49 episodes

We explore strange Christmas history, media, and legends alongside new and old fiction, from Victorian ghost stories to an annual flash fiction contest. WeirdChristmas.com is the hub for all your holiday weirdness needs.

Weird Christmas Podcast Craig Kringle

    • Technology
    • 4.7 • 91 Ratings

We explore strange Christmas history, media, and legends alongside new and old fiction, from Victorian ghost stories to an annual flash fiction contest. WeirdChristmas.com is the hub for all your holiday weirdness needs.

    2023 Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest Results Show

    2023 Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest Results Show

    Please see WeirdChristmas.com for text and info on all the stories and writers.

    • 1 hr 32 min
    Nisser and Tomtar (Scandinavian Elves) with Benito Cereno

    Nisser and Tomtar (Scandinavian Elves) with Benito Cereno

    Craig talks with the ever knowledgeable and jolly Benito Cereno about Scandinavian elves, which you're starting to see more and more places in decorations and movies. All links mentioned on the show, along with info on Benito, can be found at WeirdChristmas.com at this link:
    https://weirdchristmas.com/2023/12/23/nisser-and-tomtar-scandinavian-elves-with-benito-cereno/
    If you’re feeling generous, you can leave a donation at Ko-Fi.com. It’s probably Christmas-time (ish) when you’re reading this, so remember the spirit of the season is giving. And I’m trying not to turn on the guilt machine, but I would like to pay my hosting fees. heh heh
    Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!
     

    • 50 min
    2022 Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest (5th Annual Results Show)

    2022 Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest (5th Annual Results Show)

    The best show of the year: 19 stories of Christmas Weirdness from the annual Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest. Please visit WeirdChristmas.com to get information on the authors and to read the stories again.
    If you want to support the contest and help make more and bigger prizes for the writers next year, please visit Ko-Fi.com/weirdchristmas to donate any amount.

    • 1 hr 15 min
    Ancient Christmas with Earl Fontainelle of the SHWEP

    Ancient Christmas with Earl Fontainelle of the SHWEP

    I talk to Earl Fontainelle of the SHWEP (Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast). We try to trace down any textual evidence that would connect the origins of Christmas to ancient pagan sources, namely the Mithras cult and Emperor Constantine’s Sol Invictus cult.
    Listen here, on your favorite podcast app, or at the Podbean site.
     
    The SHWEP
     
    The SHWEP Oddcast
     
    Music:
     
    "Scriaben Christmas Time is Here" by Kurt Knecht
    "Christmas is a Pagan Holiday" by Matt Potako
     
    If you’re feeling generous, you can leave a donation at Ko-Fi.com. It’s probably Christmas-time (ish) when you’re reading this, so remember the spirit of the season is giving. And I’m trying not to turn on the guilt machine, but I would like to pay my hosting fees. heh heh
     
    Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!
     

    • 1 hr 32 min
    Mari Lwyd with Benito Cereno

    Mari Lwyd with Benito Cereno

    Benito and I discuss the traditions surrounding the Mari Lwyd, getting into similarities with other European wassailing and hobby horse traditions.
    A recording of the Mari Lwyd rhyme in action by the BBC.
    Benito's Links:
    Benito’s Christmas history videos
    Benito’s writing at Gumroad
    Apocrypals podcast
    Friends ‘Till the End podcast
    Progressively Horrified
    Music:
    "Here Comes the Mari Lwyd" by The Eugenes
    "Mari Lwyd" by Colorama
    If you’re feeling generous, you can leave a donation at Ko-Fi.com. It’s probably Christmas-time (ish) when you’re reading this, so remember the spirit of the season is giving. And I’m trying not to turn on the guilt machine, but I would like to pay my hosting fees. heh heh
    Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

    • 57 min
    The Ghost Story of Christmas 2021ish ”A Strange Christmas Game” by Charlotte Riddell

    The Ghost Story of Christmas 2021ish ”A Strange Christmas Game” by Charlotte Riddell

    SURPRISE CHRISTMAS IN JULY PODCAST!
    I never quite got this show finished during the season, so my humble apologies. All is now well.
    Thank you to Meghan Arcuri for talking to me about Charlotte Riddell! Her collection of Riddell’s stories will be out very soon. And here are some links to her work, which I encourage everyone to check out:
    A Little Purple Book of Sharp Wit by Charlotte Riddel, ed. Meghan Arcuri
    Arcuri’s stories:
    “Because You’re Mine”
    “Green with Hunger”
    “Am I Missing the Sunlight” in Borderlands 7

    Her bio: Meghan Arcuri is a Bram Stoker Award®-nominated author. Her work can be found in various anthologies, including Borderlands 7 (Borderlands Press), Madhouse (Dark Regions Press), Chiral Mad, and Chiral Mad 3 (Written Backwards). She is currently the Vice President of the Horror Writers Association. Prior to writing, she taught high school math, having earned her B.A. from Colgate University—with a double major in mathematics and English—and her masters from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She lives with her family in New York’s Hudson Valley. Please visit her at meghanarcuri.com, facebook.com/meg.arcuri, or on Twitter (@MeghanArcuri).
    Readers who were so gracious and generous with their time this year, as well as being totally patient and not complaining at all when I ghosted them:
    Tessa
    Dustin Pari
    Ileana Reyes
    Charles Gillingham
    Jenny Rowe
    Tony Dixon
    Seb
    Tim Hulsizer
    Amy
    Jessamy Thomison
    Bumper music for this episode:
    Usual opening: “O Holy Night” by Tiny Tim, “Christmas Doesn’t Last” by Make Like Monkeys, “Santa Claus Boogie” by Hasil Adkins, “Space Age Santa” by Ross Christman
    Featured opening/bumper: “Bad Boy Naturally” by Make Like Monkeys
    Bumper/closing: “Christmas in July” by the Brutalligators
    Spooky piano Christmas music (as always) by Myuu.
    If you’re feeling generous, check out my Patreon page here where you can get all kinds of bonuses throughout the year. You can also buy me a “coffee” ($3 gifts) at Ko-Fi.com.
    Or PLEASE LEAVE A WEIRD REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Send me a note that you did (weirdxmas@gmail.com), and I’ll send you a sticker!

    • 58 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
91 Ratings

91 Ratings

Findsector ,

Best Xmas podcast

The mushroom, Jerman, Raedisch and SHWEP episodes are real standouts.

Googapoopa ,

Weird Christmas is Incredible!

This show is an eye opener even if you think you know a lot about Christmas. Craig always uncovers obscure facts tidbits that I've never heard before . Its makes for some great info for a Christmas party games. His writing contest is amazing as well. There are so many talented writers!. I am always stunned by the quality of the stories. I still think about some of the ones I first heard 3 or 4 years ago, they are that good. I will go back and listen to them again. Whether you are weird or not, this show is a good investment of your time.

kflake wx ,

Craig Kringle is the best

The quality of the audio and the content of this podcast is mighty high, and the show is wonderfully weird. No Hallmark Holidays for me - if you're going to get me into the spirit of the season, you gotta make it WEIRD! Thank you Weird Christmas Podcast!

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