Christmas Past
Episodes
Christmas Past Presents: The Professor and the Tilted Glass
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Just in time for Halloween, it's another Christmas ghost story — sorta. This story does involve Christmas, and it does involve a ghost, but it&...
Story Time: The Wicked Editor's Christmas Dream
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's almost Halloween, so how about a ghost story? Well, this one won't exactly send a shiver down your spine, but maybe it'll get you ...
Playlist: A festive five pack of Christmas tracks from indie artists
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Now that it's October, a lot of us are listening to Christmas music to ease our way into the season. Sure, the classics are great, but sometimes ...
Interview: Thomas Ruys Smith on the Christmas Stories of 19th Century America
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Christmas stories of 19th century America provide a window into American history itself. These stories reflect the values and politics of pre- and...
Roundtable: Two Truths and a Lie, 80s edition with Todd Killian and Gerry Davilla
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're returning to an old crowd favorite: the game where you have to spot the lie! Test your Christmas spirit, deception detection, and kn...
Story Time: The Burglar's Christmas
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brian reads the 1896 short story, The Burglar's Christmas, by Willa Cather. Welcome to another Ber Months bonus episode, sugarplums! I love thes...
History Lesson: The Eggnog Riot
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's one of the strangest cases from the pages of American Military history. A Christmas party in 1826 at the United States Military Academy at W...
Interview: Geoff LeBaron, director of the annual Christmas Bird Count
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1900, an ornithologist suggested replacing the traditional Christmas morning hunt with a "bird census." It's an idea that has been c...
Interview: Julia Georgallis, author of How to Eat Your Christmas Tree
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas trees are for decorating, admiring, and placing decoratively wrapped gifts underneath. But how about...for eating? Baker and designer Julia ...
Christmas 2020
25 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Merry Christmas! The big day is here, and that means it's time for Christmas Past's annual "Christmas in Review" episode. We'...
Your Christmas Memories: 2020, vol 4
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Christmas Eve. It’s all been building up to this: tonight and tomorrow — basically one continuous celebration with a long winter’s nap in...
Backstory: A Visit From Saint Nicholas
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Visit from Saint Nicholas wasn't the first published poem to describe Santa Claus arriving on a sleigh to deliver toys on Christmas Eve. But it...
Your Christmas Memories: 2020, vol 3
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas is just days away. At this point in the season, maybe you're feeling like you wish you could slow down time and make it all last just a...
Backstory: Mrs. Claus
19 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just who is Mrs Claus? A token character, destined to play second fiddle? A grandmotherly figure baking cookies? The queen of Christmas? The CEO of th...
Backstory: Poinsettias
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
According to legend, a little girl named Pepita saw her humble nativity offering of roadside weeds miraculously transform into bright red flowers on C...
Your Christmas Memories: 2020, vol 2
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's a first! The 2020 season of Christmas Past includes multiple episode dedicated just to you and your Christmas memories. So let's cozy u...
Backstory: Mince Pies
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The mince pie is one of the least understood, most maligned, and sometimes subversive Christmas traditions we have. And yet, it’s still here. With i...
Interview: Mark Voger, author of Holly Jolly
12 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another surprise episode. This time, author Mark Voger and I talk about Christmas nostalgia in popular culture. It's the topic...
Backstory: Christmas in Connecticut
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When is a Christmas movie not a Christmas movie? Well, for starters, when it’s released in August. But even more so, when it arrives before a time w...
Your Christmas Memories: 2020, vol 1
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's my favorite episode of the year: the one that's all about YOU and your Christmas memories. For the past four seasons straight, Christma...
Backstory: Wassail
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays, wassail, like sugarplums or hot buttered rum, is a part of the Christmas season that most of us experience mainly through references in song...
Interview: Dana Nachman on her new documentary, Dear Santa
05 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dana Nachman is the director / writer / producer of Dear Santa. This new documentary follows various people involved in the US Postal Service's c...
Backstory: Snow Globes
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Snow globes are one of those items that seems like it could have been around forever. But they are a relatively new invention, and it wasn’t until...
Bonus Episode: This. Is. Sheperdy!
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Brian's Christmas spirit is put to the test with a fun-filled game of Christmas trivia. This…is…Sherperdy! Today, we ...
Backstory: Candy Canes
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For something so closely tied to Christmas — whose very image and flavor is practically synonymous with the season — it may be surprising to rea...
