Weird Christmas Podcast

Craig talks with Benito Cereno about Benito's tour of Christkindlmarkets (Or Christkindlmärkte to be accurate, but we're also gonna call them Christkindlemarkets just to make sure the search engines fine anything for my fellow Americans). If you don't know Benito, you should. He knows more about Christmas history than anyone I know. He's also a talented writer, especially for comics. He's written most recently the Hector Plasm series (the latest one tackles Bigfoot), Startling Tales of Santa Claus, but he's also written for The Tick, the Invincible series, and the incredibly fun Tales from the Bully Pulpit that feature an ass-kicking Teddy Roosevelt. He's also working on a much longer mythology of Santa that will create a (mostly) self-consistent set of myths, stories, and legends about the man, integrating all of the folklore that he can find. Benito's Instagram account, where he always posts his travel pictures. Benito’s Christmas history videos (THESE ARE AMAZING SO WATCH THEM NOW!!!!) Benito’s writing at Gumroad Apocrypals podcast Friends ‘Till the End podcast Progressively Horrified Benito's podcasts with us: Tomtar and Nissen (Christmas elves) Mari Lwyd Christmas Witches Christmas Werewolves The Yule Lads Christmas Comics (from 2018 -- a bit out of date by now) Music: "At the ChristkindleMarkt" by mark and the mongrels "Iche geh mit meiner Laterne" (trad., also, just go read up on Martinmas in Germany) It’s probably Christmas-time (ish) when you’re reading this, so remember the spirit of the season is giving. Any donations go toward hosting fees and paying the authors for the annual story show. If you’re feeling generous, you can leave a donation at Ko-Fi.com. Or PayPal me a direct donation using weirdxmas@gmail.com. You can also LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

2024 Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest Winners: Weird Card Winner: “The Study of Owls and the Christmas Contronyms” by Daniel Roop Unreal Holiday Celebration Winner: “The Mycelial Muffinheads’ Annual Pilgrimage to the Cave of Forget-Me-Nothings” by C.L. Sidell Stocking Stuffer Winner: “All Eves for the Yule” by A.S. Hahrwort All the stories: (in no special order other than appearance on the show): “Nativity” by John Nicol “The Sadly Beautiful Life Cycle of the Mrs. Claus” by Nicoletta Giuseffi “Rudolpha” by Nicholas De Marino “Countdown to Christmas” by John Wolf “Keepers of the Fruitcake” by Carla Rudy “Liturgy for the Feast Among the Gastroliths” by Cardigan Broadmoor “O Unholy Night” by Matthew Reyes “Northern Romance” by Reva Sherrard “St. O’Clause” by Lancelot Schaubert “Advent” by Ben Daggers “There Was Only Ever One Delivery” by Brian B. Humby “Santa Hooks Up a Sabbatical” by Paul Lewthwaite “Canary” by Stephanie Kelly “Growing Season of the Giver” by J. Rohr “Lightsgiving” by Greg Clumpner “Niklaus” by Rosa Meronek “The Study of Owls and the Christmas Contranyms” by Daniel Roop “The Mythical Muffinheads’ Annual Pilgrimage to the Cave of Forget-Me-Nothings” by C.L. Sidell “All Eves for the Yule” by A.S. Hahrwort Please help support the contest, the podcast, and Weird Christmas website by donating/gifting any and all amounts at Ko-Fi.com (click here). The money from the prizes is all from donations. And the more donations I get, the more I can give to the contestants. My long term goal is to make every story count as a professional sale by most writing organization’s standards. You can also donate any amount through PayPal by giving to weirdxmas@gmail.com. A big thank you to both volunteer readers this season: Dustin Pari (@dustinpari, who is always so wonderfully generous and optimistic and inspiring), and my friend Joel who wants nothing more to do with this whole thing. Usual opening: “O Holy Night” by Tiny Tim, “Christmas Doesn’t Last” by Make Like Monkeys, “Santa Claus Boogie” by Hasil Adkins, “Space Age Santa” by Ross Christman Special opening: “Christmas-Procrastination Blues” by Tom DeMasters. Bumper music (ripped straight from YouTube): by Myuu (for the dark piano) and a host of wonderful theramin artists. Contest results from previous years: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018.

Craig talks with the ever knowledgeable and jolly Benito Cereno about Scandinavian elves, which you're starting to see more and more places in decorations and movies. All links mentioned on the show, along with info on Benito, can be found at WeirdChristmas.com at this link: https://weirdchristmas.com/2023/12/23/nisser-and-tomtar-scandinavian-elves-with-benito-cereno/ If you’re feeling generous, you can leave a donation at Ko-Fi.com. It’s probably Christmas-time (ish) when you’re reading this, so remember the spirit of the season is giving. And I’m trying not to turn on the guilt machine, but I would like to pay my hosting fees. heh heh Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

