Podcast Summary
Capital One Venture X Card perks and CVS Easter sale: Capital One Venture X Card offers 2X miles on every purchase, premium travel benefits, and a $300 annual travel credit. CVS offers a 20% discount on pickup orders for Easter basket essentials with promo code spring20.
The Capital One Venture X Card offers unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, along with premium travel benefits like airport lounge access and a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One travel. Meanwhile, Easter is approaching and CVS is offering 20% off pickup orders with promo code spring20 for Easter basket essentials. During the Stuff You Should Know podcast, the hosts discussed their holiday traditions, including taking a break during the season and enjoying the festivities at home. An intriguing Catalan Christmas tradition called Cagatillo was also shared, which involves creating or purchasing a poop log with a face on it as a decoration on December 8th.
Filipino Christmas traditions involving poop and defecation: Filipino families have unique Christmas traditions like taking care of a log named Kagateo, hitting it to make it 'poop' treats, and placing a figurine named Kaganer in the nativity scene with poop below, symbolizing fertility and good fortune.
There are unique and intriguing Christmas traditions in various cultures that involve the symbolism of poop and defecation. For instance, in some Filipino families, they have a log named Kagateo or Kagatilla, which they believe will bring gifts if properly taken care of and fed with orange peels and Spanish nougat. The family wraps the log in a blanket and on Christmas Day, they hit it with sticks to make it "poop" out treats and gifts. Another tradition is the Kaganer, a figurine that represents fertility or good fortune and is placed in the nativity scene with its pants down and a pile of poop beneath it. These traditions may seem unusual to some, but they hold significant cultural meanings and have evolved over time to include popular figures and icons. Even a 19-foot pooping figurine once held the world record in a shopping center in Barcelona. These traditions add to the richness and diversity of Christmas celebrations around the world.
The Legend of Krampus: The Dark Side of Christmas: Krampus, a demonic figure in Alpine folklore, punishes bad children while St. Nicholas rewards good ones, enduring popularity despite attempts to ban him due to pre-Christian origins and appeal against holiday commercialization.
Krampus is a legendary demonic figure in Alpine folklore, originating from Austria, who appears on Krampusnacht, the night before December 6th. He is often depicted as a beastly, clawed creature, serving as the yin to St. Nicholas' yang. While St. Nicholas rewards good children with gifts, Krampus punishes the bad ones by abducting, torturing, and potentially eating them. Despite attempts by the Catholic Church and conservative political parties to ban Krampus, his popularity endures due to his pre-Christian origins and the appeal he holds for those tired of the holiday spirit. Krampus is celebrated big time by many, especially those seeking relief from the commercialization of Christmas. His legend has gained renewed attention in recent times, making him more popular than ever.
Myths and legends of supernatural beings: Throughout history, stories of supernatural beings have brought fear, intrigue, and a reminder of the power of imagination and human emotions.
Throughout history and across cultures, there exist various myths and legends about supernatural beings that bring fear and intrigue. For instance, the Kalakansorai demons from Greece, which have a penchant for counting only up to two and are frightened by a colander full of holes. Similarly, there are ghosts like Danny from South Africa that haunt children during Christmas time. These stories, though seemingly frightening, have become a part of our collective imagination and continue to be passed down through generations. Another fascinating example is the enduring popularity of the Charlie Brown Christmas special, which has been airing annually since 1965 and is the second longest-running animated cartoon special in history. Despite initial skepticism, the melancholic and introspective themes resonated with audiences, making it a beloved holiday tradition. Overall, these stories serve as a reminder of the power of imagination and the importance of embracing the complexities of human emotions, even during the joyous holiday season.
Skepticism over 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' due to religious and somber tone, use of child actors: Despite industry doubts, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' became a massive success, defying expectations and becoming a cherished holiday tradition.
The creation of the "A Charlie Brown Christmas" special was met with skepticism from executives due to its religious and somber tone, as well as the use of child actors for the voices of the characters. Despite these concerns, the special became a massive success when it aired on December 9, 1965, reaching almost half of the available audience in the country. Some notable differences over the years include the removal of sponsorship inserts for Coca-Cola and the restoration of the scene featuring Snoopy throwing snowballs at a can on a fence. This story highlights the unexpected success of a project that defied industry expectations and continues to be a beloved holiday tradition.
Creating Jamaican Sorrel Punch for Christmas: Infuse Jamaican traditions into Christmas by making sorrel punch from sorrel flowers, ginger, cloves, orange peels, and cinnamon sticks. Steep ingredients in water, create simple syrup, and combine with rum for a unique, festive taste.
