Podcasts about Christmas creep

This week on Australia's ONLY Christmas Podcast we look at the hype around Christmas Creep. What's wrong with Christmas creeping into our stores earlier every year? Why do we feel the need to over indulge at Christmas. We unpack all the reasons we spend too much, eat too much every year. Plus We've been road testing new traditions. We'll let you know what's been working and what you can try with your family this year. With your hosts Liam and Ness talking all things Christmas all year long on Christmas Podding.

A lot of people complain that Christmas comes earlier every year. But, is that really true? Extended holiday shopping seasons have been the norm for well over a century. And besides, there's one big (and spooooky) reason that Christmas can only come so early. Marketing professor Darrin Duber-Smith joins Brian to discuss the phenomenon of "Christmas creep."Music in this episode"Silent Movie (Old Record Version)" — Anastasia Kir, via Pixabay"Deck the Hall Jazz" — Anastasia Kir, via Pixabay"Ambient Piano" — BlackPy Beats, via Pixabay"Gentle Soft Piano - Christmas Vibes" — Alex Products, via Free Music Archive"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" — Dee Yan-Kee, via Free Music ArchiveConnect Facebook page Facebook group Instagram Bluesky Twitter / X Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Website BookChristmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Available in hardcover and audiobook. Find it wherever books are sold, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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The phrase “Christmas Creep,” is defined as the tendency for Christmas products, decorations, and advertising to be displayed earlier each year. We see this more and more every year as soon as summer is over. With tongue-in-cheek, Sue Duffield starts off this episode with a little "merger musing", with the fictional possibilities of combining Christmas and Hanukkah into a new holiday called, "Chrismukkah!" Sue's broadcasting career in reporting news, community events and cultural happenings, goes way back to her early days in radio in the 90s. She continues to find an insatiable desire to report the "facts" with humor, making light of subjects that aren't so funny. There's no question that there's a definitive persuasion in consumerism. And the big tech companies pushing this during the holidays, know how gullible American's can be. As Christians, take the time to "let the REAL merger begin, with your Savior's heart in yours." That's the best high-tech merger of all. www.sueduffield.com

Every year it seems that society wants to start celebrating the Christmas season earlier and earlier. Many citizens have started to see Christmas décor pop up in local stores well before Halloween and in some cases before Summer has even ended! How early is too early to start celebrating Christmas? Do you think retailers need to hold off till after Halloween to pull out the Christmas décor? Is “Christmas Creep” about consumerism or comfort?Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio and listen to NightSide with Dan Rea Weeknights From 8PM-12AM!

Feature: As Hollywood begins its “Christmas creep,” we talk our favorite holiday movies The holidays are here… or at least film distributors are under that impression. It's been two weeks since Halloween has wrapped, and in that time we've seen some new Christmas-centric films make their ways to theaters and streamers. This week's most-promoted theatrical release being the Christmas, action-comedy Red One; the film includes stars like Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and J.K. Simmons. Last week on the show, we had the chance to discuss Christmas Eve in Miller's Point and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, two films that fit into the rich tradition of comfort movies that you can watch with your family during the holidays. So for this week's FilmWeek feature, we'll speak to our critics about the trend itself and hear about their favorite movies centered on the holiday season.  

-Is absentee ownership to blame for rundown houses around Vancouver? Guest: Ashley Vaughn, Neighbour who alerted authorities. -Are we close to being able to teleport? Guest: Thomas Jennewein, associate professor, institute for Quantum Computing, Waterloo -What should we be reading this month? Guest: Amanda Gauthier, Director of books at indigo -Do Animals have the ability to get drunk? Guest: Matthew Carrigan, professor of Biology at the college of central Florida -Will the holiday's be affected by labour disputes? Guest: Professor Adam King, Faculty of Arts / Labour Studies, University of Manitoba. -The Christmas Creep is real and getting earlier and earlier! Guest: Amanda Chung, Marketing Manager for Metropolis at Metrotown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- KSTP's Chris Egert talks about a stabbing over the weekend downtown, a shooting in Dinkytown yesterday, the "Christmas Creep" is in full effect for some Minnesotans now that we're past Thanksgiving. Plus a story about his extended shopping trip from the weekend. - Bob Sansevere breaks down the Vikings Sunday Night Football win over the Colts, talks about new acquisition Cam Robinson's debut in purple, the puzzling offensive decisions to not get the ball to Jefferson early, and whether or not they'll need to bring in a kicker. - Kristyn Burtt weighs in on her final thoughts on which way the election will go before election day. The Penguin wrapped up on HBO, did you watch it and notice that Colin Farrell was the man under all the makeup? Plus some of the big stream options from the weekend! Stream the show LIVE on the Tom Barnard Show app M-F from 8-9:30AM or get the show on-demand on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

