Peripheral Characters: Mrs. Claus, Elves, Reindeer

Why do we say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Christmas? The phrase has a surprisingly rich past, shaped by culture, language, and holiday tradition. This episode begins with where “merry” came from and why it stuck. https://time.com/6240140/why-we-say-merry-christmas-traditions/

Being alone isn’t the same as being lonely. In fact, choosing solitude can offer profound psychological and emotional benefits. Robert J. Coplan joins me to explain why. He has spent more than three decades studying the upside of time alone. Robert is a psychologist, researcher, teacher, and author of The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World. (https://amzn.to/3KX25NE)

Christmas traditions evolve far more than we realize — from how we celebrate to who we imagine Santa to be. The Santa Claus of today looks very different from his earlier counterparts, and the holiday itself has gone through dramatic shifts over time. Joe Biel, founder and CEO of Microcosm Publishing and author of A People's Guide to Santa Claus: The Secret History of Christmas, from Saint Nick to Krampus and Yule (https://amzn.to/48MTN2J) joins me to explore these surprising transformations.

Owning a pet can actually make you more attractive — and not just because pets are cute. Research shows people form quick judgments about how you treat your dog or cat, and that can sway romantic interest. We look at who benefits most and what’s really going on. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-23/single-men-owning-a-dog-attracts-women-study/7051024

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