I talk to Earl Fontainelle of the SHWEP (Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast). We try to trace down any textual evidence that would connect the origins of Christmas to ancient pagan sources, namely the Mithras cult and Emperor Constantine’s Sol Invictus cult. Listen here, on your favorite podcast app, or at the Podbean site. The SHWEP The SHWEP Oddcast Music: "Scriaben Christmas Time is Here" by Kurt Knecht "Christmas is a Pagan Holiday" by Matt Potako If you’re feeling generous, you can leave a donation at Ko-Fi.com. It’s probably Christmas-time (ish) when you’re reading this, so remember the spirit of the season is giving. And I’m trying not to turn on the guilt machine, but I would like to pay my hosting fees. heh heh Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

SURPRISE CHRISTMAS IN JULY PODCAST! I never quite got this show finished during the season, so my humble apologies. All is now well. Thank you to Meghan Arcuri for talking to me about Charlotte Riddell! Her collection of Riddell’s stories will be out very soon. And here are some links to her work, which I encourage everyone to check out: A Little Purple Book of Sharp Wit by Charlotte Riddel, ed. Meghan Arcuri Arcuri’s stories: “Because You’re Mine” “Green with Hunger” “Am I Missing the Sunlight” in Borderlands 7 Her bio: Meghan Arcuri is a Bram Stoker Award®-nominated author. Her work can be found in various anthologies, including Borderlands 7 (Borderlands Press), Madhouse (Dark Regions Press), Chiral Mad, and Chiral Mad 3 (Written Backwards). She is currently the Vice President of the Horror Writers Association. Prior to writing, she taught high school math, having earned her B.A. from Colgate University—with a double major in mathematics and English—and her masters from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She lives with her family in New York’s Hudson Valley. Please visit her at meghanarcuri.com, facebook.com/meg.arcuri, or on Twitter (@MeghanArcuri). Readers who were so gracious and generous with their time this year, as well as being totally patient and not complaining at all when I ghosted them: Tessa Dustin Pari Ileana Reyes Charles Gillingham Jenny Rowe Tony Dixon Seb Tim Hulsizer Amy Jessamy Thomison Bumper music for this episode: Usual opening: “O Holy Night” by Tiny Tim, “Christmas Doesn’t Last” by Make Like Monkeys, “Santa Claus Boogie” by Hasil Adkins, “Space Age Santa” by Ross Christman Featured opening/bumper: “Bad Boy Naturally” by Make Like Monkeys Bumper/closing: “Christmas in July” by the Brutalligators Spooky piano Christmas music (as always) by Myuu. If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year. You can also buy me a “coffee” ($3 gifts) at Ko-Fi.com. Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

It’s out later than I would have preferred, but like the inevitability of New Year’s following Christmas, it is here. To read the stories, get bio information and links on the authors, and for all other show notes, please check out WeirdChristmas.com. Results: Overall Winner: “The Fight” by Elizabeth Guilt “Weird Cards” Category Winner: “If the Suit Fits” by Michelle Christophorou “There Was a Man Dwelt by a Churchyard” Category Winner: “A Churchyard Carol” by Dan Fields “Stocking Stuffer” Category Winner: “The Power of Presents and Spidersilk” by Daniel Ausema Honorable Mention (in no particular order): “The Second Coming” — Michelle Christophorou “Married to Christmas” — Dustin Pari “The Christmas Room” — J.D. Wilson “Saving Cinterland” — JJ Mokrezewski “The Messenger” — Jens Hieber “A Christmas Burial” — Gary Ballard “Spirits of Christmas” — D.P. Blanchard “A lock of hair, a baby tooth, a toenail” — Eleanor Luke “Red Nose” — Thomas Lawrance “The Last Holiday” — John Wolf “It’s the Most Dreadful Time of the Year” — Paul Lewthwaite “How Santa Got Schooled” — Kate Sherrod “O Holey Night” — John Possidente “The Yew’s Embrace” — Jen Rowe “War’s End” — Adam Gottfried “Carton Holiday” — Ibiteye Overcomer “Christmas Spirits” — Laurie Peterson “Piss Pistol” — Brandon Case “Grandpa?” — Jonathan Saint Please help support the contest, the podcast, and Weird Christmas website by buying a “coffee” (a gift in increments of $3) at Ko-Fi.com (click here). For even more support, please consider joining my Patreon page (click here) where for $2 or $5/month, you’ll have access to extra content and bonuses like physical postcards mailed throughout the year. With more support, I can offer more and bigger prizes for the contest next year. A big thank you to my volunteer readers this season: my work buddy Lisa and LW Salinas (@sithwitch), both of whom stepped in at the very last second. Otherwise, almost all the authors wanted to read their own work this year, which was fun! Bumper music: Usual opening: “O Holy Night” by Tiny Tim, “Christmas Doesn’t Last” by Make Like Monkeys, “Santa Claus Boogie” by Hasil Adkins, “Space Age Santa” by Ross Christman Special opening: “A Little Too Late for Christmas” by The Crux Outro: "White Christmas" by the Ventures Bumpers: here, here, here, here, here, lots of dark piano Christmas music and Theramin stuff. Contest results from previous years: 2020, 2019, 2018.