- KSTP's Chris Egert talks about a stabbing over the weekend downtown, a shooting in Dinkytown yesterday, the "Christmas Creep" is in full effect for some Minnesotans now that we're past Thanksgiving. Plus a story about his extended shopping trip from the weekend.- Bob Sansevere breaks down the Vikings Sunday Night Football win over the Colts, talks about new acquisition Cam Robinson's debut in purple, the puzzling offensive decisions to not get the ball to Jefferson early, and whether or not they'll need to bring in a kicker.- Kristyn Burtt weighs in on her final thoughts on which way the election will go before election day. The Penguin wrapped up on HBO, did you watch it and notice that Colin Farrell was the man under all the makeup? Plus some of the big stream options from the weekend!Stream the show LIVE on the Tom Barnard Show app M-F from 8-9:30AM or get the show on-demand on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brie is back on the mic and she has updates on her new chickens! She's frustrated with Christmas Creeps and plays a new game just in time for Halloween! First off, Brie is bringing you all the latest news about her chickens! It seems that Brie's day revolves around her chicken coop. From early morning hellos to evening goodnights, Brie's all about her feathered friends. However, her short foray into the life of a chicken farmer has resulted in a few unanswered questions about the routines and habits of the newest additions to her family. While the chickens are welcome into the Danielson house, there's one unwanted stranger who has Brie staying up late and working overtime. A lover of all animals, Brie is anxious to re-home a mouse that's invaded her kitchen. The issue is how to apprehend the little creature in a humane way. Things we know about the mouse: It's cute, it likes bread, it ate a protein bar. Brie also found herself perplexed when shopping for some candles for Halloween and Thanksgiving. While she's all about a cozy vibe at the house, it seems all of the home decor stores in town have jumped past Fall and fast-forwarded directly to Christmas and its harshing Brie's vibe. She was willing to go all-out for Autumn decor, but the Christmas Creep has taken over all available retail space in the tri-county area. Will her hunt for seasonally appropriate candles be successful? Poetry and Halloween costumes, two things Brie loves, collide in a round of Costume Quiz. Isabella, the show's editor, puts a twist on the top Halloween costumes of 2024 with some ridiculous riddles that test Brie's knowledge of cutting-edge trends. To close things out, Brie shares her Inspiration & Affirmation that put her in the right holiday spirit, the Halloween spirit!Follow Bonita Bonita on Instagram Book a reservation at the Bonita Bonita Speakeasy  Call Nikki & Brie at 833-GARCIA2 and leave a voicemail! Follow Nikki & Brie on Instagram and send Nikki & Brie a message on Threads! To watch exclusive videos of this week's episode, follow The Nikki & Brie Show on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok! You can also catch The Nikki & Brie Show on SiriusXM Stars 109!

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Lil Debbie New Products Wednesday 10/16/24

In this episode, we explore the phenomenon of Christmas decorations appearing in stores well before Halloween. We delve into the reasons behind this trend, driven by retailers eager to capture holiday spending early on. Discover how these early displays tap into consumer psychology, creating a sense of urgency and fear of missing out, ultimately influencing our purchasing decisions. We discuss the balance retailers must strike to avoid overwhelming consumers and risking sensory overload, drawing parallels with other marketing strategies. The episode also touches on the importance of mindful consumption and reclaiming the true spirit of the holidays, emphasizing connection and joy over commercialism. Join us as we consider how to create meaningful holiday experiences, focusing on traditions and moments that don't require extravagant spending. Learn how to navigate the holiday season with intention, remembering that the most valuable gifts aren't found on store shelves. Why Stores Should Display Christmas Merch Before Halloween https://www.retaildoc.com/why-retailers-should-display-holiday-merchandise-before-halloween

Send us a textKen Kessler from the Sounds of Christmas revisits the myth of Christmas Creep, with lots of examples from Christmas Past of elements of the season showing up before Thanksgiving, before Halloween and even before the first day of Fall!  Show links:Listen to the Sounds of Christmas stationFind the Sounds of Christmas podcastConnect with the Sounds of Christmas on social mediaCheck out all the artists that are already making the 2024 season of the Sounds of Christmas station possibleSupport the show

Welcome to Campfire Classics, a Literary Comedy Podcast!! Happy Thanksgiving! The Christmas Creep begins next week, but for now we celebrate the birth of pie and mashed potatoes, or something like that. Whatever. Ken is going it alone this week, and he's got a holiday story ready for you from the always (sometimes) hilarious O. Henry! The story is "Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen" and Ken reads it...well, yeah, he reads it. You'll also learn another reason to think Thomas Jefferson was a dick, the story of the real first American Thanksgiving, and, hey, did you catch the episode title? DEVIL PEE! "Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen" was published in the short story collection The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories of the Four Million, in 1907. Email us at 5050artsproduction@gmail.com. Remember to tell five friends to check out Campfire Classics. Like, subscribe, leave a review. Now sit back, light a fire (or even a candle), grab a drink, and enjoy.

Do retailers put out Christmas stuff earlier and earlier every year, not giving Thanksgiving fair respect, or is it all in our heads?A presidential pardon forgives a crime and clears the record of the offender. So why does a turkey (yes, an actual turkey) receive this treatment every Thanksgiving? Sources:https://www.newsweek.com/countdown-christmas-creep-earlier-every-year-1631978https://www.npr.org/2019/11/26/782716688/i-beg-your-pardon-the-strange-history-presidents-sparing-turkeyshttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

BPR Full Show 11/15: The Christmas Creep

This month we're pushing back against the onslaught of Christmas Creep by extending spooky season in a block we're calling SHRIEKSGIVING! On this episode we look at last year's The Killing Tree, about a serial killer who gets reincarnated as a murderous Christmas tree. It is exactly as silly as you'd expect, but somehow, someway... we found this one kinda charming. Also in this episode... Bradford unexpectedly manages to connect The Killing Tree to Xenoblade Chronicles, we accidentally wade into the quagmire of the villain being right but for the wrong reasons, and the guys reminisce about burritos we've eaten. Never a dull moment around here, folks! Questions/Comments? Email us at XmasCreeps@gmail.comTweet us @ChristmasCreepsVisit us on the web at ChristmasCreeps.com! Join us on our Discord channel! Intro / Outro: "Carol of the Bells" by Bards Bizarre

