Christmas Past Podcast By Brian Earl cover art

Christmas Past

Christmas Past

By: Brian Earl
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Behind every Christmas tradition is a story, often a forgotten one. Every year as we put up a tree and pour the eggnog, we’re continuing generations-old narratives, while being mostly unaware of their starting chapters.

Join Brian Earl to explore the fascinating stories behind the most wonderful time of the year. It's equal parts nerdy deep dive and warmhearted celebration. Think: NPR meets Clement Clarke Moore!

Christmas Past is one of the longest running Christmas podcasts, now in its tenth season. Vanity Fair says: "With excellent production, engaging narration, and short, digestible running times, Christmas Past is perfect to put on while decorating your tree or preparing Christmas dinner."

Brian is the author of two books about Christmas: Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past (2025) and Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions (2022). Both are available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook (narrated by the author). Find them wherever books are sold.

© 2025 Christmas Past Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Christmas 2024 (plus listener memories)

    Christmas 2024 (plus listener memories)
    Dec 25 2024

    The big day is here, and so is our final episode of 2024. As we so do every year, we'll take a look back at all the news, trends, sights, and sounds that made this Christmas what it was. We'll also hear some Christmas memories from the Christmas Past family.

    Thank you for another wonderful season. I'll see you next year.

    Merry Christmas!

    Music in this episode

    • "Jazz Podcast Night Relaxing Vibes" — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay
    • "Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
    • "Calm Piano Music" — Piotr Witowski, via Pixabay

    Connect

    • Facebook page
    • Facebook group
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky
    • Twitter / X
    • Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com
    • Website

    Book

    Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Available in hardcover and audiobook. Find it wherever books are sold, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • Backstory: Wren Day

    Backstory: Wren Day
    Dec 23 2024

    The small, unassuming wren may be nothing much to look at, but wait till it starts singing. Its loud, complex songs, and its tendency to sing them throughout winter, has earned it the title of “King of Birds.” But on December 26, the king is dead. Wren Day is a traditional hunting of the wren, followed by celebrations that include disguise, door-to-door visiting and parading, and song. It’s certainly one of our most strange and mysterious Christmas customs, a mixture of Celtic mythology, old Christmas traditions, and revenge for giving away secrets. Tiernan Gaffney from the National Museum of Ireland joins Brian to tell the story.

    Special thanks to Lewis Barfoot for permission to include her beautiful rendition of The Wren Song!

    Music in this episode

    • "Calm Lullaby for Irish Harp" — Mountain Dweller, via Pixabay
    • "Greensleeves" — Julius H., via Pixabay
    • "Hark! The Herald Angles Sing" — Jon Sayles, via freemusicpublicdomain.com
    • "Angels We Have Heard" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
    • "Morning Air" — Noru, via Pixabay
    • "The Wren Song" — Lewis Barfoot, shared directly by the artist

    Connect

    • Facebook page
    • Facebook group
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky
    • Twitter / X
    • Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com
    • Website

    Book

    Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Available in hardcover and audiobook. Find it wherever books are sold, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

    Show more Show less
    12 mins
  • Backstory: The Yule Lads

    Backstory: The Yule Lads
    Dec 20 2024

    One by one, over a series of nights during Christmastime in Iceland, the Yule Lads come down from a mountain, making mischief, rewarding good behavior and punishing bad. These lovable scamps are unique melding of folkloric traditions, and a reminder that Christmas once was — and still can be — haunted and scary. Terry Gunnell, professor emeritus of folkloristics at the University of Iceland, joins Brian to tell the story. Thanks also to Baldur Gylfa for appearing in this episode!

    Music in this episode

    • "Momentary Ease" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
    • "Relaxing Piano" — Uncredited artists, via Pixabay
    • "Tiled Chamber" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
    • "Ambient Christmas" — Denys Kyshchuk, via Pixabay
    • "The First Noel" — Calvin Clavier, via Pixabay

    Connect

    • Facebook page
    • Facebook group
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky
    • Twitter / X
    • Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com
    • Website

    Book

    Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Available in hardcover and audiobook. Find it wherever books are sold, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

    Show more Show less
    12 mins
All stars
Most relevant
I love the variety of topics and listener interaction. Brian sure does his research, and he genuinely seems to enjoy it!

Wonderful and informative trips down a snow-covered memory lane!

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My eldest daughter one Christmas Eve began sharing details of how Christmas crackers came to be as I was admiring her beautifully set dinner table. When she went into detail about another Christmas tidbit during dinner, I asked her, "how do you know all these fun facts?"
That's how I learned about the Christmas Past Podcast, it's author, how the series begins in late October and runs up until Christmas. Before I left she sent me a link to the Christmas Past podcast and I listened to it on my drive home. That's all it took and I've been hooked ever since!
I absolutely love listening to the Christmas Past podcast and listening to Brian Earl share his books "Christmas Past" and his new book "Of Christmases Long Long Ago" on Audible...It makes the Christmas season so much merrier and bright!

Memories of fellow listeners and the history learned

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This podcast is so amazing! give it a try and be transported to the traditions of the past.

I just the small moments of christmas

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