From homemade delights to big-screen favorites, and from classic novels to caroling, we’ve curated a few of our favorite things to share with you.
While this won’t be a new recommendation for anyone, nothing evokes the holiday season more immediately for me than Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The novella, published in 1843, is still relevant, with thought-provoking themes and striking characters. The work has been adapted and riffed on endlessly, yet it still feels fresh and poignant. At different stages of one’s life, the short work tells a different story. Some years, I admire Bob Cratchit; others, I rage with Mrs. Cratchit—and some years, if I’m honest, it strikes me that Scrooge (pre-visitation) has a point.
If you haven’t read the original in a while—or ever—give it a try. It won’t take long, and there are moments there that The Muppets don’t quite capture.
Recommended By
Ted Gentry
This long-running annual program from NPR presents stories for the Hannukah season. Hosted by Murray Horwitz and the late Susan Stamberg, the stories bring light and hope in times of darkness, with a generous helping of latkes and dreidel spinning along the way. At npr.org you can browse programs as far back as 2002. Happy Hannukah!
Recommended By Wade Kolb
For a different take on A Christmas Carol, I recommend the episode of The Rest is History podcast devoted to the work. This is a delightful podcast that I endorse heartily, and this December 2021 episode finds yet another way to explore new dimensions of Dickens’ Christmas classic.
Recommended By Ted Gentry
Christmas carols have always been a special tradition at Wyche, dating back to Tommy Wyche’s singing holiday parties. Enjoy our playlist to inspire your own caroling party.
Recommended By Tally Parham Casey
This podcast episode from the BBC unpacks Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella from an academic perspective, with guests from three different universities who specialize in Dickens and 19th century literature.
Recommended By Wade Kolb
Written by David Sedaris, The Santaland Diaries chronicles his experience working as a Christmas elf at a Macy’s department store. Hear David himself read from his short stories on NPR.
Recommended By Rachel Horton
The research team at Hidden Brain unpacks where many of us go wrong in selecting gifts for those in our lives, as well as how we can improve and learn to give better gifts.
Recommended By Wade Kolb
