E014 History of the holidays
Episode Description
Why does December make the whole world feel a little more reflective, a little more magical, and a lot more connected? In this special holiday episode of the Everything Bagel podcast, we trace that shared feeling back thousands of years, starting with the winter solstice. From there, we travel across cultures and continents, unpacking how December became such a powerful crossroads of tradition, belief, resistance, and celebration. We explore how the big three holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa came to be and their significance on cultural impact. Let’s get festive and dive deeper into the true meanings behind the holiday season.
History and Holiday Traditions
HISTORY.com Editors. History of Christmas. History. https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-christmas (accessed December 13, 2025). HISTORY
HISTORY.com Editors. Saturnalia. History. https://www.history.com/articles/saturnalia (accessed December 13, 2025). HISTORY
HISTORY.com Editors. Hanukkah 2025: Stories, Traditions & Origins. History. https://www.history.com/articles/hanukkah (accessed December 13, 2025). HISTORY
HISTORY.com Editors. Kwanzaa – Meaning, Candles & Principles. History. https://www.history.com/articles/kwanzaa-history (accessed December 13, 2025). HISTORY
Cultural & Festival Traditions
Judy. Dongzhi Festival Traditions & Foods (The Winter Solstice). The Woks of Life. https://thewoksoflife.com/dongzhi-festival-winter-solstice/ (updated October 9, 2025). The Woks of Life
The Miracle of Chanukah. JewishHistory.org. https://www.jewishhistory.org/the-miracle-of-chanukah/ (accessed December 13, 2025). Jewish History
Educational & Indigenous Traditions
BBC Bitesize: Revision Guide on Winter Solstice & Seasonal Traditions. BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zvxtgwx/revision/5 (accessed December 13, 2025). (Page title inferred—direct content access restricted) Not Applicable
Winter Solstice: Indigenous Traditions. CBC Radio Unreserved. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/winter-solstice-indigenous-traditions-1.7065452 (accessed December 13, 2025). (Based on CBC Unreserved program content description) Wikipedia
Kwanzaa – Explore Moments. National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC). https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/kwanzaa (accessed December 13, 2025). (Typical page from NMAAHC on Kwanzaa)