Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Christmas Traditions Explained & A Very Morning Wire Christmas
Date: December 25, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley and Georgia Howe
Guest: Michael Foley, Author & Baylor University Professor

Overview

This special Christmas episode of Morning Wire explores the fascinating origins and meanings behind global Christmas traditions, from mistletoe kisses to Santa Claus's North Pole transformation. Author and historian Michael Foley shares historical insights, personal anecdotes, and deeper reflections on what Christmas means across cultures and eras. The episode concludes with heartfelt holiday messages and favorite traditions from the Morning Wire team.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origins of Christmas Traditions (03:11 – 17:26)

Mistletoe: The Kiss of Peace

• Mistletoe's symbolism traces to a pagan Celtic tradition as a sign of peace.
• Christianity adapted the gesture by incorporating the kiss as a sign of peace for the New Year.
• "[Mistletoe] was peace for the new year." – Michael Foley (02:00)
• Over time, the practice extended from just New Year’s Eve to the broader Christmas season.
• (02:00–02:52)

The Christmas Tree

• The modern Christmas tree is uniquely Christian, originating in medieval Germany.
• Symbolized the "Tree of Paradise"—the Tree of Knowledge (with red apples/balls) and Tree of Life (hosts and later, candy canes).
• "[The tree] started off as a symbol of the Tree of Paradise... the red balls and the candy canes come from the two significant trees in the Garden of Eden." – Michael Foley (03:11–04:13)

The Evolution of Santa Claus

• Santa began as St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Turkish bishop and patron saint of children, originally celibate and austere.
• New York poets and writers, like Clement Clarke Moore and Washington Irving, transformed him into a jolly, married man at the North Pole.
• Santa shifted from dwarf-sized elf to a larger-than-life human.
• "[Santa] started out... as a right jolly old elf. He was originally dwarf-sized... then with subsequent drawings... he kept getting bigger and bigger." – Michael Foley (04:57–05:38)

Candy Canes & Gingerbread

• Various theories: Candy canes as quiet treats for children in church, shaped like the "J" for Jesus, or a shepherd's staff.
• Colors symbolize Jesus’ purity (white) and sacrifice (red), though origins aren’t always well documented.
• "Customs don't always begin well documented." – Michael Foley (05:51–06:39)

Cultural Differences: Shoes, Schnapps, and Tiny Gifts

• St. Nicholas Day: Shoes are left out for gifts — oranges, chocolate coins, or lumps of coal.
• Gifts were once small—limited to what fit in a shoe, not the large presents common in America.
• In Europe, schnapps or brandy for St. Nicholas, hay for his horse; not milk and cookies.
• "The original American Christmas would never have a Christmas tree. That was a German thing... Our observance of Christmas reflects, in a sense, the American experience." – Michael Foley (06:47–07:39)

Iceland’s Yule Lads & Krampus (09:12–11:19)

• Yule Lads: Iceland's 13 Santa-like pranksters, sons of ogres, originated as frightening figures; tamed by government edict, now cartoonish and amusing.
  • "Iceland has by far the most bizarre Christmas traditions..." – Michael Foley (09:21)
• Krampus: St. Nicholas's demonic sidekick in Austria and Germany, tasked with punishing naughty children.
  • "He doesn’t want to get his hands dirty, so he gives the job to Krampus..." – Michael Foley (10:38–11:19)

The Therapeutic Role of "Scary" Traditions

• Winter was naturally frightening for pre-modern people; Christianity transformed these fears into catharsis, "harnessing the scary under the yoke of the good news that Christ the light has come."
• "By identifying, by giving voice and name to these demons is a kind of a catharsis, letting out the stress of the season." – Michael Foley (11:30–12:55)

Impact of the World Wars

• Wars deepened Christmas as a sentimental, unifying holiday (e.g., "I’ll Be Home for Christmas").
• "The wars really ramped up the sentimental aspect of Christmas, which has not always been a part of the holiday." – Michael Foley (13:09–14:01)

Biblical Roots & Modern Innovations

• Many traditions (gift giving, the presence of anxiety and hope) echo biblical stories.
• The Magi are primary gift givers in Latin America, not Santa Claus, showing differences in global practice and pushback against US commercialism.
• "The Magi are the better gift givers, which actually does make sense." – Michael Foley (15:06–15:49)