Story Time: Brian reads "The Velveteen Rabbit"
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Well here we are at the beginning of another Christmas season together. This is Christmas season num...
Interview: Alex Palmer, author of The Atlas of Christmas
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're kicking off November of 2020 with a visit from an old friend. Alex Palmer, author of The Santa Claus Man, appeared in Christmas Past&apos...
Story Time: Brian reads "Smee"
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just in time for Halloween, it's a story about a very creepy game of hide that takes place on Christmas Eve. Happy Halloween! Christmas Past is b...
Story Time: Brian reads "It Was the Same Christmas Morning"
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're almost to the end of October. The countdown to Christmas is in full swing, and I'm back again with another Ber Months Bonus episode. T...
Story Time: Brian reads "My Christmas Dinner"
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's mid-October and that means the countdown to the countdown to Christmas is in full swing! Christmas cards and panettones are starting to appe...
Story Time: Brian reads "The Lone Scout's Christmas"
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Brian reads the1917 short story titled 'The Lone Scout's Christmas,' by Cyrus Townsend Brady. It's the st...
Story Time: Brian reads “Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains,” part 9
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back for the ninth and final installment of the 1918 YA novel, “Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success Against O...
Story Time: Brian reads “Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains,” part 8
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back for the eighth (and next-to-last) installment of the 1918 YA novel, “Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success...
Story Time: Brian reads "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains," part 7
26 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're back for the seventh installment of the 1918 YA novel, "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success Against Odd...
Story Time: Brian reads "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains," part 6
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're back for the sixth installment of the 1918 YA novel, "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success Against Odds)...
Story Time: Brian reads "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains," part 5
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our "Ber Months Bonus" series, we're back for the next installment of the 1918 YA novel, "Campfire Girls in the Alleghe...
Story Time: Brian reads "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains," part 4
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the next installment of Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success Against Odds). Brian is reading this 1918 YA nov...
Story Time: Brian reads "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains," part 3
05 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're continuing our Ber Months bonus series for those of us getting an early start on the Christmas season. Brian is reading the 1918 YA novel, ...
Story Time: Brian reads "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains," part 2
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back. We're continuing where we left off from the 1918 YA novel, "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success...
Story Time: Brian reads "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains," part 1
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us, the start of the 'Ber Months' marks the beginning of the holiday season. So today, on Ber Months Eve, I'm launching a n...
Interview: Leon Day 2020 with crafter Juliette Williams
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Leon Day, everyone! We're at the exact halfway point to Christmas. Christmas in July is just days away, and so is the start of the 2nd Annu...
Story Time: Brian reads "Lill's Travels in Santa Claus Land"
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another installment of story time. Here's a great one for the whole family: "Lill's Travels in Santa Claus Land,&quo...
Roundtable: Two Truths and a Lie, with Todd Killian, Carrie Mercer, and Chris Swietlik
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another game where you need to spot the lie! This time, I'm joined by Todd from Christmas Clatter, Carrie from Christmas Book Review, ...
Story Time: Brian reads "The Heavenly Christmas Tree"
06 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's another installment of Christmas in Quarantine! I hope you're staying safe and healthy and keeping your spirits up. Today's episod...
Interview: Carrie Mercer from Christmas Book Review (plus: Giveaway Announcement!)
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's another installment of Christmas in Quarantine! Today we're getting bookish with Carrie Mercer, host of Christmas Book Review. Join us ...
Episode 100!
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's Christmas Past's 100th episode! Join me and some special guests for a look back at how Christmas Past came to be and where it's go...
Story Time: Brian reads "Christmas, a Happy Time," Part 2
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 22. Today's installment is the second half of yesterday's classic Christmas story. It's Miss Mant.'s ...
Story Time: Brian reads "Christmas, a Happy Time," Part 1
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 21. Today's installment is the start of another classic Christmas story. It's Miss Mant.'s 1832 "Chri...
Roundtable: Two Truths and a Lie, with Julia Colburn, Duane Bailey, and Craig Brewer
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 20. Today's installment is another game of separating fact from fiction. It's two truths and a lie! Join me, al...
Roundtable: He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special with Mike Westfall and Tim Babb
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 19. Today's installment is another moonwalk down memory lane to the world of 1980s Christmas cartoon specials. It&ap...
