Holiday-Themed Song of the Day:
"Smoky Mountain Christmas" by Jeannie Kendall from
O Christmas Tree: Come Home to a Bluegrass Christmas (Rounder, 2002).
Strange Christmas Factoid:
In the early 1800s, Washington Irving published
The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent., a collection of short stories about Christmas celebrations, which included both poor and rich folks. Around the same time, Charles Dickens published
A Christmas Carol. Together, these stories helped to redefine the popular opinion of Christmas in America and England, turning it to the holiday's favor.
Holiday Tradition of the Day:
In Greece, tradition has it that little goblins called
kallikantzeri cause all sorts of trouble during the twelve days of Christmas. Instead of exchanging gifts on December 25, folks in Greece share presents on New Years Day, also known as St. Basil's Day.
Gift of the Day:
Christmas on the Mountain (Universal South, 2002). This compilation recording features great Bluegrass players like
Del McCoury, Tim O'Brien,
Doc Watson, and the Groovegrass Boys.
