A Very New York Christmas Podcast

It's not just Christmas that New York has shaped - it's also the kick off to the New Year. Though the specifics have changed, New York has had distinctly New York traditions to run in the new year since the city was New Amsterdam: from the custom of "calling" on neighbors to the now internationally known ball drop in Times Square, New York City has always been a place for revelry...

This episode traces the forgotten journey of Santa Claus from his origins as Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop known for secret generosity, through Dutch Sinterklaas traditions carried to New Amsterdam, and into a rapidly changing 19th-century New York City. This episode reveals how New York didn’t just inherit Santa Claus... it reinvented him. Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on App...

Window shopping is fun year-round, but Fifth Avenue at Christmas takes window shopping to a whole new level. How did this perennial holiday activity start? What has made it an enduring tradition year after year? Discover the origins of these festive displays on this week's episode. Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

For nearly a century, Radio City Music Hall has stood as one of New York City’s most iconic entertainment landmarks. This week, we trace the remarkable history of how Radio City was conceived and we dive into the creation and evolution of the Radio City Rockettes! Be sure to Subscribe, Rate, & Review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

From humble Depression-era beginnings to being THE Christmas tree in New York and, arguably, the whole United States, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has always been a reflection of the political and socio-economic times. If you've ever watched the lighting ceremony, you have participated in a tradition stemming back (pun intended) almost 100 years. Learn about its humble origins, its my...

Every Thanksgiving, millions tune in for the balloons, the floats, and the spectacle; but do you know the real story behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? This episode unpacks its remarkable journey: a parade created to promote the “World’s Largest Store,” shaped by immigrant ambition, saved after wartime cancellations, transformed by television, and spread across the continent as a model for...

Experience the magic of the holiday season in New York City! From the sparkling lights of Rockefeller Center to the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, discover how New York’s traditions have helped shape how America celebrates Christmas. Meet the Rockettes at Radio City, visit Santa Claus, and ring in the New Year in Times Square. From the creators of The New York Mystery Machine , this is A V...