Christmas Past
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.
Christmas Past
The Silent Night
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
During the Great War, the fighting briefly ceased on Christmas on some parts of the front line. The so-called "Christmas Truce" has become almost legendary. What really happened?
Read some of the newspaper articles from 1914 and 1915 reporting on the story at the Library of Congress's Chronicling America archive.
Music in this Episode
- "Drum Feature: Generations from the Simple Gifts Show" — The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, via Free Music Archive
- "Silent Night" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
- "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
- "Slowest Time" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
- "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress
- "The First Noel" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress
- "Silent Night" — The Victor Mixed Chorus, via Library of Congress
- "Gentle Soft Piano | Christmas Vibes" — Alex Productions, via Free Music Archive
Connect with Me
- Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links
- Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com
Books
Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life.
Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)