Forgotten History of Christmas Carols

Forgotten History of Christmas Carols

Dan O'Donnell tells the stories of our favorite Christmas songs.

Episodes

The Forgotten History of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell tells the story of how a children's game became a beloved Christmas song.
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The Forgotten History of 'Deck the Halls'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
How did a randy New Year's Eve song become a beloved Christmas carol? Dan O'Donnell explains.
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The Forgotten History of 'Here Comes Santa Claus'

December 4, 2017 • 59 secs
Dan O'Donnell tells the tale of how Santa Claus upstaging Gene Autry in a parade led to one of the world's best-known Christmas carols.
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The Forgotten History of 'What Child is This'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell gives the history of a song that's so old, no one is quite sure when it was first written.
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The Forgotten History of 'Silver Bells'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell tells the story of why we should all thank a songwriter's wife for not singing about "tinkle bells" every Christmas.
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The Forgotten History of 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
One of Santa's reindeer a drunk? Dan O'Donnell explains how that belief nearly prevented the release of one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time.
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The Forgotten History of 'The Christmas Song'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell explains how one of the world's most beloved Christmas carols started as merely a way for a songwriter to keep cool on a hot summer day.
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The Forgotten History of 'I'll Be Home For Christmas'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
A record label deemed it to be too sad to be a Christmas carol, but struck a poignant chord with soldiers serving in World War II. Dan O'Donnell tells the story of "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
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The Forgotten History of 'Good King Wenceslas'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Did you know the good king was actually a real king (well, technically the duke of Bohemia)? Dan O'Donnell tells the tale of Wenceslas I.
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The Forgotten History of 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell tells the story of how a 13 year-old girl recorded one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time.
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The Forgotten History of 'O Holy Night'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
One of the most famous religious Christmas carols of all time was written by someone who wasn't religious at all. Dan O'Donnell tells the fascinating story of "O Holy Night."
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The Forgotten History of 'White Christmas'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell tells the story of how the bestselling Christmas song of all time was recorded in just 18 minutes.
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The Forgotten History of 'Baby It's Cold Outside'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
A husband and wife's private love song becomes an Oscar-winning worldwide sensation. Dan O'Donnell explains how.
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The Forgotten History of 'Jingle Bells'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell explains how a tune originally written for Thanksgiving eventually became the first song ever broadcast from outer space.
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The Forgotten History of 'Silent Night'

December 4, 2017 • 1 min
Dan O'Donnell tells the story of how two friends, a guitar, and a broken church organ created one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time.
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