Merry Little Podcast Christmas in the 60s

[Jeff Westover]

Christmas in the 60s is not as fondly remembered as Christmases of previous decades. We think that perception should change.

The 1960s were incredible years in many ways. Politics shifted, music morphed, movies changed, and society itself seemed at times to unravel. They were turbulent and violent years. They were years where the worst of us seemed to star on television every night.

Christmas did get caught up in all that. But did Christmas change, as the times did?

After all, in the 1960s Bing was still a bright Christmas star. So too was Perry Como and Frank Sinatra. We still had Christmas trees, mistletoe and Santa Claus.

But we had aluminum Christmas trees, soul Santa and Christmas-in-space.

We think Christmas got better.

Yes, indeed, Christmas did change. It grew, became more diverse — and yet, Christmas of time and tradition, also stubbornly held on.

It was a time of great Christmas contrasts.

In this merry episode we explore how Christmas old and new collided during the turbulent 1960s and we wonder what lessons we can take away from those days now.

In many ways, it is fair to say we have not learned enough — or maybe done enough — about the things that divide us.

This episode cannot touch on it all, of course. We take a long look at A Charlie Brown Christmas…and share a piece of the Merry Podcast episode #63 featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Continue reading...

 

[Christmasplease]

I was just a kid in the 60’s, but I do remember certain things. This podcast took me back in time. Dr. King’s speech was so incredibly moving, the astronauts quoting Genesis, beautiful. It would be so good for young people to hear about these moments in history, especially with some of the things that are going on today.

 

[KellyKringle]

I just finished listening to this episode and throughly enjoyed every listening minute. Even though I wasn't born for most of the time mentioned, I am very familiar with the turbulence due to both my parents graduating in 65 and 66. My father fought in Vietnam and was laying in a Phili Naval Hospital during the time you mentioned after being severely wounded. Both my parents and their siblings have always spoke of this time. I've always been grateful for their story sharing.

My husband is a few years older than me and remembers some of the rioting and definitely remembers landing on the moon. My familiarity of this time has allowed us to inform our millennial children of the similarities. I think everyone who lived or is very familiar with this period should never stop telling the stories.

Thank you for the episode and will definitely be sharing.