Noticed that holiday shopping promotions already replaced Halloween? “Christmas Creep” is happening earlier than ever — Because Early Bird shoppers are the most valuable kind.Bumble's founder, Whitney Wolfe Herd, is stepping down as CEO — She's the youngest ever woman to IPO a company… and she did it while defying a law of business.And Warren Buffett just shared one shocking number: $157 Billion — That's how much cash he's sitting on right now, because cash has gone from fool to cool.$BMBL $MTCH $BRK.A $TGT $WMTSubscribe to our newsletter: tboypod.com/newsletterWant merch, a shoutout, or got TheBestFactYet? Go to: www.tboypod.comFollow The Best One Yet on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok: @tboypodAnd now watch us on YoutubeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some environmentalists call Christmas the world's greatest annual environmental disaster, and for good reason: All that cheap, ultra-trendy decor adds up. On today's show: getting intentional about our holiday decorations once and for all. Here's a preview:[3:00] Let's talk numbers: How much do Americans spend each year on holiday decor?[10:00] 3 ways in which 'Christmas Creep' encourages us to spend more than we intended on decorations[13:00] The origins of those inflatable lawn thingys: Where did they come from and when will they disappear?[22:00] Don't go out and buy another decoration until you've displayed the decorations you already own, and here are 4 reasons why[32:00] Want to make your child smile? Don't buy a cheap piece of holiday decor; do this instead Resources mentioned:Big Mouth Billy BassEpisode #323: O Christmas TreeEpisode #101: 5 Spaces To Declutter Before ChristmasEpisode #051: How To Handle Holiday Clutter (with Joshua Becker)Episode #327: Holiday BoundariesEpisode #326: Gift Boundaries--Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw Home! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 20% off. https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to our sponsor, Armoire! Use code SUSTAINABLE for up to $125 off your first month. http://www.armoire.style/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ridiculous gifting? We are looking at You GOOP, we talk Christmas Creep and that wacky Holiday Gift Guide! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ridiculous gifting? We are looking at You GOOP, we talk Christmas Creep and that wacky Holiday Gift Guide! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, we'll talk about the phenomenon of “Christmas Creep.” We'll find out how long it's been happening (spoiler alert: way longer than you think) and give you some strategies to cope with the stress of it. We'll also count down the top five Christmas world records, tell you how to listen to Christmas movies, and move on to round 4 of Merry Music Madness. Download here! VOTE HERE FOR MERRY MUSIC MADNESS (Round 4) 00:00 – 01:34 Intro 01:34 – 03:27 We Need a Little Christmas Now 03:27 – 09:02 Five Golden Things (Christmas World Records) 09:02 –…

What a CreepSeason 18, Episode 5Chris D'Elia, Charles Dickens, & Can't Stop the MusicComedian Kyle Anderson posted on YouTube a one-hour takedown of Chris D'Elia, who is turning into a modern-day Bill Cosby. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBxm0FSKXpMWe have talked about D'Elia before, as he has been credibly accused of harassing minors and being generally gross to women who interact with him. But this is awful. Trigger warning: Sexual Assault and Coercive Control. Some of his comedy pals have been accused of sexual assault as well, and we have heard from survivors of their abuse privately. Before we get to our main subject of this episode ( a replay from December 2020), Charles Dickens, we will talk about a NON-Creep who needs our help. Actress Valerie Perrine is fighting Parkinson's Disease and needs help with her medical expenses and care. The 79-year-old is best known for her roles in Superman (1978,) Lenny (1974), Slaughterhouse-Five (1972), and finally, Can't Stop the Music, which also stars The Village People, Caitlyn Jenner, and was directed by Nancy Walker. Here is the link for her “Go Fund Me” page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-valerie-perrine-fight-parkinson039s-disease?utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_email%2B5102-48hr-donor-shareNow on to our replay ep:Charles Dickens is one of the most successful authors of the 19th Century who attracted a rock star-like following around the world for his dramatic readings. He is considered as close to Father Christmas as any man has ever been and was a champion of working-class people and liberal causes. His work influenced writers for several generations, including Willkie Collins, Jules Verne, Gorge Orwell, Roald Dahl, and Jonathan Nolan (screenwriter for The Dark Knight.)He was also a massive creep to several vital women in his life, which is what we will focus on today. Trigger warnings: Shitty husbandsSources for this episode include:The London Telegraph (2016)Bates College Alumnae InterviewBBCThe GuardianThe Vintage NewsThe SmithsonianThe Herald NewsCharles Dickens: A Life by ClaireTomalinBe sure to follow us on social media. But don't follow us too closely … don't be a creep about it! Subscribe to us on Apple PodcastsTwitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPodFacebook: Join the private group! Instagram @WhatACreepPodcastVisit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreepEmail: WhatACreepPodcast@gmail.com We've got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez created our logo. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

The Christmas Creep is shining through! Blake and AJ talk about Gamer Christmas, make gift wrapping a special hell, and debate if Ultraman is a robot or not!UNDERTALE LET'S PLAY: https://youtu.be/eRuWNYObSTUDISCORD: https://www.patreon.com/Spiritualsuccessorpodcast?fan_landing=trueTWITTER: https://twitter.com/SpiritualSuccREDDIT: https://www.reddit.com/r/Spiritual_Successor/EMAIL: spiritualsuccessorpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't be Christmas-y just yet. Don't give it strength. My Website: https://dairyfreedudeid.wixsite.com/mysite

OB and Ed talk Christmas Creep at the big stores and why do they have to ruin other holidays. The conversation goes to Disney and then we wrap up with Ed prepping to take several young girls to an Ed Sheeran concert. He needs help please advise him.

Our physical mailbox has been full of holiday shopping catalogs all week. Our digital inbox is the same. The big box stores are already touting their deals and sales. We're sharing our take on what they call 'Christmas Creep'. What about you? How early is too early or maybe it's never too early?

Ken Kessler from the Sounds of Christmas talks about the myth of Christmas Creep, with lots of examples from Christmas Past of elements of the season showing up before Thanksgiving, before Halloween and even before the first day of Fall! 