This holiday season, we'll be making Jamaican sorrel punch as our Christmas drink. This refreshing, cool punch is a beloved tradition in Jamaica and the Caribbean, despite the hot climate. The main ingredients include dried sorrel flowers, fresh ginger, cloves, orange peels without the pith, and cinnamon sticks. To make the punch, we'll first create a sorrel tea by steeping the ingredients in boiling water for at least four hours. Then, we'll make a simple syrup using Demerara sugar. Finally, we'll combine the strained tea with the simple syrup and good amber rum. Although making the punch requires some effort, it's worth it for the unique and festive taste of this Caribbean Christmas drink.
Origin of Mrs. Claus, Santa's wife: Mrs. Claus, Santa's wife, has an unclear origin and has been depicted with various names throughout history, but is widely accepted as a strong and supportive figure in Christmas legend
The origin of Mrs. Claus, Santa's wife, is not well-documented and has evolved over time through literature. She was first introduced in a short story by James Reese in 1849, but her existence and name have since been subject to artistic license, with various names such as Monica, Erica, Martha, and Jessica being used interchangeably. Her role in the Christmas legend grew in popularity, particularly in magazines, stories, and picture books, and she became widely accepted as Santa's wife in the early 20th century. Despite her lack of an official first name, she is commonly seen as a strong and supportive figure behind Santa Claus.
Discussing the truth about Santa Claus with children: Parents can encourage generosity and selflessness by acknowledging their children's kindness and anonymously giving to others, eliminating the need to maintain a Santa Claus lie.
During a conversation about the origins of various Mrs. Claus names, the group discussed the idea of telling children the truth about Santa Claus being a construct, rather than continuing the tradition of lying about his existence. Charity Hutchinson, a woman who recently tried this approach with her oldest child, shared her experience on social media and it gained significant attention. By acknowledging the kindness and compassion shown by their children, parents can encourage them to embody the spirit of Santa Claus by anonymously giving to others. This not only eliminates the need to maintain a lie but also instills valuable lessons about generosity and selflessness.
Simple joys and traditions of the holiday season: Sharing joy, making others happy, and unique traditions are the essence of the holiday season, not about grandeur or material possessions.
The joy of giving and making others happy is the true essence of being Santa. It's not about getting credit, but about the pleasure of seeing someone's face light up with delight. One father shared his experience of never describing Santa as a person but as a part of the Christmas spirit, and his children still loved the magic of Santa just as much. Another unique tradition shared was Victoria Kroom's family's Polish roots tradition of making a humble poppers meal for Christmas Eve instead of a lavish feast. And Emily Ruth VanderArks' family's tradition of hiding a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree and the one who finds it first gets a gift. These are just a few examples of the simple joys and traditions that make the holiday season special.
Unconventional holiday traditions bring families closer: Creating unique practices adds excitement and memories to the holiday season, strengthening family bonds through fun and competition.
Unconventional holiday traditions can bring families closer together. From Emily's father's creative "gift cards" to Katherine's family's unusual wrapping paper choices, and Nick's beachside champagne and cherries breakfast, these unique practices add excitement and memories to the holiday season. Even more intriguing are Tanya Floyd Ellis's grandparents' bomb bug can tradition and Sarah Flora Monte's ice cream eating contest, which showcase the importance of fun and competition in family bonding. These stories remind us that the holidays are about creating cherished moments, no matter how unconventional they may be.
Unique family traditions during the holiday season: Families create lasting memories and strengthen bonds through unique traditions during the holiday season, such as signing a tablecloth or inventing a new holiday like 'Pajamas Day'.
Families have unique traditions that bring them closer together during the holiday season. From signing a tablecloth every Christmas since 1994 to dressing up an ET doll as different characters for the tree topper, these traditions allow families to create lasting memories and reminisce about their past. Another example is the invention of the "Pajamas" holiday by Michelle Greenwald's family, which provides a dedicated day for the immediate family to relax and enjoy each other's company. These traditions not only strengthen family bonds but also create cherished memories for generations to come.
Acknowledging Special Occasions During Holidays: Recognize birthdays on popular holidays, ensure online safety for kids on social media, and utilize THR charts for streaming content decisions.
During the holiday season, it's important to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate special occasions, even if they fall on popular holidays like Christmas Eve. Gail Coontz, a longtime and devoted fan, received a special birthday shout-out from the hosts of Stuff You Should Know. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the importance of online safety for children, with a mention of the social media platform Zigazoo, which prioritizes content moderation and privacy protections. Lastly, the Hollywood Reporter's THR charts were highlighted as a helpful resource for saving time when deciding on what to watch amidst the overwhelming amount of streaming content available.
