Winter Holidays

Celebrate by listening

Table of Contents

Hour+ Specials

The Christmas Revels: A Celebration of the Winter Solstice 2006
Public Radio International, 119:00
A one- or two-hour musical celebration of the winter holidays -- Christmas, the Solstice, New Year's, and Twelfth Night -- featuring traditional carols, songs, and folk dance tunes from live Christmas Revels performances.
The All Pets Radio Show (Pampering Pets at the Holidays)
Bill Clanton, 53:00
A one hour program all about the world of pets.
Christmas with the Philadelphia Singers 2006
Public Radio International, 59:00
One-hour performance by the much-loved Philadelphia Singers of traditional and contemporary holiday music (holiday special).
Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever
Public Radio International, 59:00
One-hour 20th anniversary performance of the Christmas Festival by the National Lutheran Choir.
The Retro Cocktail Hour Christmas Special
Kansas Public Radio, 118:45
A space age bachelor pad Christmas show!
The Pleasures of Winter 2006
Public Radio International, 59:00
One-hour live concert of diverse music for winter and the holiday season.
Right Between the Ears Christmas Special
Kansas Public Radio, 57:50
The annual holiday special by the Right Between the Ears comedy troupe.
"A COMEDY-O-RAMA Christmas"
Joe Bevilacqua, 100:00
A collection of Christmas themed humorous stories.
Cool Yule
WFUV, 58:58
Host Rita Houston talks with Bette Midler, Sarah McLachlan and Aimee Mann about holiday music and traditions, featuring exclusive live performances and new additions to the Christmas catalog.
An Interconnected Christmas
John Hingsbergen / WMUB
A special Christmas edition of our program about Spirituality and self-care.
The New Sound of Young America Holiday Special
Jesse Thorn, 59:00
A smart, light-hearted look at the holidays.
A Christmas Carol
Albert Casselhoff/PRI
Two-hour encore production of the original Dickens "A Christmas Carol," featuring master storyteller Ashley Ramsden playing all 23 characters, accompanied by period music
Carols for Dancing
WGBH/PRI, 59:00
One-hour encore exploration of the intimate connection between familiar holiday music and Renaissance and Medieval dance (holiday special).
Second Chance Christmas; A Symphonic Story
Ric Reitz/PRI, 59:00
One-hour encore tale of a town that undergoes a rebirth when a Christmas Eve snowstorm strands a touring orchestra.
Kate & Anna McGarrigle: The Christmas Party
Tres Hombres Productions/PRI, 59:00
One-hour encore holiday celebration of music and stories from Kate & Anna McGarrigle and guests.
Home for the Holidays: A Feast of Songs for the Season
Riverwalk Jazz/PRI, 59:00
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band and their friends turn on a festive mood with a concert chock full of music for trimming the tree, stuffing stockings and writing holiday cards.
She Grooves Holiday Hour
Theresa Orlando, 60:05
Rare Christmas selections by artists including The Andrew Sisters & Etta James. She Grooves then pushes forward to include gems such as Joan Baez singing in French, a Kwanzaa song which opens the show, featuring the Women of Calibashi and other pleasant auditory modern diversions that include adding Annette Strean from Venus Hum into the mix.
Seeking Peace On Earth: The 2006 Peace Talks Special (59:00/54:00) [for holidays or year-end]
Good Radio Shows, Inc./ Paul Ingles, 59:00
During the season when hopes for Peace on Earth are expressed, spend an hour hearing from people whose life's work is pursuing peace in different ways. A compendium of compelling moments from the Peace Talks Radio Series in 2006.
New Orleans Christmas
Putumayo World Music, 59:00
Celebrate the holidays with the Putumayo World Music Hour's New Orleans Christmas Special!
A Jethro Tull Christmas With Ian Anderson
Douglas Grant, 59:00
Seasonal music by the legendary British band Jethro Tull, with humorous commentary by its founder, Ian Anderson.
Calls From Home
Amelia Kirby and Nick Szuberla, 59:00
A national program for prisoners and their families, who call in to wish their loved ones a happy holidays.
FM Odyssey's Holiday Show
Fred Migliore - Paul Porzio, 119:00
2 hour Music program for the holiday season. Timely through January 1st.
Northern Lights - A Solstice Celebration
Vermont Public Radio, 58:28
Cheryl Willoughby shares a celebration of dancing and music-making to welcome the Solstice and warm the spirit at the darkest time of the year.
A Cowboy Christmas
Hal Cannon of the Western Folklife Center, 54:27
A musical and poetic celebration of the Christmas holiday from the open ranges of America's outback.
Seeking Peace On Earth: The Peace Talks Radio 2005 Special
Good Radio Shows, Inc. / Paul Ingles, 59:00
During the season when hopes for Peace on Earth are expressed, spend an hour hearing from people whose life's work is pursuing peace in different ways. A compendium of compelling moments from the Peace Talks Radio Series in 2005.
Portraits of Faith
Aaron Henkin, 49:30
Nine people of nine different faiths and philosophies attempt to answer a deceptively simple question: What does it mean to you to believe?
Do You Hear What I Hear: A Holiday Folk Tour with Judy Collins
Paul Ingles, 59:00
Folk singing legend Judy Collins hosts an hour-long tour around the nation with a stop or two overseas to hear musical takes on the holiday season from folk artists.
Peace on Earth: A Holiday Folk Tour with Judy Collins
Paul Ingles, 59:00
Judy Collins hosts the second in a series of hour-long specials for the holidays. The program features musical takes on the holiday season from folk artists from across the country.
A Christmas Carol
Jason Brown, 59:00
A sound-rich audio drama of the famous Charles Dickens story.
The Sound of Young America Holiday Special
Jesse Thorn, 60:00
Irreverent one-hour holiday special.
John Ono Lennon Special
HearingVoices, 59:00
A memorial and celebration of John Lennon: Oct 9 1940-Dec 8 1980.
A Winter Solstice with Helicon (One Hour or Two Hours)
WPSU-FM, 118:00
Eclectic Holiday folk concert, recorded live in Baltimore.