The CornerCast did not get rained out, like so many Guardians game this year! Mitchell took his turn in the host seat and grilled Gerbs and Ethan about their Stars and Scrubs of the Week, then the guys discussed the trade deadline and its Christmas-Creep-like arrival on the calendar already. Plus Ethan got a new nickname and the CornerCast discussed the goings on down on the farm for the Guardians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ho-ho-holy crap we're talking about the HOLIDAYS for a 3rd time!!! Andrea and first-timer, Michael, face off on topics like Hallmark Holiday Movies, Saturnalia, Christmas Creep and more. Plus, we play Fuck Marry Kill and I See What You Did There. If you're hiring an inexperienced lawyer in the next year... get in touch with Michael!Make sure the giving mindset of the holidays happens all year long by supporting nonprofits in months that don't end in -ember!And support local artists, musicians, and shops! They need you! And they are awesome.Check out the tunes that Michael J O'Connor makes: https://michaeljoconnor.bandcamp.com/Happy holidays to you all!

La música decembrina es solamente uno de los tantos productos de consumo ofrecidos en la temporada de fin de año que a modo de 14 cañonazos nos bombardean en las tiendas y centros comerciales gracias a nuevas estrategias de marketing como los conocidos outlets, black Fridays o el mismo Christmas Creep o adelanto de navidad, dejando de lado el naranja de las calabazas por el rojo de los festones y luces que nos terminan encandilando y atiborrando de sobreofertas. Lo subliminal de esta música se puede rastrear en una incitación a comprar de forma desaforada no solo licor, sino cualquier artilugio casi siempre innecesario. En esxte episodio hablaremos de la música en diciembre y el consumo de la navidad. 

Holy cow gang, we're in that Christmas Creep--and on the road to episode 100--AND OUR TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY? In preparation for the holiday and our super-versary, Megan walks us through some of the holiday comics from Archie throughout the years, and Ezra begins an epic mini-series covering one of the craziest and yet most seminal Archie Comic events to ever take place. Segments: Archie: The Married Life, Unnamed Game Digests: Archie Christmas Classics “Snow Mistake” “Black Book Bonanza” Support this podcast

Why is a raven like a writing desk? Did you learn something from this episode? Are you already in that Christmas Creep? I hope you enjoy Episode 42 of the Saintly Not Salty Podcast. Thank you to SturdyRae for your entry to the Gratitude Journal and JasTho the Hero for your q! I would love to hear from you! You can say hi, submit a question, an entry into the gratitude journal or feedback by emailing saintlynotsalty@gmail.com, through the google form (bit.ly/snspod), or find us on instagram @saintlynotsalty. Special Priest Guest coming up, so send questions to Ask A Priest. Peace be with you Friendos! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/saintlynotsalty/message

