Creating Christmas

St. Nicholas had to go. The protestants demanded it, and so he 'went'...into hiding. From the ousting of St. Nick came 3 different gift bringers...all vying for the crown of 'Christmas Gift Bringer'. This is the story behind Kriss Kringle, the Terror Men like Belsnickle & Sinterklaas. Featured Author : Tom A. Jerman - Santa Claus Worldwide

To me, Saint Nicholas has always hung around Christmas like a rope - it’s a thing that’s just begging to be pulled and reveal the magician behind the curtain. Does St. Nicholas actually have this power over Mr. Claus though?  Today we dive into the history of Nicholas of Myra and try and see if there is actually anyway to connect him to our Santa Claus. Sure, the name might fit, but does anything else? Thanks today to Special Guests :: Joseph A McCullough for his book The Story of Santa Claus Tom A. Jerman for his book Santa Claus Worldwide

When we think about Santa is the original or is he the latest in a line of gift bringers...and if someone is responsible for the 'nice' list - who's responsible for the 'naughty' list. Looking back, we find the roots of our first gift bringer not where you might expect...actually further North where the nights could be months long and the winter air was filled with spirits; some bringing presents and some passing judgement.

Creating Christmas Season 3 :: The Santa Season

If Christmas as we know it has roots in food, feats and drinking - why do we give presents? And beyond that, why do we give gifts and donations to those in need at Christmas? Today on Creating Christmas, we delve into the history of our creation of Christmas presents - those we give to ones we love and those we give to complete strangers.

The religious celebration on December 25 has been a challenge and a challenger ever since it was first created. Yes, created… We explore the actual biblical text to determine what we do know about Jesus’ birth and then figure out if the first Christians even cared about Christ’s birth much at all. And how did their recognition become our annual celebration?

All parents wrestle with the idea of St. Nick visiting their kids, and the inevitable challenge to the story that (according my interviews comes around age 7 or 8). But really, we have nothing to worry about because Santa Claus is real.  

The story of the Christmas Tree is full of myths and half-truths until one engraving tipped the scales. After its publication, the Western World went tree crazy.  This episode we walk into the Christmas Tree's tangled history. Then - did you know you can actually go into a National Forest and cut your tree this year...found out how you and your family can have a very 1850's Christmas experience.

Part 3 of 3 In the conclusion, we dive into the very few stories and photos that it took to take Christmas from nearly extinct to the biggest holiday the world had ever seen. 

Christmas is "The Holiday the World Needed". From the way it developed to how we imagined and reimagined it, we had to have Christmas. Christmas was nearly wiped out by the Puritans. In the aftermath, we find a new and different society that needs a something else to celebrate. How do the community celebrations of drinking and dining and cross-dressing get changed into something that can live comfortably in a family room? The answer starts to take shape with some early liars.