The Christmas Stocking

Latest Episodes:

Re-presenting 104 “Papa Panov’s Special Christmas” by Leo Tolstoy Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

It’s time for a Christmas story. This one’s really nice. Make sure you’re caught up with all the episodes at MyChristmasStocking.net. Keep up with the show on Facebook. Oh–I didn’t mention in the open that the closing of the episode mentions a song that I won’t be re-releasing. That was in 2014. Thanks for sticking with me this year. I hope to talk to you next year!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/104PapaPanov2025.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” by Peter Furler featuring David Ian from “Peter Furler Christmas featuring David Ian”
Buy from Amazon

Background music:

“Away in a Manger – Traditional Christmas Carol for Piano” by Mario Ajero (from Mevio.com)

“After Christmas” by Dexter Britain from “Dexter Britain: Creative Commons Vol. 2” (from the Free Music Archive)

“The Gloucestershire Wassail” by IKOS featuring Dave Clifton from “Christmas Carols and Songs” (Little Room) (from the Free Music Archive)
Buy at Amazon

“Silent Night” by Kevin Macleod (incompetech.com)

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Paul and Brenda Neal from “Two Harps Christmas” (from Mevio.com)

“Snow Day” by Rosie Thomas from “A Very Rosie Christmas”
Buy on Amazon

“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”” by IKOS featuring Dave Clifton from “Christmas Carols and Songs” (Little Room) (from the Free Music Archive)
Buy at Amazon

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas” by the United States Marine Band from “Holiday Music Selections” (from the Free Music Archive)

Read the story yourself thanks to AmericanLiterature.com.

Re-presenting 103 The Peppermint Pigs of Saratoga Springs, NY Dec 20, 2025

Show notes

A local tradition in upstate New York, the peppermint pigs are spreading around the country and the world thanks to the internet. Michael requested it! Call the Christmas Stocking anytime at 323-487-12-25 . All the episodes are at that address, too. Join the party on Facebook and tell me where you spend your social media time, or just online social time.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/103ThePeppermintPigsOfSaratogaSprings.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Christmas Time Again” by Smalltown Poets from “Christmastime Again”
Buy from Smalltown Poets
Buy on Amazon

Background music:

“Deck the Halls B” by Kevin McLeod (from Incompetech)

More information:

The Saratoga Candy Company’s website has some information on the peppermint pigs tradition, and of course you can order directly from them online.

The New York Daily News covered them in 2012.

Who was that who introduced the show? W.E.L.F.–An Elf Run Podcast

Re-presenting 123 Christmas Toys 1980-1989 Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Erin in Arkansas wanted to hear about the 80s again. Did you love any of these toys? Let me know on Facebook, which is pretty much where you can find me these days. And of course MyChristmasStocking.net. Also, call (323) 487-12-25 and share what Christmas IS to you!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/123ChristmasToys2025.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Infant Lowly Infant Lowly” by Chris Rupp featuring the Hound + the Fox from “A Little Bit of Christmas”
Buy on Apple Music
Buy on Amazon

Background music:

“Christmas Rap” by Kevin McLeod (from Incompetech)

“Winter White Forest” by Howard Eddy
Buy on Apple Music
Buy on Amazon

More information:

About the Rubik’s Cube from Wikipedia and The Telegraph.

About the Care Bears from Wikipedia.

About My Little Pony from Wikipedia.

Wikipedia will tell you about the Cabbage Patch Kids, the Transformers, the Koosh Ball, Pictionary, American Girl (and AmericanGirl.com), and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Re-presenting 74 Christkindlmarkts Dec 13, 2025

Show notes

They’re more popular than ever–and they’ve been around a long time! Like the show on Facebook. What does Christmas mean to you? Call me at (323) 487-4225. Find all the episodes at MyChristmasStocking.net

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/74Christkindlmarkts2025.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“A Star Shall Rise Up Out of Jacob” by BYU Combined Choirs and Orchestra from “There Is a Star: Celebration of Christmas (Live at BYU)” (BYU Records)
More On This Album

More Christmas albums available from BYU Music.

Background music:

“In Dulce Jubilo” by The Manor House String Quartet from “I Saw Three Ships and Other Carols”
The Manor House String Quartet also make their scores available.

“Ding Dong! Merrily on High” by Davyd Booth , Michael Stairs from “It’s Christmas Again At Longwood Gardens” (DTR) Buy at Amazon

More information:

Wikipedia has a lot to say about the markets.

Re-presenting 89 The Christmas Pickle Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Dave in Texas wanted to hear about the Christmas Pickle. It’s actually real! Sort of. Let me know what to talk about on Facebook. All the episodes are at MyChristmasStocking.net. Thanks to Dave in Arizona for your gift to the show! Go to MyChristmasStocking.net to give to the show, and encourage me to get back to putting together new shows!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/89TheChristmasPickle2025.mp3

Click here to download the show to your device.

Featured music:

“Go Tell it on the Mountain” by Roger McGuinn (from the Free Music Archive)

Background music:

“Angels We Have Heard on High” by Michael Ryan from “A Classical Guitar Christmas”

“Carol of the Bells” by Gato (found on MacJams.com)

More information:

WhyChristmas.com boils it down.

Here’s Wikipedia’s article.

Re-presenting 2 Black Friday Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

From Christmas ’06: The most anticipated shopping day of the year for many shoppers, the most dreaded for others, and for retail employees: Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. What’s up with such a forboding name for such a fun day? We’ll get into that and more on the Christmas Stocking. The music’s a bit crazy this time, just like the day. Comment at MyChristmasStocking.net. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/ChristmasStockingPodcast/2BlackFriday2025.mp3
Click here to download the show to your device.

Background music includes:

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Molly Pauken and Rob Brumfiel from the album “Six String Christmas”

Brooklyn Christmas by Peter S. Quinn (originally from GarageBand.com)

Featured song:

Christmas Hopes and Joy by Black Turtle