Hello Interactors,Today is Black Friday. It’s one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year. In Part 1 of this two part series, I talked about how the Christmas holiday season is rooted in consumption and classism. Its origins had little to nothing to do with Christianity, but everything to do with establishing social order. Black Friday is no different.As interactors, you’re special individuals self-selected to be a part of an evolutionary journey. You’re also members of an attentive community so I welcome your participation.Please leave your comments below or email me directly.Now let’s go…VISIONS OF SUGAR-PLUMS DANCED IN THEIR HEADSAmerican colonial settlers debated Christmas celebrations well in the 1700s. Bouts of drunken caroling, groveling, and fallacious philia raged from harvest season’s end through December. While the practice was as old as the Roman Saturnalia, Puritan settlers hoped to sever the European connection.One Puritan, Reverend Increase Mather, “accurately observed in 1687 that the early Christians who first observed the Nativity on December 25 did not do so ‘thinking that Christ was born in that Month, but because the Heathens Saturnalia was at that time kept in Rome, and they were willing to have those Pagan Holidays metamorphosed into Christian [ones].’”The harvest parties only increased until the colonists overthrew England’s Dominion of New England in 1689. One Connecticut almanac producer, John Tully, wrote in 1688,“The Nights are still cold and long, which may cause great Conjunction betwixt the Male and Female Planets of our sublunary Orb, the effects whereof may be seen about nine months after…”Tully also bravely printed Christmas Day on the 25th alongside his weather predictions.There was not another mention of Christmas until 1711 when Increase Mather’s son, Reverend Cotton Mather (who applauded Indigenous massacres because they “brought Indian souls to hell”) wrote in his December 30th diary,“I hear of a number of young people of both sexes, belonging, many of them, to my flock, who have had on the Christmas-night, this last week, a Frolick, a revelling feast, and Ball [i.e., dance].…”The following year, around Christmas time, he preached from the Bible criticisms of faux Christians who used religion to veil ungodly sexual acts, “‘giving themselves over to fornication’—'ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.’”Despite Mather’s routine attempts to curb young people’s desire to turn religious events into parties, such at weddings or Sunday night revelry, it only increased. Population data from this time period shows a marked increase in unwed pregnancies. Records show seven month old marriages that featured an addition to the family a couple months later. Also, there’s a notable swelling of births roughly nine months after Christmas. That’s when I was born.By the early 1700s, Cotton Mather gave up. He reluctantly accepted that Christians could be both Christmas revelers and Christian reckoners; a weakening of Puritanism and a concession his father surely would have admonished. But it set the stage for moderation as evidenced in Benjamin Franklin’s older brother, James Franklin’s, 1733 couplet:  “Now drink good Liquor, but not so, / That thou canst neither stand nor go.”James was the one who trained young Ben to become a printer. Benjamin Franklin is also remembered as the nation’s model of self-restraint, but perhaps less so as a philanderer. He fathered an illegitimate child before entering a common-law marriage with his housekeeper’s daughter. Perhaps his rustles in the sheets started with a little wassail in streets.In December of 1734, Franklin wrote this in his second edition of his famed Poor Richard’s Almanac:“If you wou’d have Guests merry with your Cheer, / Be so yourself, or so at least appear.”Then again five years later:“O blessed Season! lov’d by Saints and Sinners, / For long Devotions, or for longer Dinners.”What Benjamin Franklin, and prolific almanac producer Nathanial Ames, aimed to do throughout the 1700s was to cast Christmas, through printed word, as a time to be merry – but in moderation. Slowly, by the late 1700s, Christmas carols began sneaking into America’s first printed hymnals. The Christmas celebration had finally made piece with Christianity. The Universalists were the first to hold a December 25th service in 1789.CLOTHES WERE ALL TARNISHED WITH ASHES AND SOOTBut the dawn of a new century, and the industrial age, brought a shift in attitudes around Christmas. The elite, again, distanced themselves from the occasion. As urban cities grew and jobs shifted from the farm to the factory, winter brought new dynamics to the onset of the season. Some factories closed in the cold months as did shipyards along frozen waters.This brought unemployment and idle time to laborers. Whereas historically wealthy farm owners were willing to amuse the working class in a societal roll reversal – through transient and theatrical wassailing – the urban elite power structures were unwilling to participate. But it didn’t stop the working class from venting.The once faint mockery of their employers – imbued with subtle hints of revenge should they not offer them gifts, food, or alcohol – turned fierce and riotous in the 1800s. Papers in both England and the United States barely mention Christmas at all between 1800 and 1820. But that was about to change.In the first decade of 1800, one of New York’s most influential men, John Pintard, became particularly peeved by the seasonal banditti. He reminisced on ‘better days’ when the rich and the poor got drunk together. And while he wished his wealthy friends reveled more among themselves, he grew concerned that “the beastly vice of drunkenness among the lower laboring classes is growing to a frightful excess…”And in a familiar tone, echoed to this day by many, he feared “thefts, incendiaries, and murders—which prevail—all arise from this source.”  Which is why he helped create the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism. This was an organization that sought to curb money directed at care for the poor, but to also stop them from begging and drinking. The white elite ruling class of the 1820s –- as well as many in the 2020s – complained of what one New York paper described as, “[t]he assembling of Negroes, servants, boys and other disorderly persons, in noisy companies in the streets, where they spend the time in gaming, drunkenness, quarreling, swearing, etc., to the great disturbance of the neighborhood.”Pintard was also hopelessly nostalgic. He founded the New York Historical Society in 1804 and was instrumental in establishing Washington’s Birthday, the Fourth of July, and Columbus Day as national holidays. Pintard also introduced America’s icon of nostalgia, Santa Claus. Seeking a patron saint for the New York Historical Society, and for all of New York City, he commissioned an illustration to be painted of St. Nicholas giving presents to children. While the icon was not intended to be seasonal, it was nonetheless printed on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, in 1810.He pined for the days when the rich and powerful could rule over what was becoming a burgeoning working class. In 1822, as Jefferson had just passed a law allowing non-property owners to vote, Pintard wrote to his daughter,“All power is to be given, by the right of universal suffrage, to a mass of people, especially in this city, which has no stake in society. It is easier to raise a mob than to quell it, and we shall hereafter be governed by rank democracy.