Half-hour

Hawaiian Christmas with Slack Key Master Kapono Beamer
Heidi Chang, 29:00
Experience the magic of a Hawaiian Christmas with Slack Key Master Kapono Beamer, who weaves his own unique tales of a Hawaiian Christmas and his family's musical legacy, which has been passed down for generations. He also sings "Silent Night" in Hawaiian during this half-hour music special, mixed with interviews.
Holiday Special Show #26 of the I Hate Poetry Poetry Hour Half Hour including George Bushes "Walking in a Shi'ite Wonderland"
Joel Brussell, 30:40
Cutting edge comedy sandwiched with popular music.
The Ice Hotel
William S. Hammack, 26:19
A visit to the Ice Hotel in the arctic circle of Sweden.
Spectrum Radio December 2005 Show
Sharon Basco & Dennis Foley, 30:00
Spectrum Radio's thirty minute science and technology program explores the latest trends and emerging technologies in an engaging and authoritative manner.
Peacekeeping Traditions of the Iroquois Confederacy (Peace Talks Radio Series)
Good Radio Shows, Inc./ Paul Ingles, 29:00
Two American Indian scholars discuss the Great Law of Peace, the founding constitution of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy.
The Courtyard:Gang Violence
Labalaba Media, 27:41
Some kids at the Courtyard decide to feed the homeless this coming Christmas holidays.
Tempering Travel Rage (Peace Talks Radio Series) [consider for holidays]
Good Radio Shows, Inc. / Paul Ingles, 29:00
On this edition of Peace Talks, the series on peacemaking and nonviolent conflict resolution strategies, we explore the causes of travel rage and specific ways to prevent or at least control it.

