Author | Lightnews

Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 5d

🕰️ Tick tock, Sugarplums! It's really feeling close now. 🎃

Join me on Halloween for the first new episode of 2025!

Once again, I'll be kicking off the preseason with a ghost story from my friends at Biblioasis.

Join me...if you dare! 👻

#christmastimeisnear #ghoststory #holidayseason #bermonths

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 6d

Before streaming marathons and CGI elves, there were clay figures and hand-drawn snowflakes. ❄️

In the 1960s, Rudolph, Charlie Brown, and The Grinch helped define what Christmas looked (and felt) like on television. #RetroChristmas #ChristmasSpecials #RankinBass #CharlieBrownChristmas #TheGrinch

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 9d

Christmas trees once glowed with real candles. Then came one bright idea that changed everything. 💡🎄

In 1882, Edward Johnson, wired together a string of tiny electric bulbs. Christmas was forever changed.
Hear more in this 2017 episode. Link in the Bio.

#ChristmasHistory #ChristmasLights

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 14d

❤️✨ Aw, thanks, Wishbook! Reviews help people discover the show. Not only that, but anyone who leaves a review will receive a Christmas Past sticker and a handwritten Christmas card....any time of year 🎄❤️

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 14d

🍬✨ Visions of sugarplums…but what are they, really?

They're aren’t plums at all. In old times, they were a luxury treat, and they danced through Christmas history in more ways than one. 🎄 Hear all about it in this episode from 2016. Link in the Bio

#Sugarplums #HolidayHistory #ChristmasTraditions

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Reposted by Christmas Past

Christmas Podcasts Podcast @sean-cpp.bsky.social · 14d

Chad and Seth sit down with Brian from @christmaspast.bsky.social to talk about his new book and more on @christmascousins.bsky.social

christmaspodcasts.com/the-origins-...

The Origins of Everything You Love About Christmas – w/Brian Earl...

Welcome back Christmas Cousins! In this episode, we sit down with the one and only Brian Earl, the legendary host of Christmas Past and author "Of Christmases Long, Long Ago". We unwrap Brian’s own ...

christmaspodcasts.com

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 22d

Big day, Sugarplums! ✨🎄📕

My 2nd book, Of Christmases Long, Long Ago, is out now.

The book features 25 original full color illustrations from acclaimed illustrator and printmaker, Dorothy Siemens. I've included a sample. ❤️

Get it in hardcover, ebook, or audiobook, wherever books are sold.

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 23d

Let's unwrap some fascinating Christmas history. From simple brown paper to shiny foil and glittering bows, discover how a humble tradition turned into a holiday essential...and how it reflects the way we celebrate Christmas itself.

🎧 Listen to the full episode. Link in the bio

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · 23d

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Christmas cards. But for most of history, they weren’t part of the season at all.

Born in Victorian England, these little greetings are a surprisingly recent tradition. ✨

Hear the full story in this episode from 2016. Link in the Bio.

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Sep 22

🦌✨ Everyone knows Rudolph’s red nose…but not everyone knows the man who dreamed him up. Robert L. May was a struggling copywriter who wen to to write one of the most beloved holiday stories of all time.

🎧 Hear the full tale in the episode — link in bio.

#Rudolph #ChristmasHistory #Christmas

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Sep 19

In this clip from a 2016 episode of the podcast, we dive into the surprising history of how Santa’s mailbag became part of Christmas.

🎧 Want the whole story? Listen to the full episode now. Link in bio.

#ChristmasHistory #LettersToSanta #Podcast

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Sep 15

Why gingerbread? Why at Christmas? From medieval spice cookies to fairy-tale houses inspired by Hansel & Gretel (or was it the other way around), gingerbread has been part of winter celebrations for centuries. Find out how this spicy, sweet tradition became a Christmas classic.

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Sep 9

Thank you, @thomasruyssmith.com! (And yes...do order your copies now!)

Thomas Ruys Smith @thomasruyssmith.com · Sep 9

An exciting arrival today from @christmaspast.bsky.social! Congratulations Brian - order your copies now!

The delightful cover of Brian Earl’s new book, Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past.

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Sep 9

How did a real 4th Century bishop from modern day Turkey become a mythical gift bringer in a fur suit and a flying sleigh? It's a long story...with some surprising twists! Hear all about it in my three part series from 2016 on Christmas Past #podcast #christmas #santaclaus

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Reposted by Christmas Past

Alonso Duralde @aduralde.bsky.social · Jul 21

Pre-order now: preorder-movie-little-christmas.carrd.co

Pre-Order Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas

Links to Pre-Order Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas Revised & Updated Edition

preorder-movie-little-christmas.carrd.co

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Reposted by Christmas Past

Alonso Duralde @aduralde.bsky.social · Sep 1

Happy ‘Ber Months! There’s still time to pre-order the revised and expanded edition of my holiday-film guide Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas. #filmsky #booksky 📽 📚 preorder-movie-little-christmas.carrd.co

Cover of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas, revised and expanded edition

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Sep 3

“Of Christmases Long, Long Ago” is my new book, arriving for the 2025 Christmas season.

Find out what Christmas was like centuries ago. Sneak preview: it was weird. And spooky. And rowdy. And kinda gross sometimes.

Available in hardcover and audiobook. Order yours today!

tinyurl.com/msz5f5vc

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Sep 2

* taps mic * 🎤
This thing in?

Oh hi, Sugarplums! It’s September. 🗓️🍁
Time for me to come out of hibernation as we get ready for another Christmas season. 🎄

I hope everyone has had a great year. And I’m excited to share season 10 of Christmas Past with you! ❤️🔟

Stay festive. See you soon! #Christmas

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Jan 1

Happy 2025, everyone! 🥳 Hope you had a great New Year’s Eve. We’re more of a “noon year’s eve” house. We tried to let Dash stay up till 9pm to see the ball drop on the east coast. By 8:15 he was 🤪😫🙃 so we just showed him a video of the New Zealand countdown and sent him to 🛌

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Dec 31

Hey, sugarplums! It’s the final day of the year. Thanks to everyone who helped make 2024 another great year for the Christmas Past family. I hope everyone has something nice planned for the day. Merry seventh day of Christmas, and happy New Year’s Eve!

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Dec 29

It’s “five golden rings“ day, sugarplums! I hope everyone is enjoying this “Twitxtmas” Sunday. It’s raining here in the Bay Area ☔️🌧️

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Dec 27

I polished off the last of the mince pies this morning. And today was trash day, so we got rid of the mountain of wrapping paper and boxes. This is the part of the season where things still feel very festive, but also as if they are settling and tidying up a bit. I hope you’re enjoying it.

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Dec 26

Hey, sugarplums!

Happy Boxing Day, Saint Stephen’s Day, second day of Christmas, or just day after Christmas. I hope everyone had a wonderful day. Remember: the Christmas season isn’t officially over until 12th night. We’re still in this thing!

Stay festive. May your days be merry and bright.

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Dec 25

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.

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Past @christmaspast.bsky.social · Dec 23

The one constant theme on Christmas Past is that Christmas is constantly evolving. Here's a snapshot of how it's evolving in 2024. These trends aren't exactly new, by the way. A large study by Pew Research more than 10 years ago had similar findings.
nypost.com/2024/12/16/l...

Americans are ‘over’ Christmas traditions — and want burgers instead of turkey

Americans are ‘over’ Christmas traditions – with a third wanting to swap traditional turkey for a juicy burger.

nypost.com

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