… Alas that the proud state of New York should be engulfed in the abyss of ruin.”WHAT TO MY WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR1822 was also the year his friend, and wealthy land owner, Clement Clark Moore, wrote what was to become the most influential Christmas poem ever: “A Visit from St. Nicholas” or as it is known today, “T’was The Night Before Christmas.”This single poem, written for the elite upper class, encapsulates the nostalgia of wassailing Pintard and his friends pined for, while making themselves feel good about themselves for ‘giving to the needy.’ Moore did this by substituting the unruly lower working class, begging for gifts from their master, with children expecting presents on Christmas morning.He kept the gift giving mysticism of the centuries old St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, but removed the judgmental elements of a Bishop who may make them feel guilty for maintaining class divide by making him “merry”, “droll”, “rosy”, and “plump.” He also made him a lower class “peddler”. And while Santa made a loud noise “on the lawn” with a “clatter”, just as a lower class wassailer would have, he was but a small and unthreatening “right jolly old elf” who kindly left toys he had labored over for the children.And he asked nothing in return. With a “wink of his eye” and a “finger aside his nose” (a gesture meaning “just between you and me”) Moore gave the privileged class, who were fearful of home invasions at Christmas time, assurance they “had nothing to dread.” All they needed to do, was keep their wealth within the family and buy their kids and friends gifts at Christmas time. Forget the poor, they thought, they’re as hopeless as democracy.The vision and version of Christmas and Santa Claus that Moore provided his haughty affluent peers, in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, was soon to be read by a growing middle class and an increasingly literate lower class. That’s as true then as it is today.And while Moore was a country squire who never worked a day in his life, and hated the gridding up of property in a growing New York City, he grew to love the money he earned selling off family property he inherited. Geographer Simeon DeWitt was chopping Manhattan into a Roman style grid to make room for a population that grew from 33,000 in 1790 to nearly 200,000 by the time Moore’s poem was written in 1822. He even included a chimney in his poem for Santa to climb down as a way for city folk to better relate to a scene he’d rather have happened in his bucolic hills of a New York of yore – an area today we call Chelsea.What also changed was the gifts exchanged. Traditional Christmas gifts consisted of hand made food and goods forged from natural countryside surroundings. But as Christmas moved to the city, handmade gifts were displaced by store bought presents.The first known American Christmas advertisement came from one of the country’s busiest ports, Salem, Massachusetts in 1806. Then two more in 1808 in both Boston and New York in the New York Evening Post. By the 1820s they were everywhere. In 1834 a Boston magazine wrote,“’All the children are expecting presents, and all aunts and cousins to say nothing of near relatives, are considering what they shall bestow upon the earnest expectants.… I observe that the shops are preparing themselves with all sorts of things to suit all sorts of tastes; and am amazed at the cunning skill with which the most worthless as well as most valuable articles are set forth to tempt and decoy the bewildered purchaser.’”It went on to warn shoppers to “’put themselves on their guard, to be resolved to select from the tempting mass only what is useful and what may do good…’”Sounds like Black Friday.THE LUSTRE OF MID-DAY TO OBJECTS BELOWWhile there was aggressive advertising as early as the 1800s, there was a social stigma around being too showy with luxury purchases. It was a sign of European aristocracy that the colonists, of all economic strata, were keen to avoid. But Christmas time had long been a cyclical excuse to overconsume. Shopkeepers and manufacturers latched on this association tempting even the most tempered to exult in excess through advertising, promotions, and sales.It was the Puritans who invented Thanksgiving as way to celebrate the harvest separate from the religiosity of Christmas time. The specific day on the calendar bounced around until the late 1700s when regional governors dictated it be celebrated as close to Christmas as possible. It was even held on December 20th one year.It didn’t take long for Thanksgiving to become commercialized either. New England farmers and merchants would strategize on how to best profit from the carnival-like drunken festivals that surrounded Thanksgiving just as it did Christmas.Once Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be the official day of Thanksgiving in 1863, retailers could plan their profits around a firm date. Then, in 1934, Franklin Delano Roosevelt moved it back a week during the depression to extend the Christmas shopping season an extra week so retailers could reap more profits. It was a controversial ruling and FDR’s date came to be known as Franksgiving. Happy Franksgiving, everyone!The 1900s was also the time when the marauding tradition of parading through the streets became a sponsored event by department stores. Eaton department store sponsored the first in Toronto in 1905 and then Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade came along in New York City in 1924. These parades began an unwritten rule among retailers to refrain from advertising Christmas sales until the parade had commenced. That made the Friday after Thanksgiving the first day shops were open for business and the start of holiday shopping.The term ‘Black Friday’ didn’t enter the picture until 1961 in Philadelphia. ‘Black days’ were customarily days marking bad events. So much like the dread of the chaotic colonial traditions of parading wassailers, the Philadelphia police came to describe the traffic, congestion, and shopping hysteria the day after Thanksgiving as ‘Black Friday.’But retailers didn’t much like the negative association. It took 20 years before a new association was cemented. And it was, again, Philadelphia that led the charge. A November 28th, 1981 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer was the first to describe Black Friday as the day when retailers, who suffered ‘in the red’ for most of the year, could move their ledger into the ‘black’ during the holiday shopping season.Black Friday triggers an event, just as solstice did for the Romans, that offers an opportunity for those in power, capitalists in the form of retailers, to open their doors just as the wealthy land owners did, and offer great deals to those who can’t afford various luxuries, like figgy pudding, rum spiced pie, perry, or wassail.Just as Roman slave owners used the Saturnalia to remind slaves of their place in society, or wealthy land barons to remind peasant laborers of theirs, capitalists use the holiday season as an chance to remind us all who’s in charge. And what Pintard, Moore, and their band of wealthy Knickerbockers did was wrap it all up in a fairy tale that portrays it all as benevolence by tying it to the Christian saint known for charity – Ole St. Nick.They feared the masses becoming educated and empowered with the right to vote. They railed against democracy sensing it would only loosen their grip on power. And here we are on Black Friday of 2021, the start of the holiday shopping season, as powerful conservatives in Washington are drooling over ways to carve up a bill that represents the biggest investment in America’s most needy since FDR like it was a Thanksgiving turkey. Pass the wassail, please.Reference:The Battle for Christmas. A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday. Stephen Nissenbaum. 1997 Subscribe at interplace.io

