Something You Should Know The Real Stories Behind Christmas Traditions and Songs - Holiday Bonus Episode
Dec 23, 2025
Ace Collins, an author and expert on Christmas traditions, shares the charming backstory of the NORAD Santa Tracker, which started from a 1955 typo. He covers the Viking origins of kissing under mistletoe and how the family Christmas tradition evolved in the Victorian era. Listeners will learn how Dickens' A Christmas Carol sparked a spirit of charity, the introduction of the poinsettia to America, and how Jingle Bells transformed from a Thanksgiving song into a Christmas classic. Plus, Ace shares tips for keeping your real Christmas tree fresh!
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How The NORAD Santa Tracker Began
- A 1955 Sears ad typo sent kids to the Continental Air Defense Command instead of Santa.
- An officer answered kindly and NORAD's Santa Tracker tradition began from that accidental kindness.
Christmas Transformed From Chaos To Family
- Before the 1830s–40s, Christmas resembled rowdy Mardi Gras celebrations rather than family-focused holidays.
- Poems, department stores, and changing public life transformed Christmas into the child-centered holiday we know today.
Twas The Night Before Christmas Changed Everything
- A poem called A Visit from St. Nick shifted focus to children and saintly gift-giving.
- Within a decade, department stores exploited the idea and Christmas commercial gifting took off.