Resources

Interested to know more about the subjects discussed in the Traditionally Speaking podcast? You need look no further! In this section, we've gathered together some links for every topic that is covered in the podcast to give you some extra background information about the various themes mentioned in the episodes.

Please note that we aren't responsible for the content or service provision of any external website, company or organisation. With that in mind, get ready to click onwards for more details about all things Christmas...

Santa Claus and Father Christmas

• The English Heritage history of Father Christmas: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/christmas/the-history-of-father-christmas/​
• The History of St Nicholas, Santa Claus & Father Christmas: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/santa-claus
• Father Christmas vs Santa Claus - what's the difference?: https://tradfolk.co/customs/christmas/father-christmas-vs-santa-claus-whats-the-difference/
• The Heritage Daily guide to Santa Claus and Father Christmas: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/father-christmas-vs-santa-claus/142159

Christmas TV Traditions in the UK and USA

• UK Christmas TV listings archive from 1936 to the present day: https://ukchristmastv.weebly.com/​
• The best TV Christmas specials in the UK and USA: https://www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/tv/best-christmas-specials-ever/241065
• The year-round Christmas TV special schedule: https://www.mostlychristmas.com/christmastvschedule/
• Best Christmas specials and holiday TV episodes of all time: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g29613757/best-christmas-themed-tv-shows-episodes/

Boxing Day and Black Friday

• The origins of Boxing Day in the UK: https://economictimes.com/news/international/uk/what-is-boxing-day-origins-traditions-and-evolving-celebrations-explained/articleshow/106295018.cms
• How Black Friday got its name: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-friday-history-why-is-it-called-black-friday_l_5d951322e4b02911e1154386
• Exploring the traditions of Boxing Day: https://www.lovetoknow.com/celebrations/special-occasions/boxing-day-traditions
• The true history of Black Friday: https://www.history.com/news/black-friday-thanksgiving-origins-history

Christmas Toys of the 1960s

• The bestselling toys of the 1960s in the UK: https://www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk/60s/
• The bestselling toys of the 1960s in the USA: https://www.metv.com/lists/10-most-wanted-christmas-toys-of-the-1960s
• The must-have Christmas toys of the sixties: https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/christmas-toys-through-the-ages
• The beloved toys that defined the sixties: https://startsat60.com/media/opinion/nostalgia/the-beloved-toys-that-defined-the-1960s

Christmas Toys of the 1990s

• The bestselling toys of the 1990s in the US: https://wowowtoys.co.uk/blogs/articles/top-25-toys-of-the-90s
• Top 1990s Christmas toys in the UK: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/christmas-toys-1990s-were-top-22448244
• Nostalgic toys from the 1990s: https://metro.co.uk/2015/12/12/27-of-the-best-90s-toys-that-prove-christmas-used-to-be-way-better-5561028/
• Top-selling toys of the 1990s: https://www.syracuse.com/living/2022/12/tickle-me-elmo-furby-ninja-turtles-here-are-the-must-have-top-selling-christmas-toys-each-year-in-the-90s.html

More American Christmas TV Movies Filmed in Scotland

• Filming locations for Saving Christmas Spirit: https://findthatlocation.com/blog/saving-christmas-spirit-filming-location-fort-william-glenfinnan-and-more
• Filming locations for Christmas in Scotland: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/tv-film/4806722/christmas-in-scotland-fife-perthshire-film-tv/
• Filming locations for A Merry Scottish Christmas: https://www.atlasofwonders.com/2023/11/where-was-a-merry-scottish-christmas-filmed-castle.html
• The Edinburgh Live guide to Christmas movies filmed in Scotland: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/five-christmas-films-set-scotland-22240840

Christmas Toys of the 1970s

• The most popular Christmas toys of the 1970s: https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/g45300047/toys-from-1970s/
• Remembering the must-have toys of the 1970s: https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/88395/do-you-remember-these-must-have-christmas-toys-from-the-1970s
• Playtime nostalgia with 1970s toys: https://www.yours.co.uk/leisure/nostalgia/70s-toys/
• The grooviest toys of the 1970s: https://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/1970s-toys/

Christmas Carols

• The Classic FM history of the Christmas carol: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/carol-history-origins/
• The longest Christmas carol ever written: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/12/21/longest-christmas-carol/
• The most popular Christmas carols: https://www.classical-music.com/articles/christmas-carols
• The world's oldest Christmas carol: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/christmas-carol-songs-oldest-holiday-6821575/

