardTheChristmasBells.mp3

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Featured music:

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Alva Leigh

Background music:

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Chris Friesen from “I Heard the Bells”

“I Heard the Bells – Carol of the Bells Medley” by Kevin Zerbe from “The Ghost of Christmas Past”

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

More information:

Wikipedia has a bit about the origin of the song, and more about different popular versions.

The website of The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States has an article with more military details about Longfellow’s son Charles.

You know the ballet. Do you know the history of the nutcrackers and how they became so popular at Christmas? It wasn’t just the ballet. Wish your loved ones Merry Christmas on the show at (323) 487-12-25. Or do it by email at TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET. The Christmas Stocking is on Facebook, on Twitter (@XmasStocking), and Google+. Everything is at MyChristmasStocking.net.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/112Nutcrackers.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Dance of the Reed Pipes” by William Arnold from “Expedition: Nutcracker Suite” (from Noisetrade)

Background music:

“Waltz of the Flowers” by William Arnold from “Expedition: Nutcracker Suite” (from Noisetrade)

“Trepak (Russian Dance from the Nutcracker)” by Glenn Crytzer’s Savoy Seven from “A Little Love This Christmas”

More information:

Slate has more in their Brief History of Nutcrackers.

Wikipedia will brief you in a more expansive history.

And of course the Nutcracker Museum has more, with lots of pictures.

A lot of great toys were invented in the 1970s and put under the tree; too many to mention! But I cover some of the biggest in this episode. Follow the show on Twitter (@XmasStocking), on Facebook, and Google+. And please come to MyChristmasStocking.net. Share your Christmas plans by calling (323) 487-12-25 and be on the show. Or email them to TopElf at MyChristmasStocking dot NET.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/111ChristmasToys1970-1979.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

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

Background music:

“Ringing Bells (instrumental version)” by Hill & Hale and Their Merry Friends from “Christmastime”

More information:

Wikipedia has a pretty comprehensive history of the Nerf ball.

People magazine has a pretty breezy history of Nerf.

On Wikipedia, learn all you wanted to learn and more about Uno.

Wikipedia discusses the Kenner “Star Wars” action figures, where they all began.

Retro Junk also has a good history of the “Star Wars” figures.

Wikipedia delves into the history of “Hungry Hungry Hippos.”

Learn more about Strawberry Shortcake from Wikipedia.