Segment

Xmas at the Shelter
Julie Subrin, 06:45
Writer/performer Janice Erlbaum tells a story about volunteering at a homeless shelter on Christmas Eve; the one she lived in about twenty years ago.
Muslims' Christmas Experience
Eric Whitney, 05:30
Muslim perspective on Christmas in a Christian-dominated town.
What The Dickens?
KUOW, 08:35
Local Seattle theater's interpretation of Dickens' Christmas classic.
Schnartzenholler
Outfront, 13:19
It's not Christmas. It's not Hannukah. It's Schnartzenholler! When Emily Pearlman was a child her Jewish father and Christian mother created their own unique holiday celebration.
Globalization: Responsible Holiday Shopping
KALW News, 07:50
Feature on shopping for presents made responsibly.
My Favorite Things
Rebecca Sheir, 07:11
A closet Christmas music junkie discovers the real meaning of the holiday season -- and it's got everything to do with bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
A Bosnian Christmas Carol
Radio Netherlands, 13:38
Jonathan Groubert follows his Bosnian in laws up a mountain to take part in a Serbian Orthodox tradition and discovers the true meaning of Christmas.
The Death of the Christmas Chicken
Eric Nuzum, 09:18
Eric Nuzum laments the demise of his favorite Christmas ornament.
Christmas in New York
Jake Warga, 07:30
Christmas day at Ground Zero -- essay.
Christmas in the Trenches
Scott Gurian, 05:51
Folksinger John McCutcheon describes a lesser-known chapter in world history, a 1914 Christmas Eve truce between British and German soldiers in the midst of World War I.
Farm Christmas
Mark Urycki, 07:35
Mary Elva Urdialas describes Christmas on her family farm for her and her seventeen siblings.
The Perfect Christmas
Vincent Duffy, 07:30
Vincent Duffy recalls his families copious Christmas traditions.
Cujo Christmas
Jeff St Clair and Eric Nuzum, 07:30
Imagine spending your Christmas in a car, terrorized by an angry dog.
Tuba Christmas
David Giffels and Eric Nuzum, 06:01
David Giffels is about to become a tuba soloist, now all he has to do is learn to play.
Jingle Bells
Robert Smyth and Judah Leblang, 05:22
Christmas caroling--and setting a world record, in Medford, Mass.
Carols on the Carillon
Dale Short, 07:09
Holiday thoughts and sounds from a blind musician in a college bell tower.
The Reindeer People
Lorne Matalon & Allan Coukell, 07:34
Mongolia's remaining reindeer herders are trying to find their way in post-Communist Mongolia.
Dad and Sam (Locked in Brotherhood)
Jay Allison, 04:45
A short meditation on the relationship between my father and his mentally disabled older brother, Sam.

