In the words of Andy Williams, It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but do we really know why we celebrate Christmas? Do our modern day traditions of Santa, trees and TV specials blind us from the real history of the holidays? This episode is definitely NSFK - not safe for kids - as we answer… what is the history of Christmas in America?
Guests on this episode:
- Thomas Ruys Smith - a Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of Area Studies at the University of East Anglia. His latest book, The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, is available now.
- Brian Earl tells the fascinating stories behind our favourite holiday’s traditions through the popular podcast, Christmas Past. The podcast, one of the longest-running of its kind, delivers holiday cheer with a storytelling style inspired by public radio.
Talking points:
- When did Christmas stop being a religious holiday?
- The Americanization of Christmas
- Santa Claus / Father Christmas / Saint Nicolas
- How Coca-Cola hijacked the holidays
Additional resources:
PODCAST: Christmas Past by Brian Earl
BOOK: Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions by Brian Earl
BOOK: The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman by Thomas Ruys Smith
BOOK: Christmas Past: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Nineteenth-Century America by Thomas Ruys Smith
POEM: The Children’s Friend
If you love this episode, you might also like:
What is the War on Christmas?
How to Make a Hollywood Christmas Movie
What's the History of Christmas in America?
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This episode is sponsored by What's Your Map
What's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219
