CWFC 24 – The Christmas Truce & Christmas Controversies

  • Posted on May 25, 2017 at 3:06 am

In this episode, we learn about the Christmas Truce of World War I, discus some Christmas controversies, add some Christmas ambience to your computing time, look for some more debate about Die Hard, and have an old fashioned “Grinch-Off.”

Download here!

00:00 – 01:26 Intro
01:26 – 02:33 We Need a little Christmas now
02:33 – 07:32 Five Golden Things (Christmas Controversies)
07:32 – 10:03 Santa Babb’s Mailbag
10:03 – 17:09 The Christmas Truce of World War 1
17:09 – 19:13 Who Sang It Best (You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch)
19:13 – 20:37 Is Die Hard A Christmas Movie?
20:37 – 22:29 Wrap Up
22:29 – 25:45 Outtakes

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas” United States Marine Band
“Jingle Bells” Performed by Kristen Nowicki

(The embedded player for the episode is bellow the poll and links)
You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch WSIB Poll

Ambient Mixer
http://christmas.ambient-mixer.com/
Christmas After Company Leaves
http://christmas.ambient-mixer.com/christmas-after-company-leaves

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments
http://www.hallmark.com/ornaments/keepsake-ornaments/

They Sang Silent Night by Fiona Bevan
https://youtu.be/MDaDd3RMJK0

Leon Day Greeting Cards
https://www.zazzle.com/the_story_of_leon_day_greeting_card-137086870978084904

8 Comments on CWFC 24 – The Christmas Truce & Christmas Controversies

  1. Adam says:

    Hey, Tim

    Love the podcast. It’s like a year-long advent calendar!

    Wanted to make sure you are aware (though I suspect a Christmas-o-phile like yourself may already know) that last year Music Choice’s “Sounds of the Season” television channel played Christmas music throughout July (or at least after the 4th) for Christmas in July. All day, all July, all Christmas music on “Sound of the Season!”

    Also, the Hallmark Channel plays some of their Christmas movies throughout July as well. Sure, they are sappy movies whose problematic plots many times defy common sense – But it’s Christmas!

    Keep up the good work.

  2. Brian Pierce says:

    Okay, Tim, I think it’s time to put this whole Die Hard controversy to rest (and all future debates of Holiday Filmness) by establishing “The Linus Test” as the benchmark of all Christmas movies.

    The Linus Test is simple – does the movie have that critical moment where Linus (of Peanuts fame, incase you hadn’t already figured it out) could come into the film and say “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown”.

    Think about it… apply this to ANY of your Holiday Classics. Go ahead! I’ll wait!

    While I’m waiting, I’ll provide some examples of my own: The Grinch has Christmas dinner with all the Whos? THAT’S what Christmas us all about, Charlie Brown! Ralphie falling asleep with snow falling outside the window, narration saying “Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty. The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. Gradually, I drifted off to sleep, pranging ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots”, THAT’S what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown! Jim Henson saying to Sprocket “Well these dishes aren’t going to wash themselves”, THAT’S what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown! “EVERY TIME A BELL RINGS, A -” THASWACHRISMUSABOUCHABROWNNNNN!!!

    Die Hard does not have a magical Linus moment ANYWHERE in the entire film. “Now I Have A Gun Ho Ho Ho” and the line about New Years at the end are the closest they come, with no magic or wonder or spirit of the season. It’s as Christmassy as a free bank calendar that has “Christmas Day (Observed)” on the square for December 25th.

    There… THAT should clear things up from this point forward. You’re welcome!

  3. Adam Parker Sibun says:

    Die Hard is DEFINITELY a Christmas movie! It has a christmas office party, santa claus references, christmas music and it snows at the end!

    More importantly, the internet agrees with me; the following sites rank Die Hard as top christmas movies:

    Elle: Top 25
    Indiewire: Top 20
    Nerve: 18th
    Ranker: 17th
    Entertainment Weekly: 16th
    Prima: Top 13
    Time Out New York: 11th
    BFI: Top 10
    Rotten Tomatoes: 9th
    Games Radar: 2nd
    Empire: 1st!
    Forbes 1st!
    Comedy Central: 1st!

    You can’t argue with the internet….well….

    • Kyle says:

      “Die Hard is DEFINITELY a Christmas movie! It has a christmas office party, santa claus references, christmas music and it snows at the end!”

      By that logic, would it be correct to say:

      ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ is definitely a sports movie because it has a swimming pool in it, Harry Bailey gets a football scholarship, George wears a football uniform at one point and he goes jogging through Bedford Falls at the end of the film?

      Or …

      ‘Saving Private Ryan’ is definitely a summer vacation movie because it’s about a group of Americans traveling through France, they send postcards home, it takes place in the summertime and there’s even a beach scene in it?

    • Brian says:

      “The internet agrees with me” is the least compelling argument I have ever heard in all of forever 😛

  4. Steve says:

    I’m shocked you never mentioned the superb movie Joyeux Noel which covers the Christmas truce really well. If you’ve not seen it look it up

  5. Jennifer Lundgren says:

    I am relistening to these in anticipation of Leon Day. A “christmas gnome” is called a tomte (pronounced tom-ta). They take care of the farms.

    Jennifer in Sweden

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