Christmas Sweaters

• The history of the ugly Christmas sweater: https://www.hola.com/us/lifestyle/20211224307801/history-ugly-christmas-sweater/
• The story behind the Christmas sweater trend: https://www.cnn.com/style/ugly-christmas-sweater-holidays-history/index.html
• The largest ever Christmas sweater: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/columnists/story/2022-11-29/column-an-ugly-christmas-sweater-on-steroids
• The largest number of people wearing Christmas sweaters in a group: https://www.worldrecordacademy.com/mass/most_people_wearing_Christmas_jumpers_KU_fans_broke_Guinness_World_Records_record_215604.html

Christmas Toys of the 1950s

• Toys every kid wanted in the 1950s: https://www.locallifesc.com/toys-every-kid-wanted-in-the-1950s/​
• What toys were popular in the fifties: https://www.retrowaste.com/1950s/toys-in-the-1950s/
• Best-remembered toys of the 1950s: https://parade.com/1288593/juliebawdendavis/popular-toys-from-the-1950s/
• 1950s toys and games at the Woolworths Museum: https://www.woolworthsmuseum.co.uk/Toys-FiftyYearsAgo.html

Poinsettias and Christmas Cacti

• The Gardener's World guide to caring for a poinsettia: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-poinsettias/
• The History of Poinsettias at Christmas: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/poinsettia
• The History of the Christmas cactus: https://www.hooksgreenhouse.com/2022/12/01/the-history-of-the-poinsettia-and-the-christmas-cactus/
• The Good Housekeeping Guide to looking after a Christmas cactus: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20705680/christmas-cactus-care/

Christmas Feasting

• Christmas meal recipes from BBC Food: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/christmas-dinner-recipes​
• ​Ingredients of a traditional British Christmas dinner: https://www.british-study.com/en/blog/top-10-british-christmas-foods
• The English Heritage guide to Christmas dinners through history: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/christmas/christmas-dinners-through-history/
• Popular Christmas food in America: https://blog.lingoda.com/en/christmas-food-in-america/

Christmas Toys of the 1980s

• A retrospective of favourite 1980s Christmas toys: https://www.metv.com/lists/10-totally-awesome-christmas-toys-we-had-to-have-in-the-1980s​
• Bestselling eighties Christmas toys: https://www.eightieskids.com/the-best-selling-toys-of-the-1980s-have-been-revealed/
• The most popular Christmas gift of the 1980s: https://aboutthe80s.com/what-was-the-most-popular-christmas-gift-80s/
• Remembering the Christmas toys of the eighties: https://www.mybaba.com/80s-top-20-christmas-list/

Christmas Stockings

• The legend of the Christmas stocking as told by The Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-legend-of-the-christmas-stocking-160854441/
• The historical reason why Christmas stockings are hung by the chimney: https://www.livescience.com/32906-hang-stockings-for-christmas.html
• Symbolism of the Christmas stocking in festive customs: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christmas-stockings
• The story behind the largest Christmas stocking ever made: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-christmas-stocking

Eggnog

• A brief history of eggnog, as explained by Time magazine: https://time.com/3957265/history-of-eggnog/
• A traditional eggnog recipe at Simply Recipes: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/eggnog/​
• Different types of eggnog, as listed by Restaurantware: https://www.restaurantware.com/blog/post/12-different-kinds-of-eggnog/
• A recipe for whipkül from Shetland: https://www.shetland.org/blog/recipe-whipkul

Christmas Cards

• The origins of the Christmas card at the Victoria and Albert Museum: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-first-christmas-card​
• The Christmas card containing the greatest number of individual greetings: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-41667920​
• The world's largest Christmas card: https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/crisis-creates-worlds-largest-christmas-card/communications/article/845737​
• The history of the Christmas card: https://pallant.org.uk/christmas-cards-a-very-british-history/​

Krampus

• The legend of Krampus at the Encyclopaedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus
• The origins of Krampus at the History Channel: https://www.history.com/news/krampus-christmas-legend-origin
• Who is Krampus at the National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil
• The Faces of Krampus at the North Pole Press: https://thenorthpolepress.com/books/christmas-books/​

Board Games

• The Reader's Digest Guide to classic board games: https://www.rd.com/list/classic-board-games/
• The best-selling board games of all time: https://www.fun.com/best-selling-board-games-all-time.html
• Guide to Christmas family board games: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/0/best-christmas-board-games-family-2021/
• Board games with a Christmas theme: https://www.dadsuggests.com/home/the-best-christmas-family-board-games