Story Time: Brian reads "Deck the Halls"
05 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 18. Today's installment is another story, this time a contemporary one. Our friend Sarah Tipper has given us another...
Christmas Past Presents: The Plot to Overthrow Christmas
04 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 17. Today's installment is another trip back to the golden age of radio. On December 25, 1938, the world heard for t...
Roundtable: Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls, with Chris and Kris Sisley and Mike Patton
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 16: Today, we're heading back to the 80s, when all you needed for a cartoon Christmas special was a bestselling toy ...
Story Time: Brian reads "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton," Part 2
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 15. We pick up where we left off yesterday, with the second half of Charles Dickens's story. Stay subscribed for new...
Story Time: Brian reads "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton," Part 1
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 14. Today's installment is another classic Christmas story, by special request. This story from Charles Dickens&apos...
Roundtable: Two Truths and a Lie, with Todd Killian and Gerry Davila
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 13. Today's installment is a devious twist on Christmas trivia. We're playing a game of Two Truths and a Lie. J...
Interview: Author Jon Clinch discusses his novel, Marley
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 12. Today's installment is an interview with author Jon Clinch. His 2019 novel, Marley is a prequel to A Christmas C...
Playlist: New Christmas Music Sampler, Vol 2
28 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 11. Today's installment is a playlist of new Christmas music from independent artists! Discover some new festive fav...
Story Time: Brian reads "Christmas Every Day"
28 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 10. Today's installment is another classic Christmas story for the whole family. As requested by a member of the Fac...
Roundtable: The Dean Martin Christmas Show, with Jenna Knorr and Todd Killian
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 9. Today's installment is a trip back to when the crooners crooned and the eggnog was always spiked. Join me and my ...
Roundtable: Christmas Trivia Game with Lee Cameron, Tim Babb, Thom Crowe, and Joanna Wilson
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 8. Today's installment is a challenging game of Christmas trivia! Join me along with Lee Cameron of The Christmas St...
Christmas Past Presents: Yours Truly, Jonny Dollar: The Carmen Kringle Matter
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 7. Today's installment takes us back to the days when radio reigned supreme. It's a Christmassy adventure from ...
Story Time: Brian reads "Christmas Dinner"
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 6. Today's installment features the fifth and final of Washington Irving's pieces from his "Old Christmas&...
Story Time: Brian reads "Christmas Day"
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 5. Today's installment features the fourth of Washington Irving's five pieces from his "Old Christmas"...
Story Time: Brian reads "Christmas Eve"
22 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 4. Today's installment features the third of Washington Irving's five pieces from his "Old Christmas"...
Story Time: Brian reads "The Stagecoach"
21 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 3. Today's installment of picks up where yesterday's episode left off, with the second of Washington Irving&apo...
Story Time: Brian reads "Christmas"
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 2. Today's installment marks the first of a five part series where I read each of the five story/essays from Washing...
Story Time: Brian reads "A Kidnapped Santa Claus"
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas in Quarantine: Day 1. Everyone is housebound amid the COVID-19 crisis, and lots of us are putting up our Christmas decorations again to cope...
Story Time: Brian reads "As the Automobile Ran Down"
15 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Valentine's Day, sugarplums! There's nothing like a love story to keep the Christmas spirit alive. For this installment of Story Time,...
Christmas Around the World: The UK
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pack an umbrella and a jumper, because the next stop for Christmas Around the World is the UK. This month, Chantelle and her guest Nadine give us the ...
Christmas Around the World — Canada
01 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's time to bundle up, practice our French, and watch out for moose! We're learning all about having a joyeux Noel in Canada with Chantelle...
Christmas 2019
25 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Another Christmas in the books! By the time you see this, Christmas of 2019 belongs to Christmas Past. We close out the "official" Christmas...
Christmas Memories 2019
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's my favorite episode of the year: the one that's all about YOU! For the third year in a row, I've received more memories from you t...
Backstory: It's a Wonderful Life
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
No Christmas story starts out as a classic. And the road to classic status is often a long one filled with unexpected turns. It's a Wonderful Lif...
Backstory: Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, it's the most famous newspaper editorial of all. It's also the untold story of two skeptics addressing disillusionment, and the iconic ...
Backstory: Mistletoe
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We've treated mistletoe specially for thousands of years. But how did it go from being an ancient medicine and superstitious talisman to a fest...