Then vs. Now: Season Creep & Festivity

• Older practices: Late decorating, longer celebrations (the full "12 Days of Christmas"), and greater restraint during Advent.
• Modern changes: Commercial “season” starts earlier, ends abruptly after Christmas Day.
• "By the time you get to Christmas Day, you're practically sick of it... 200 years ago, it would have been very different..." – Michael Foley (15:58–17:26)

Endearing Oddities: The Christmas Pickle (18:04–18:33)

• A Midwest/German-American tradition: Hide a pickle ornament on the tree, first to find it wins an extra gift.
• "The first time we did this, [my kids] practically tore the tree apart. It was terrifying." – Michael Foley (18:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Initially [Yule Lads] were absolutely terrifying... The Danish government... legislated to Iceland: You have to stop telling your children these stories. They're ridiculous and sadistic.” – Michael Foley (09:21–10:33)
• “There’s a way in which [our ancestors] actually got festivity and merriment better than we do today.” – Michael Foley (15:58)
• “By identifying, by giving voice and name to these demons is a kind of a catharsis...” – Michael Foley (12:55)
• “If you're my friend, I've given you grandmother's cream cheese bread before.” – Linden Blake (23:16)

Team Morning Wire's Christmas (& Hanukkah) Traditions (18:52–26:45)

Choirs and Carols

• “A new tradition… going to see a Christmas choir performance… the music is so beautiful… it just gets me in the Christmas spirit.” – Georgia Howe (19:03)

Christmas Cookie Boxes

• “We have about two dozen different types of cookies… since I’m very pregnant, I did a ton of taste testing.” – Amanda Presegiacomo (19:40)

Childlike Wonder

• "My oldest daughter is finally old enough to appreciate Christmas… I have a front row seat to what that really looks like." – Tim Rice (20:06)

Hanukkah Reflections

• “My favorite Christmas tradition was waiting by the window on Christmas Eve for Santa. And Santa never came… And that’s how I learned that I was Jewish." – Jenny Tarre (20:48)
• “For Hanukkah, we make oily treats… We write a prayer, tape it on the menorah, and revisit it the next year.” – Cassia Akiva (22:07)

Family Surprises & Decor

• “Every year we get a box from my grandmother in the mail, and we almost never know what’s in it.” – Cameron Arcand (21:42)

Nutcracker Madness

• “My daughters are serious ballerinas… the months leading up to December are dedicated to... Nutcracker performances… the memories we’re creating make every tired step worthwhile.” – Megan Basham (24:53)

Candles and Faith

• “We’d pass the light one to the other like the flame of faith passing from person to person… Silent Night… my favorite Christmas song.” – Unnamed (26:02)

Hope and Meaning

• “Christmas is all about hope… as a parent I am only more in awe of God’s love for humanity.” – Cabot Phillips (24:14)

Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments

• 02:00 – Mistletoe origins and symbolism
• 03:11 – Christmas tree history and symbolism
• 04:15 – Santa Claus’s evolution
• 05:51 – Candy canes and gingerbread
• 06:47 – Cultural differences in Christmas
• 09:21 – Iceland’s Yule Lads
• 10:38 – Krampus
• 13:09 – Impact of World Wars
• 14:11 – Biblical influences on Christmas
• 15:06 – Non-Western Christmas traditions
• 15:58 – How we celebrate Christmas: then vs. now
• 18:04 – The Christmas pickle tradition
• 18:52 – Morning Wire team shares their own traditions

Conclusion

In a festive, insightful, and at times humorous episode, Morning Wire dives deep into Christmas history and its strange, heartwarming, and ever-evolving traditions. From medieval Germany to the modern U.S., Michael Foley’s expertise offers a rich perspective on how ancient customs, religion, and pop culture combine to create the holiday season we know today. The personal stories from the Morning Wire team add warmth and authenticity, providing a full-spectrum celebration of Christmas—and Hanukkah—in today’s diverse world.

Memorable Takeaways:

• Global traditions have layered histories, often blending ancient fears, religious symbolism, and modern commercialism.
• Old-world customs often placed greater emphasis on merriment and meaning, rather than materialism.
• Despite changes, the heart of Christmas—faith, hope, family, and community endures.

Merry Christmas from the Morning Wire team!