Hello Interactors,This is part one of a two part series on the role of economics in the holiday season. We’re a week away from Thanksgiving, but Christmas has already started to enter our lives. If it feels like it keeps creeping closer to Halloween, that’s because it is. Little did I know, it actually started out that way. As interactors, you’re special individuals self-selected to be a part of an evolutionary journey. You’re also members of an attentive community so I welcome your participation.Please leave your comments below or email me directly.Now let’s go…HOUSE INVASIONIt was 9:00 on Christmas night when four men forcibly entered the house. John Rowden, his wife, their adopted son, and a live-in helper, Daniel Poole, were all home. The four men made their way to the living room, sat on the couch in front of the fire, and starting singing Christmas carols. Clearly drunk, at some point one of the men turned to Rowden and said sarcastically, “How do you like this, father?” They demanded alcohol as payment for their ‘entertainment’. Rowden didn’t like it at all and asked them to leave.They had heard Rowden had fine wine in his collection. They said they’d happily pay him for the alcohol later, but demanded the wine now. Rowden’s wife stepped in reminding them that their house was not a bar and they should leave. Much to their surprise, the men did; only to return minutes later claiming they had the cash to pay for the wine.Fearing the scoundrels would break in if they didn’t take the money, the Rowden’s decided to sell them a bottle of their prized wine. But first they demanded proof that the men had the money. Rowden cracked open the door and one of the men shoved fake money in his wife’s face as the others tried to enter the house.The Rowden’s, with the help of Daniel Poole, managed to push them back and secure the door. The four men appeared to have given up. But moments later they heard them yelling sardonically from outside, “hello.” Poole tried to reason with them. He reminded them that it was Christmas night and they should be home. They saw this as a provocation and challenged Poole to come out and make them go home.Poole refused, of course, so they began throwing rocks at the house. They pried away siding, destroyed rockery, fences, and tore down poles. After an hour and a half of persistent vandalism, it finally subsided and the family was safe and sound. The house? Not so much. Merry Christmas.This true story is from 1649 and took place in Salam, Massachusetts. Two of those four men were later implicated in the Salem witch hunts. These intrusions were a common occurrence in the colonies during the holiday season, but more so in England. These four men were wassailing. Today we might call it caroling, but at the time it was really more a combination of Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras, trick-or-treating, and caroling. We don’t run into many drunk carolers these days, but we would have in 17th century England and their colonies.The Puritan settlers outlawed wassailing after colonizing. In fact, they banned any celebration of Christmas. Because the bible makes no mention of the birth of Jesus on any particular date, there was no cause for celebration. Of course, there was little cause for celebration among the Puritans at all; especially excesses of revelry, alcohol, and sex.The Puritans tried banning Christmas in London too. It prompted a book to be written in 1686 called The Tryal of Old Father Christmas. It featured a Puritan jury made up of “Mr. Cold-kitchen”, “Mr. Give-little”, and “Mr. Hate-good.” Perhaps these characters inspired Charles Dicken’s character, Ebenezer Scrooge, 150 years later.TRICK OR TREAT, SMELL MY FEET, GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD TO EATThe Rowden’s were a relatively affluent family who owned a pear orchard from which they made pear wine or cider, known as “perry”. Those four young men were of a lower class, possibly even laborers for his orchard, and they came to Rowden’s house to be merry with his perry.It was common practice throughout Europe and England for wealthy land and farm owners to treat their lower class workers to a meal and/or gifts in late November and early December. After what must have been an intense and laborious season of harvesting, canning, slaughtering, and preparing for the coming winter months, December marked an end to a fruitful season worth celebrating. December 6th was the customary end of the harvest season in Western Europe, just a week and a half after America’s modern-day traditional harvest celebration – Thanksgiving.To recognize and honor their hard work, it became customary for workers to exchange gifts with their masters or employers. Some exchanges were initiated from the lower class workers and other times by the upper class employers. But every wealthy land owner knew that if they didn’t so something to commemorate their worker’s labor, they risk workers taking it upon themselves to come knocking.  Just as those four men did to old man Rowden, singing,Come bring, with a noise,My merrie, merrie boys,The Christmas log to the firing;While my good dame sheBids ye all be free [i.e., with the alcohol]And drink to your heart’s desiring…The upper class quickly learned that it’s best to open their doors to the peasant class, feed them, entertain them, and send them on their merry way…or else. As evidenced in this little jingle,We’ve come here to claim our right…And if you don’t open up your door,We will lay you flat upon the floorWhile I’m sure there were examples of benevolent exchanges between classes, the ritual also served as an explicit reinforcement of social order. You’re down there and we’re up here. Don’t think that we’re equals. We have the goods and you come begging. And begging they did, singing,Again we assemble, a merry New YearTo wish to each one of the family hereMay they of potatoes and herrings have plentyWith butter and cheese, and each other daintyChristmas was a time when the poor were excused for begging. If they were not happy with what was offered, they took revenge. Again, a bit like Halloween. Give me a treat, or you’ll get tricked. The privileged class knew they could do little to stop the raucous revelers, just as there’s little to be done should some kids decide to toilet paper your trees or egg your house on Halloween.THE POPE PULLS A TRICK, WITH OLE ST. NICKAnother hallows eve refrain was dressing in costumes. Often it was the lower class mocking the upper class by dressing and acting like them. Men would sometimes dress as women and women as men. Others would use it as a way to mock religious leaders or politicians.And it was almost always a rowdy and drunken celebration because one of the substances the merry bands would be begging for was alcohol – usually the cidery punch known as wassail. They’d run door to door and through the streets singing this familiar holiday tune,Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green;Here we come a-wandering, so fair to be seen.Love and joy come to you, and to you our wassail, too.And God bless you and send you a Happy New YearAnd God bless you and send you a Happy New YearWe are not daily beggars that beg from door to door;But we are neighbours' children whom you have seen before.Love and joy come to you, and to you our wassail, too.And God bless you and send you a Happy New YearAnd God bless you and send you a Happy New YearThis widespread postharvest behavior had been happening for thousands of years. It was so baked into the fabric of society that even the church began painting it with Christian imagery and metaphor. Because the celebrations occurred on or around the end of November and into December there were many elements of Christianity to which they could attach the events.During Roman times, December 17th marked the day of the Saturnalia – a festival honoring the god of agriculture, Saturn. All work halted for a week as people decorated their homes with wreaths. They shed their togas to dawn festive clothes, and they drank, gambled, sang, played music, socialized and exchanged gifts. It was a celebration of their agrarian bounty and the return of light at Winter solstice. It was also a time to invite their slaves to dinner where their masters would serve them food.One Christian Saint affiliated with early December – and the one most honored today in the form of a plump jolly man wearing a red velvet suit – is Saint Nicholas. December 6th is St. Nicholas Day. For many European countries this marked the official end of the harvest season. And even today it’s recognized in some countries as a kind of warm-up act to the more official and accepted Christmas day, December 25th.Nicholas of Bari was a Greek Christian bishop from modern day Turkey. Also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker, he earned a reputation during the Roman Empire for many miracles; all of which, were written centuries after his death and thus prone to exaggeration. But, he was most famous for his generosity, charity, and kindness to children, the poor, and the disadvantaged. He was said to have sold his own belongings to get gold coins that he’d then put in the shoes outside people’s homes. This is the origin of the tradition of putting shoes or stockings out on Christmas Eve.They say he also saved the lives of three innocent men from execution. He chastised the corrupted judge for accepting a bribe to execute them. You can bet St. Nick would have made sure old-man Rowden had shared his perry before things got too scary. And he certainly would have been watching over the peasant farmers and slaves to insure they were treated fairly. He seemed to always have an eye out for inequities and justice for common people. Maybe that’s what made him a saint. Or maybe he was just born that way. After all, Nicholas in Greek means “people’s victory.”DON’T GO HIDING, OFFER GOOD TIDINGThe Puritans obviously lost at their attempts to ban Christmas. Lacking any evidence from the Bible, the Christian powers that be eventually settled on the 25th of December as the day Jesus was born. They most likely picked the 25th because that was the day winter solstice landed on the Roman calendar. And while much is made of Christmas day, a certain song reminds us there are actually 12 days of Christmas. Maybe more.It may feel like Christmas creep when you see holiday decorations appear the day after Halloween, but historically speaking that’s when the party starts. Trick-or-treating kicks off two months of gorging on goodies, making merry with perry, and pleading, pestering, and pining for presents from parents. Just as peasants begged for bounty from their overlords.Christmas tradition is mostly a months long after-work party that celebrates wealth accumulation while reinforcing a certain economic relationship between the haves and the have-nots. Yes, there are “good tidings to you and all of your kin” and it is a celebration from the heart that can feed the soul with some warm “figgy pudding.” But lingering under the guise of generosity on the part of the giver is a threat of violence if it’s not shared equitably. “For they’d all like figgy pudding, so bring it out here!” And if you don’t, then “they won’t go until they get some, so bring some out here!”Maybe think twice before feeling too smug plopping a penny in the Salvation Army’s red pot while making pleasant with a nearby peasant. If your flush with funds this holiday season, and pay people to serve you, be mindful of who you snub. Tip graciously and share wisely. The ones who deserve it the most, may be the one’s who could do you the most damage. You’d hate for a worker’s revolt where the disadvantaged come knocking on the doors of rich people carrying a yule log, some drunken friends, a bit of angry resentment, and a nearly empty bowl of wassail.Reference:The Battle for Christmas. A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday. Stephen Nissenbaum. 1997 Subscribe at interplace.io

