StoryCorps I’m Dreaming of a StoryCorps Christmas
Dec 16, 2025
Get ready for heartwarming holiday tales! Delve into the origins of NORAD's Santa Tracker and hear how Colonel Schaup's kindness turned a misprinted phone number into joyful memories. Experience family traditions as the hosts share sweet recordings of a child's decorated room and hear poignant stories from WWII about love and loss. Discover the importance of presence over presents and witness a beautiful lesson in compassion from a childhood bike theft. This special brings warmth and reflection to the magic of Christmas.
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Anticipation Makes Traditions Matter
- Holiday traditions often gain meaning from anticipation and the fear of disappointment.
- This fragile anticipation amplifies gratitude and shapes why rituals matter each year.
How NORAD Started Tracking Santa
- Colonel Harry Schaup turned a misprinted Sears ad into NORAD's Santa-tracking tradition by answering kids' calls in 1955.
- His playful decision evolved into a beloved, decades-long global holiday ritual.
A Wartime Christmas Saved By A Letter
- Marie DeSantis received a telegram that her brother was missing in action in 1944, then a Christmas Eve letter saying he was alive in a hospital.
- Her family still kept the tree and later honored her memory through StoryCorps recordings and ornaments.