Miniseries: Rikki Meece Reads "When the Yule Log Burns," Part 4
15 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We're back for the fourth and final part of this special four part miniseries. Rikki Meece from the Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe Christmas Podcas...
Miniseries: Rikki Meece Reads "When the Yule Log Burns," Part 3
14 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We're back for part three of this special four part miniseries. Rikki Meece from the Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe Christmas Podcast narrates the ...
Miniseries: Rikki Meece Reads "When the Yule Log Burns," Part 2
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We're back for part two of this special four part miniseries. Rikki Meece from the Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe Christmas Podcast narrates the cl...
Miniseries: Rikki Meece Reads "When the Yule Log Burns," Part 1
12 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus miniseries, Rikki Meece from the Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe Christmas Podcast narrates the classic story, When the Yule Log Bu...
Backstory: Silent Night
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's the best known Christmas song in the world, but the story behind it less well known. Maybe that's because so many myths, legends, and h...
Discussion: The Glo Friends Save Christmas with Todd Killian, Duane Bailey, Tim Babb, and Mike Westfall
08 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We’re taking a trip back to the 80s. It was a time when it was not only possible, but likely, that any popular toy would have its own line of spinof...
Backstory: Christmas Dinner
07 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The traditional Christmas dinner of a turkey, potatoes, green beans, and fruit pie has been around for nearly two hundred years. But why? The story of...
Discussion: The Christmas Pickle, with Richard Parks III, Craig Kringle, and Tim Babb
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Here on Christmas Past, I dig in to the backstories behind Christmas traditions. But what happens when you can’t even verify that the thing you’re...
Backstory: Christmas Ghost Stories
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays our Christmas stories are mainly warm and cozy. They’re about reunions and homecomings. Romances and magical journeys and visits from St. N...
Interview: Barbara Hinske, Author of 'The Christmas Club'
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Barbara Hinske is an attorney turned full-time novelist. Her 2016 novella, The Christmas Club is the basis for the 2019 Hallmark Channel movie of the ...
Live From The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
01 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's Christmas Past's first live show! Join Tim Babb from Can't Wait for Christmas and Brian Earl for an hour of games, music, and conv...
Miniseries: My Dear Santa, Chapter 1: The Tardy Saint
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
At the turn of the 20th century, the idea of kids writing letters to Santa Claus was still new. Post offices, newspapers, and charities publicly dispu...
Miniseries: My Dear Santa, Chapter 2: Santa's Secretary and the Gun-Toting Boy Scouts
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
John Gluck was a workaday customs broker who dreamed of bigger things. So when he heard that the Postal Service needed help with letters to Santa, he ...
Miniseries: My Dear Santa, Chapter 3: From a Cave to a High Rise
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a charitable endeavor starts looking more and more like an elaborate con? As Gluck sought to expand operations, he started playing f...
Miniseries: My Dear Santa, Chapter 4: War Santa Claus
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
During the Great War, fraudulent wartime charities abounded in New York City. When the district attorney started a sweeping investigation, John Gluck ...
Miniseries: My Dear Santa, Chapter 5: A Spy in the House of Claus
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You'd think that Gluck couldn't make things worse for himself...but you'd be wrong. He finds himself the subject of more investigations...
Miniseries: My Dear Santa, Chapter 6: A Comeback and a Takedown
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the early 20s, John Gluck wanted to reinvigorate the Santa Claus Association to its original glory, with the help of some high profile endorsements...
Playlist: New Christmas Music Sampler, Vol 1
23 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode. Your favorite Christmas radio station may have you thinking that there are only about two dozen C...
Story Time: "The Little Match Girl"
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode. This week, I read the classic short story by Hans Christian Andersen: The Little Match Girl. Ann...
Christmas Con 2019
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode! This week, I'm taking you inside Christmas Con 2019. AnnouncementsIf you leave a review ...
Storytime: "Keep it all the Year"
02 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode! This time, I read you the short story "Keep it all the Year" by Sarah Tipper. You can f...
Christmas Around the World: Japan
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode! This time, I have the honor of sharing an audio piece by Chantelle from All Things Christmas. Lea...
Storytime: "A Christmas Adventure"
19 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode! This time, I read the 1921 short story, "A Christmas Adventure," by J. E. Chamberlin. H...
Presenting: The Best of Christmas Clatter
12 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back with another Ber Months Bonus episode! This time, I present a special "best of" sampler from Todd Killian's podcast, Chri...