Christmas Culture Club

In our final episode of the Christmas Culture Club 2025 season, we explore Epiphany—what it is, why it matters, and how it serves as the ceremonial handshake between Christmas and the start of Carnival and Mardi Gras season. We’ll uncover the history of a day that once stood at the very heart of the Christmas calendar, trace how its meaning has shifted over time, and travel around the world to see the many ways Epiphany is still celebrated today. From king cakes and parades to quiet rituals and community feasts, this episode closes our season by revisiting a tradition that shaped Christmas as we know it—even if it’s faded from modern pop culture.

In honor of it being New Year’s Eve, we’re sharing a wonderful brief interview we recorded with Nanna Gunnarsdottir, all about the unique and meaningful ways New Year’s Eve is celebrated around in Iceland!

We’re diving headfirst into the strange, wonderful no-man’s-land between Christmas and New Year’s. The days blur, the rules disappear, and suddenly cookies feel like a valid breakfast choice. What are you binge-watching? Are you deep-cleaning your way into the New Year—or avoiding it entirely? Are you traveling to escape family, or spending even more time with them? And honestly… how many times today did you forget what day it is?This weird, cozy, snack-filled limbo is what Twixmas is all about.

It’s Christmas Eve, a night steeped in tradition, memory, and a whole lot of magic! In this episode, we settle in for a cozy deep dive into the history of Santa Claus. How did he journey from a 4th-century Turkish bishop to the Dutch Sinterklaas, and eventually become the familiar figure woven into American Christmas traditions? We explore how 19th-century New York reshaped Santa to soften rowdy holiday celebrations, how Civil War era propaganda helped define his image, and whether Coca-Cola really cemented the Santa we know today. Pour some cocoa and milk (for Santa!), gather close, and listen in as we trace the long, fascinating story behind the man who may be shimmying down your chimney tonight!

The holidays are often painted as a season of joy and celebration—but for many, they can also be wrapped up in grief and loss. In this episode, we talk honestly about how to show up for ourselves, and for the friends and family around us, when the season feels heavier than joyful. We are joined by grief counselor and hospital chaplain Jim Manzardo, who shares gentle guidance on navigating a tough holiday season with kindness, compassion, and care—for ourselves and for others.

Food is at the center of so many holiday traditions, and this week we’re exploring why these dishes mean so much. We’re taking a thoughtful look at the foods we share for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa — from beloved family recipes to the dishes our ancestors carried across generations. Together, we’ll uncover the stories behind these meals and how they help us stay connected to our heritage, our communities, and each other during the holiday season.

This week, we’re taking you on a whirlwind sleigh ride around the globe!We’re exploring the customs, quirks, and beloved traditions that make Christmas unique in every corner of the world. From Iceland’s mischievous Yule Lads to Greece’s festive seaside rituals, from Tanzania’s community music filled feasts to Germany’s storybook markets, all the way to Australia’s sunny beachside celebrations with lots of shrimp—you’ll hear firsthand experiences of what Christmas really looks like across cultures. It's a longer episode but worth it so pour yourself some hot cocoa and settle in!A little wonder, a little wanderlust, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit.

This week, we’re taking on Christmas music in all its forms: the classics, the catastrophes, and the guilty pleasures we can’t help but sing along to. We’re digging into what makes a holiday song iconic, what makes it delightfully terrible, and why those so-called “worst” Christmas tracks are often the ones that spark the most nostalgia and joy. Plus, we’re tracing the wild, winding history of how Christmas music even started—from ancient chants to modern jingles—and uncovering how it became the soundtrack of the season.

This week on Christmas Culture Club, we’re diving into the merry madness of gifting with our favorite creative, personal, and just-plain-cool gift ideas to make your Christmas sparkle a little brighter.

This week, we’re sharing our tried-and-true tips for hosting every kind of holiday get-together—cocktail parties, office shindigs, frosting fueled cookie-decorating chaos, and all the festive fun in between! We’ll help you plan, prep, and actually enjoy the party instead of just surviving it. Because with a little strategy (and a lot of spirit), hosting can be merry and bright. And remember—the golden rule of the season: you can never have too much ice.

Nothing says Christmas like the scent of a fresh pine filling your home! In this episode, we’re diving into the world of real Christmas trees — from how they’re grown to how they bring magic into your holiday celebrations. We chat with Rick Dungey from the National Christmas Tree Association, who gives us the inside scoop on the care, craft, and charm behind these festive evergreens. Plus, we learn about Trees for Troops, a heartwarming program that spreads Christmas cheer by delivering live trees to military families across the country.

Think Christmas is all sugarplums and sleigh bells? Think again!In the spirit of Spooky Season, we’re unwrapping the eerie, the mysterious, and the downright chilling tales that haunt holiday traditions around the world. From the ghostly visitations in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, to the terrifying Krampus who punishes naughty children in Austria, to the broomstick-flying Christmas witch La Befana of Italy—these stories prove that the holidays have a haunting history of their own.

Are you ready to unwrap the magic behind your favorite Hallmark holiday movies? This week on Christmas Culture Club, Julie and Steve are spilling the cocoa on where those delightfully cheesy, heartwarming films come to life- and how YOU can step right into the snow-globe like scenes for yourself! We will share the real-life destinations that make Hallmark Christmas dreams sparkle. Grab your peppermint hot cocoa and tune in because your next holiday getaway might just feel like a movie!

Meet your co-hosts, Julie and Steve — two Christmas superfans on a mission to bring you the ultimate feel-good holiday podcast!Each episode, we’re diving deep into why and how we deck the halls, sharing laughs, heartwarming stories, and festive surprises along the way.From the surprising history behind your favorite traditions…to the joyful chaos of ugly sweater parties…we’re unwrapping the celebrations, culture, and pure Christmas magic that make the season sparkle.So grab some cocoa, get cozy, and join the club —because at Christmas Culture Club, every day is merry and bright!

Julie and Steve explore the Origin of Christmas- where and when it all started and how it all turned into the juggernaut that is American Christmas!