Al Ridenour is back after talking to us last year about Krampus, but this time to help unpack the lore and traditions around the Perchten, Krampus-esque goblin-ish creatures tied to both Krampus and Frau Perchta. Links mentioned on the episode: Bone and Sickle Podcast Ep. 80 "America and the Old, Dark Christmas" Ep. 58 "The Hellish Harlequin: Phantom Hordes to Father Christmas" Ep. 38 "Frau Perchta the Belly-Slitter" Ep. 17 "Christmas Ghosts" Ep. 15 "Saint, Devil, Sugar-Bread, & Whip: Krampus and Nicholas" Al Ridenour's page Book The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas by Al Ridenour (link from the publisher) Bumper music: Usual opening: “O Holy Night” by Tiny Tim, “Christmas Doesn’t Last” by Make Like Monkeys, “Santa Claus Boogie” by Hasil Adkins, “Space Age Santa” by Ross Christman Special opening: "Kramperl, Kramperl, Besenstiel" by Die Pagger Buam Bumper/Closing: "Frau Perchta" by Waldtraene If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year. You can also buy me a “coffee” ($3 gifts) at Ko-Fi.com. Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

La Befana, Perchta, Holda, and so many more! We chat with the always encyclopedic Benito Cereno about all the Christmas witch folklore in Christmas history. Links: Benito's Christmas history videos Benito's writing at Gumroad Apocrypals podcast Friends 'Till the End podcast Progressively Horrified Music: "La Befana" by Make Like Monkeys "Perchta" by The Champagne Drops "Christmas Witch" by ChatterBox "The Christmas Witch" by CountD If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year. You can also buy me a "coffee" ($3 gifts) at Ko-Fi.com. Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I'll send you a sticker!

Sometimes when you have a podcast, you talk to people who interest you and you don’t worry so much about how it relates to the show or your topic or what your hard-won audience really cares about. So you put out a show that’s all about really, really narrow interests you have. This is half that. The other half is about an amazing book about whether or not you should believe in Santa. Links from the show: Does Santa Exist: A Philosophical Investigation (buy on Amazon) Eric’s blog Eric’s Wikipedia page…because that’s cool Eric on Twitter (which is loads of fun) I’m sure I forgot something Music from this episode: “Science Christmas Carols” “A Christmas Carol” by Tom Lehrer >>>>> If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year. You can also buy me a “coffee” ($3 gifts) at Ko-Fi.com. Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

Time to destroy your appetite! I talk to Glen Warren from the Season's Eatings Podcast about weird Christmas food throughout history. Links: Season's Eatings Podcast List of Christmas Podcasts (from Brian Earl's Christmas Past) Holly Jolly Xmasu (Japanese Christmas music podcast) Totally Rad Christmas ("Rudolph's Shiny New Year" episode with me) The Lamppost Huggers by Christopher Stanley (some Christmas horror stories) Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories, vol 4 edited by Christopher Philippo Music in this episode: "Christmas Food" by Idito the Chicken and Moonpie Nobot >>>>> If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year. You can also buy me a “coffee” ($3 gifts) at Ko-Fi.com. Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

I'm not usually your go-to source for new movies. But this one is worth your time. The Christmas Ride is a mumblecore (improvised dialogue) film about a ride share driver getting an emotional gut punch on Christmas day. I talked to the producer/director Stefanie Davis, and I hope you'll check it out. Here's the trailer for a taste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y45euwomp9g&t You can stream it from Amazon (free with Prime) and Vimeo: Stream from Amazon Prime Watch on Vimeo ($4.99 right now...help an indie movie out!) Cool people! Starring Daryen Ratté Writer/Producer/Director Stefanie Davis Bouncy Boxer Media The film's twitter Slacker (Craig's favorite old "mumblecore" movie) Music: "This Christmas Life" by Shane Dawson "Christmas Around the World" by Be Still This Earth And the promo was for Holly Jolly Xmasu -- a podcast all about Japanese Christmas music. You'll be hearing more from Scott soon. :) If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year. You can also buy me a "coffee" ($3 gifts) at Ko-Fi.com. Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I'll send you a sticker!

Christmas werewolves are a thing. I mean, I don't know if they're REAL real. But people really used to believe they were a thing. So Christmas expert Benito Cereno fills us in on their history Benito's been on the show before, talking about Christmas comics and the Yule Lads. Links mentioned in the show: Benito's werewolf Christmas story, "Two Gifts" Benito's YouTube channel Lives of St. Barbara and St. Nicholas Celebrating St. Nicholas Around the World and more... Apocrypals podcast Benito's site Bone & Sickle Podcast (episode 30: Loup-Garou, Werewolves in France) Music this episode: "Werewolf Christmas" by Timur and the Dime Museum "Werewolf in Christmas Past" by Max Dimartino, Lee Lacey "Meido Krampus Noche" by The Courtesan and the Cabin Boy And check out the Merry Britsmas podcast for all your British Christmas needs! If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year.