Ghosts of Christmases Past: The Pagan Origins of Christmas

<p class="p1">How is Santa Claus connected to cannibalism? Which Christmastide holiday commemorates the slaughter of children? How should you decode the cryptic numerology message 20+C+M+B+22? And what's with all of those airborne reindeer? Welcome to Ghosts of Christmases Past, in which Shane and Duncan explore how tree-worship and animal sacrifice evolved into the bizarre, festive, highly commercialized holiday we know today. So whether you're feeling the Christmas spirit or just feeling jaded and grinchy, grab a cup of heavily-spiked eggnog, get cozy by the yule-log, and join the boys as they unpack the fascinating pagan history of Christmas.</p> <p>~</p> <p>Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at <a href='https://www.patreon.com/mffi?fan_landing=true'>PATREON</a></p> <p>~</p> <p>Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via <a href='https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN'>DISCORD</a></p> <p>~</p> <p>In this episode:  </p> <ul><li>Christmastide</li> <li>Christmas Eve</li> <li>The Feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr</li> <li>Childermas, The Feast of the Holy Innocents</li> <li>Herod the Great</li> <li>The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, Octave of the Nativity, Solemnity of Mary</li> <li>The Feast of the Holy Family</li> <li>12th Night, Epiphany Eve</li> <li>Chalking the Door</li> <li>Saturnalia</li> <li>The Holiday of Yule</li> <li>Yule Boar, Yule Goat, Yule Log</li> <li>Anglican Revelers vs. Puritan Grinches</li> <li>The Story of the Nativity</li> <li>December 25th Becomes the Arbitrary DOB</li> <li>Christenmas, Christ Mass, and Xmas</li> <li>Christmas Trees</li> <li>Saint Nicholas of Myra, aka Saint Nick, aka Nicholas the Wonderworker</li> <li>Sinterklaas </li> <li>Christmases Around the World</li> <li>Reindeer</li> <li>Thomas Nast</li> <li>Haddon Sundblom and Coca-Cola</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>~ Join the Midnight Masses! </p> <p>Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas. <