A mysterious philanthropist spent more than 25 years handing out cash anonymously around Kansas City at Christmastime.

Music in this Episode

• “I Knew A Guy” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• “Elegy for Manush” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “The Agency Man” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Velvet Ladder” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Soft Piano Music” — Clavier Music, via Pixabay
• “A Very Brady Special” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” — Unnamed Artist, via Pixabay

 

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

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

 

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

A tragic accident at Christmastime in 1917 gives way to a story of a heroic response, a lasting friendship, and a unique Christmas tradition.

Read Walter’s letter to Harold, described in this story.

Music in this Episode

• “Carrier’s Lullaby” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Quiet Serenity” — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive
• “Stay the Course” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech
• “Oh Christmas Tree” — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist
• “Relax Romantic Jazz Calm Soothing Home” — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay

 

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

A child’s Christmas surprise for his family in 1902 became the stuff of myth and legend.

Music in this Episode

• “Crystal Dreams” — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive
• “Silent Movie” —Anastasia Chubarova, via Pixabay
• “Dreadnaught Files” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Cannolini” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Lonely Christmas” — Snoozy Beats, via Free Music Archive
• “Calm Christmas Piano” — Clavier Clavier, via Pixabay

 

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

In 1882, inventor Edward Johnson set up a one-of-a-kind Christmas display in his New York City home…and it changed the face of Christmas as we know it.

Music in This Episode

• “Vessel Five” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “In the Saloon” — Piano Music, via Pixabay
• “Whispers of the Heart” — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive
• “Vessel One” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Sunday Morning” — Maarten Schellekens, via Free Music Archive
• “World of Dreams” — Tune Tank, via Pixabay

 

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

On a cold winter’s night, a man working in a field saw an out-of-place object in the night sky. This is a Christmas story, but it’s not the one you think it is.

Music in This Episode

• “Below the River” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Dream Lodger” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Embrace Serenity” — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive
• “Mallet Play” — Maarten Schellekens, via Free Music Archive
• “The First Noel” — Clavier, via Pixabay
• “Greensleeves” — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

Teenaged Annie Ide resented being born on December 25 because Christmas always overshadowed her birthday. But a unique birthday gift from an eccentric family friend would change the course of her life forever.

Music in This Episode

• “An Early Sneak” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Taboret” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• “Calm Meditation, Good Sleep” — Lihn Pham, via Pixabay
• “Cozy Jazz Podcast Music with Christmas Bells” — Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay
• “Clean Soul” — Kevin MacLeod, via Free Music Archive
• “Sparkling Twilight” — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It’s the kickoff to the main season of Christmas Past. What better way to get things going than with a cozy gathering around the fire for some old fashioned storytelling? Today, I’m back with a ghost story for Christmas. In “Lucky’s Grove,” when a Christmas tree is selected from a mysterious grove, strange and tragic events follow.

Thanks to my friends at Biblioasis for once again giving me the opportunity to share this year’s set of ghost stories with you. There’s still time to buy hard copies of these beautifully designed editions of classic ghost stories.

Music in This Episode

• “The Holly and the Ivy – Celtic Christmas Music” — Nate L, via Pixabay
• “Deep Relaxation” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech

Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago

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)

Story Time: Lucky’s Grove