Christmas Toys of the 1980s

We love to sing them every festive season, but how did Christmas carols get started - and why have they continued to be so popular? In this episode, Tom and Joe take a look back at the complex history of the Christmas carol, moving from antiquity through to the modern day. Along the way, they discover some fascinating facts about this beloved custom - including details of the longest Christmas carol ever written!

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You may love them or you may hate them, but Christmas sweaters have become an increasingly popular feature of the modern festive season. They can be beautifully designed or gloriously tasteless, but they're always hard to ignore! Tom and Joe take a look at how the Christmas sweater craze got started, and ask whether they're here to stay.

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There can be few decades more iconic than the 1950s, and that was also certainly true of the Christmas toys of the era. In this episode, Tom and Joe take a nostalgic trip back in time to see what toys and games were being enjoyed by kids in the fifties. What favourites under the Christmas tree are still bringing joy today, and which have been forgotten by the passing decades?

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They've long been a staple of the holiday season, but how did poinsettias become such a well-loved decorative Christmas plant? And what made the connection between the Christmas cactus and the festive season? In this episode, Tom and Joe discuss these horticultural additions to the yuletide tradition and explain just why so many people love to have them in their homes over the holidays.

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What would the festive season be like without a plethora of delicious food? In this episode, Tom and Joe take a look at Christmas feasting and explore the differences between the UK and the USA when it comes to enjoying dinner on Christmas Day. What favourites have established themselves, and what dishes have fallen by the wayside over the years?

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Are you a child of the eighties - and, if so, do you remember what your favourite Christmas toys were? In this episode, Tom and Joe investigate what the bestselling toys were at Christmas both in the USA and in the UK. What gifts were popular on both sides of the Atlantic, and which were special favourites in each country? Prepare to be amazed at what didn't make the list as much as what does, and get set to dust down your old Rubik's Cube too!

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They're placed every year by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there - to paraphrase the words of a certain Clement Clarke Moore. But what is the story behind the Christmas stocking, and what does Saint Nicholas actually have to do with the origin of this long-held festive tradition? In this episode, Tom and Joe consider the many different types of gift that can grace Christmas stockings around the world, as well as discussing some very unusual examples of the craft.

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Eggnog is a comforting seasonal treat which is enjoyed every year throughout the USA,  and yet it doesn't play a major part in the Scottish Christmas. However, history shows us that this creamy drink actually originated in the United Kingdom centuries ago... and when exported to North America, it quickly became a favourite of none other than George Washington! In this episode, Tom and Joe have a look at the different varieties of eggnog that are out there, including a little-known Scottish alternative that might just surprise you.

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We love to receive them from friends and family every festive season, but how did the Christmas card first come about - and is its origin perhaps more historic than we commonly think? In this episode, Tom and Joe take a look at some fascinating facts about the Christmas card, and discuss the latest developments which are delivering people's yuletide greetings further and faster than ever before!

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Who is the mysterious Krampus, and how did he become the sinister doppelganger of our beloved St Nicholas? In this episode, Tom and Joe look into the story behind this shadowy figure, exploring how he has been depicted in European and American popular culture and is now being portrayed in books and movies. If you're not on the nice list already, you'll soon want to be after hearing about Krampus!

Join in the festive fun all the year round on the Traditionally Speaking website at: http://traditionally-speaking.com/