Drop-Ins

Monhegan Island in Winter
Neenah Ellis, 13:36
A midwinter visit to an island off the coast of Maine.
Christmas with Grandma
Ken Cormier, 02:24
The last time we had Christmas with Grandma, she just about puked...
Gold, Frankenstein and Myrrh: A Six-Year-Old's Christmas Story
Vermont Folklife Center Media, 04:28
From the Saviour's conception to offerings of gold, frankenstein and myrrh, six year old Erin Magill of Moretown, Vermont tells her version of the Christmas story, with help from her creche figures.
Spoof X-mas PSA's including Mothers against Reindeer who Run over Grandmas
Joel Brussell, 01:53
Comic Holiday PSA's.
'Mispoken Word" Sammy Davis Junior and Dr. Phil doing "Here Comes Santa Claus"
Joel Brussell, 02:56
Characters doing spoken word version of "Here Comes Santa Claus."
Mary Jo's Kitchen - Cookies
WMUB, 01:27
Chef Mary Jo McMillin offers a recipe for holiday cookies.
Everyday's Christmas at "Unclaimed Baggage"
Tanya Ott, 02:50
Got a little last minute holiday shopping to do? How about all that unclaimed airline baggage? It's a unique shopping experience!
StoryCorps Memphis - Christmas
WKNO, 03:36
Lauren Hesse, interviews her friend Lillian Bukewicz, who was born on Mud Island in 1924, and they were known as the River People, about their family Christmas tree.
Alcoholidays (or, "Facing the holidays...without booze")
Andrew Haeg/APM, 02:59
A reflection on the season, featuring the voices of three recovering alcoholics.
Virtuoso Voices - Martin Pearlman (What Kind of Man?)
Virtuoso Voices, 00:33
Skillful orchestral writing, thrilling choruses and powerful solo arias make Handel's Messiah a musical mainstay of the holiday season. Conductor Martin Pearlman says the musical and dramatic success of Messiah was inevitable. See also the Messiah Melody Twist
version, and the Messiah 360 version.
Virtuoso Voices - Martin Pearlman (Early American Christmas)
Virtuoso Voices, 00:26
What did Christmas music sound like in the early days of America? Conductor Martin Pearlman says it was simple, but beautiful and performed by an astonishing group of musical missionaries. Use this 26 second clip to introduce Martin Perlman conducting Christmas music from his recording, "Lost Music of Early America."
The Tale of the Donated Cow
Julie Siple, Jeff Horwich, Michael Skoler/APM, 04:10
You know those holiday pitches to donate barnyard animals overseas? We follow the donation of a cow, from Minnesota to third-world Romania.
Virtuoso Voices - Stephen Hough (Ho Ho Hough)
Tired of the same old Holiday Music? Pianist Stephen Hough has a few holiday tunes to add to your list.
Merry Christmas Mush
Chris Goldstein, 00:16
Reading of Merry Christmas Mush by Dr. Suess.
First US Christmas
Youth Radio, 03:22
A young mom celebrates Christmas far from home.
Brooklyn Christmas Tree
Lizzy Cooper Davis, 02:15
Two minutes with Vincent van Rhyn, a Christmas tree seller in Brooklyn, NY.
Agnostics at Christmas
Eric Whitney, 04:03
How people who don't believe in God experience Christmas.
9 Reasons to Wear a Winter Holiday Sweater
Mary Ketarkus Brown, 01:01
Droll short about ugly holiday sweaters.
Homeless for the Holidays
Eric Whitney, 06:15
Shelter houses homeless teens during holidays.
Home Planet: Christmas From the Outside
Spokane Public Radio, 03:19
A lonely young woman, away from home and alone for the first time, watched through windows that glowed in the dark night as other families prepared gifts for Christmas morning.
Nostalgia Pie is a Dish Best Not Eaten At All
KRCC-FM, 04:30
Commentary on food, holidays, and other stuff.
Baby, It's Cold Outside
KUOW, 03:56
The story of the famous holiday song.
Dear Santa, Make it Work Again.
Cheryl-Anne Millsap, Patrick Klausen, 03:35
A little boy returns a gift to Santa.
The White Before Christmas
Imakhu Mwt Shekemet, 04:04
Spoof: The urban youth version of ,"The Night Before Christmas."
Happy Holidays! (Now buy an eyeliner)
Robin Sussingham, 02:03
A light-hearted essay questioning the tactic of selling to our friends during holiday gatherings.
Christmas Kids
Barrett Golding, 04:23
Story, myths and rumours of Christmas from a 2nd-grader's point of view.
Mom's Secret Christmas List
Cheryl-Anne Millsap & Patrick Klausen, 02:44
When my children ask what I want for Christmas, I give the the standard list: perfume, slippers and things like that. But I have a secret list.
A Not-So-Perfect Holiday
Cheryl-Anne Millsap, Patrick Klausen, 03:36
We're driven by the belief that we can create this one perfect day or season, and the warmth generated by it will carry us through the rest of the year.
English: Alona on St Nicholas
Alona Suverova, 03:51
Alona on this famous precursor of Santa Claus. Russian version also available.
Holiday Gift Guide
Sharon Basco & Dennis Foley, 06:30
Spectrum Radio's 1st Annual Holiday Gift Guide.
A Christmas Memory
Cheryl-Anne Millsap, Patrick Klausen, 03:23
We can't see magic at work. Sometimes, we have to be content with looking at where it's been.
Kick the Holiday Junk Habit
Dr. Shana Weber, 02:19
How to kick the habit of holiday waste.
Winter Composting
Dr. Shana Weber, 02:05
Ideas for slimming that holiday wasteline.
Snowballs at Midnight Mass
Andrew Witmer, 04:33
Essayist Jonathan Malesic learns something new about Christmas after attending one of the only midnight Catholic masses ever to end in a snowball fight.
Die, Christmas, Die!
Merle Kessler, 03:03
A fond look back at conservatives' claims that secular liberals are out to "get" Christmas. Can Christmas survive this fiendish onslaught?
A Cook's Notebook: Christmas Lobster
Viki Merrick and Steve Young, 03:01
The last Xmas meal I cooked for my Jewish husband was lobster. That was in 1994.
A Cook's Notebook: Plum Pudding
Viki Merrick & Steve Young, 02:35
Good plum pudding is out there (and so is really bad plum pudding).
Three Days Before Christmas in the Zombie Hut
Brendan Greeley, 02:48
Several people in a tiki bar respond to the question "What's the worst gift you've ever received?"
Christmas Visit
The Independent Eye, 01:40
A man calls his mother to tell her he can't bring his family home for the holidays, but ends up talking himself into it.
A Cook's Notebook: Gingerbread Houses
Viki Merrick & Steve Young, 02:32
Things fall down at the Springfield Businssman's Annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair.
Wrappings
The Independent Eye, 01:40
Two brothers sort through the attic after their mother's death, coming into contact with memories through the Christmas wrappings she preserved.
Santa Laws
Sean O'Connor, 03:32
Just in time for the Polar Express...shouldn't there be a law against the poorly trained and costumed "Santas" that are patrolling our streets? Why can't we be more like Canada?
A Cook's Notebook: Brussels Sprouts
Viki Merrick & Steve Young, 02:40
A man eats the Xmas meal alone.
A Cook's Notebook: Homemade Eggnog
Viki Merrick and Steve Young, 03:07
Dogs get into Franks' homemade eggnog.
Snowmen image by Thomas Hawk. Holly by Liz. Gingerbread men by Lex.

© 2005, The Public Radio Exchange

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