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I talk about the player's dislike of the ball, reassert that it is the no overreact zone, and drop a lot of shade at the Sixers.  Plus all the regular features.  Non-basketball this week is the Christmas Creep part 2.

It's still October..but wait, was that Santa's face you just saw in the mall? Absolutely. "Christmas Creep" isn't some rando hitting on you at the office party - it's a real-life-driven-by-consumerism thing, and we're uncomfortable with it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/imuncomfortablepod/support

Ken Kessler from the Sounds of Christmas talks about the myth of "Christmas Creep", the supposed idea that Christmas-related things are being forced on the public earlier and earlier each year. Christmas-related fare has shown up in stores, in movie theaters and in other places before Thanksgiving, before Halloween, and even before October, for a very long time. The only thing that's really new is the seemingly growing number of people complaining about it.

 This August, love is in the air, tickets are in your pockets, and the Christmas Creep is in your chimney! The Court is joined by the ONLY couple that is allowed to get married until May 2022, Alexa Wilder and Nathan Quinn! They bare it all and share their engagement story in chunks (recaps provided by Jess), and Nick exposes Nathan's social media “secret”! Then, the group debates if vows should really just be a tight five standup routine and if meet-cutes actually exist or if it's all one big media conspiracy. Alexa's Tits and Tats deliver some HOT takes, and Nathan's takes are ice cold...some would even say…arctic? Plus, Nick and Jess get several crash courses on coffee beans, watermelons, and bell peppers! The best part? None of it is fact-checked. For more voice content and arbitrary tags of Nathan, check out Alexa on Instagram @alexateachmehowtosing and @alexa_wilder!

Why is Jodi shopping for a Diaper Bag? Find out who's getting a neck injection.And......Sam is the Christmas Creep this year.

In the Growlers and Gremlins Christmas Special, Jon reads us some creepy Christmas stories and we discuss Christmas Traditions. Are our Christmas Traditions old rituals to fend off evil spirits? Is the "War on Christmas" an effort to bring back ancient evils? Will Jason ever find love? Beer of The Week: Tax Holiday from Taxman Brewing Co. Follow us online: https://twitter.com/GrowlNGremCast https://www.instagram.com/growlngremcast/ https://facebook.com/GrowlNGremCast https://growlersandgremlins.com/ Intro Music: Mechanolith by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4031-mechanolith License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Nick and Joe discuss "Christmas Creep", the ever-lengthening Christmas holiday season.

What is Christmas Creep? How do we, as church leaders, take advantage of a holiday that keeps getting celebrated earlier and earlier? Join our hosts Travis, Brent, and Chris, as they discuss these issues! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/appalachian-baptist-network/message

I guess we’re on that Christmas Creep? I dunno, seems early to us, but we don’t really have much control over the timing.Suggested talking points: Ebeneezer Christmas, Mail Soup, Mrs. Claus, Whoopsie Cheese, Bookervision, Bite Whales, Delicious Drugs BarsWays to support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://linktr.ee/blacklivesmatter

The Christmas celebration seems to come earlier and earlier each year. What does the phenomena of Christmas Creep tell us about our culture? How can Christian leaders respond to this phenomenon?

It's just the three of us for our EHG "holiday episode" -- a meditation on the theme of Christmas creep. And yeah, they DO start playing carols in the mall on, like, November 2 these days...but that's not exactly the definition "creep" that became central to our discussion as we contemplated a Hill Street Blues that contained literally all the acting, plus plenty of judgment of singletons; an All In The Family double episode in which a hate crime led to a lengthy crisis of faith for Edith, who was not that crime's victim; and a Pickle & Peanut segment that abandoned us all in the Uncanny Valley. So when we say "Christmas creep," get ready to shudder as you deck the halls with a very special Extra Hot Great. TOPICS Lead Topic:

In this episode of The Happy Rant Ted, Ronnie, and Barnabas do what they do and wander to and fro through the following topics: Ron's conference hiatus Hipster Santa Claus Hipster Ron as Santa Claus Christmas Creep and the motivation behind it A TGC Christmas article that needs to be written Revisiting Jared C. Wilson's infamous list of influential reformed people  

The Z-Man returns triumphantly to discuss why Christmas sneaks up earlier and earlier every year.