American Christmas TV Movies Filmed in Scotland

• Official website for Christmas in the Highlands: https://www.reeloneent.com/programming/christmas-in-the-highlands/
• Filming locations for Christmas in the Highlands: https://findthatlocation.com/blog/christmas-in-the-highlands-filming-locations
• ​Official website for A Castle for Christmas: https://www.netflix.com/title/81026181
• Filming locations for A Castle for Christmas: https://www.atlasofwonders.com/2021/12/dun-dunbar-castle-for-christmas-location.html

Christmas Trees

• The history of the Christmas tree: https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees
• The symbolism of the Christmas tree: https://www.britannica.com/plant/Christmas-tree​
• The world's tallest Christmas tree: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/77271-tallest-christmas-tree​
• The most expensive Christmas trees in the world: https://financesonline.com/most-expensive-christmas-trees-in-the-world/

Festive Bannock Cakes & Ecclefechan Tarts

• Recipe for the Scottish yule bannock: https://angiemilne.com/2020/12/11/scotish-yule-bannock/
• Recipe for the Ecclefechan tart: https://scottishscran.com/scottish-ecclefechan-tart-recipe/
• The folklore of the bannock: https://weewhitehoose.co.uk/kitchen/fire-and-fortune-the-folklore-of-the-humble-bannock/
• The history of the Ecclefechan tart: https://lifestyle.livemint.com/news/talking-point/a-scottish-christmas-tart-111646917533005.html

A Visit from St Nicholas

• Complete text of the Clement Clark Moore poem at the Poetry Foundation: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas
• Details about The Christmas Eve Journey by Joe Moore and Mary Moore: https://www.northpolepress.com/collections/christmas-stories/products/the-christmas-eve-journey-hardcover
• ​The Library of Congress Guide to A Visit from St Nicholas: https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/dec09/stnick.html
• Poetic variants of A Visit from St Nicholas from history: https://iment.com/maida//familytree/henry/xmas/poemvariants/troysentinel1823.htm

Christmas Lights

• The history of Christmas lights: https://www.christmas-light-source.com/pages/history-of-christmas-lights
• Record-breaking Christmas lights across the world: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2017/12/11-glittering-christmas-lights-records-that-shine-this-holiday-season-506419
• Christmas lights in the movies: https://neiloseman.com/six-cinematic-uses-for-fairy-lights/
• The craziest Christmas lights around the planet: https://www.mapquest.com/travel/the-6-craziest-christmas-displays-around-the-world/

Advent Calendars

• The story of the Advent calendar: https://www.ool.co.uk/blog/the-history-of-the-advent-calendar/
• How to make an Advent calendar: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g1565/diy-advent-calendars/
• The world's biggest Advent calendar: https://www.vercalendario.info/en/what/guinness-records-for-largest_advent_calendar.html
• The most expensive Advent calendar ever made: https://nypost.com/2021/12/02/worlds-most-expensive-custom-advent-calendar-costs-10m/

Gingerbread Houses

• How to make a gingerbread house: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_a_gingerbread_house/
• Design ideas for gingerbread houses: https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/decorating-ideas/g310/good-enough-to-eat-1206/
• The world's largest gingerbread town: https://www.visitnorway.com/typically-norwegian/christmas/the-worlds-largest-gingerbread-town/
• A brief history of the gingerbread house: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/dec/22/a-brief-history-of-the-gingerbread-house

Christingles

• The history of Christingles: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christingles
• The story behind Christingles: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/how-you-can-help/fundraise-and-events/christingle/what-is-christingle
• How to make a Christingle: https://christmasphere.com/how-to-make-a-christingle/
• The symbolism of Christingles: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/christmas/Christingle.aspx

Christmas Cookies

• Christmas cookie recipe: https://www.recipetineats.com/christmas-cookies-vanilla-biscuits/
• Different types of Christmas cookie: https://www.aheadofthyme.com/best-christmas-cookies-recipes/
• The world's biggest cookie: https://www.immaculatebaking.com/the-worlds-biggest-cookie/
• Ideas for decorating Christmas cookies: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/dessert/g4057/decorating-christmas-cookies/

Christmas Crackers

• The history of Christmas crackers: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christmas-crackers
  
• How to make Christmas crackers: https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas/how-to-make-christmas-crackers.html
  
• The world's largest Christmas cracker: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-christmas-cracker-
  
• A collection of Christmas cracker jokes: https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/jokes/christmas-cracker-jokes-best-bad-funny-fillers-worst-110219

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