Holidays & Celebrations Archives - Useless Information

Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Arbor Day Turns 150! – Podcast #171

Published on April 28, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Arbor Day is 150 years old! Learn the origins of the day, plus how one small upstate New York town continues the annual celebration.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1958: Christmases Have Merry Christmas

Published on December 24, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

The Christmases got together in 1958 to celebrate Christmas. They had to deal with prank calls from people making fun of their last name.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1953: Absent-Minded Santa Claus

Published on December 23, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Sometimes Santa needs to be more focused on the job that he has chosen to do...

Click to Read More...

How To Fill A Giant Christmas Stocking?

Published on December 22, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In 1965, radio station WDGY held a contest for the largest Christmas stocking. They were not prepared for what was submitted.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1949: Ontario Boy Given Snake by Museum

Published on December 21, 2021

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

A couple from Ontario drove 125 miles so that their son could purchase a snake, only to find out that the museum had none for sale. Would his heart be broken for Christmas?

Click to Read More...

Reindeer Nips Boy’s Finger

Published on December 20, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In 1954, 2-year-old Richard Ferris decided to let a reindeer take a lick from his lollipop. That was a mistake...

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1948: Early Greeting Might Be Said in Bad Taste

Published on December 19, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Imagine arriving home to find your bathtub filled with gelatin. That happened to Mr. & Mrs. Jack Halstead.

Click to Read More...

A Very Unusual Christmas Tree

Published on December 17, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Back in 1900, students in the University of Pennsylvania’s biology department presented their professors with an unusually decorated Christmas tree.

Click to Read More...

Retrocast #6 – Podcast #162

Published on December 15, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast, Retrocasts

A reindeer that bit a boy’s finger, a lawsuit over the world’s largest Christmas stocking, an absent-minded Santa Claus, a Santa caught with his pants down, the first Christmas film ever made, and much more!

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1937: Santa Claus Has Trouble Getting Down This Chimney

Published on December 14, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

It was every child's fear: Santa Claus got stuck in a San Antonio, TX chimney. Would he be able to deliver his gifts?

Click to Read More...

Tom McGee’s Back on the Chain Gang – Podcast #161

Published on November 30, 2021

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Tom McGee wanted nothing more for Christmas than to be able to spend time caring for his hogs. The only catch was that he needed to commit a crime and hope that a judge would sentence him to time on one of Georgia’s infamous chain gangs.

Click to Read More...

Kids Keep Santa From Getting a Ticket

Published on December 28, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Just what happens when Santa Claus is pulled over for speeding? This story from 1965 just may have the answer.

Click to Read More...

Santa Stuck in Chimney

Published on December 27, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Everyone knows that Santa comes down the chimney to deliver his gifts. Sometimes he gets stuck...

Click to Read More...

Gift of 4-Tons of Fertilizer

Published on December 24, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Back in 1945, Norval H. Milliken received a very unusual Christmas gift: 4-tons of manure. It took some detective work to figure out who sent it.

Click to Read More...

A Grateful Mother – Podcast #143

Published on December 21, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Money & Financial, Podcast

The heartwarming true story from the 1950s of a secret Santa and the generous Christmas gifts that he gave to Helen Arnold's family in Akron, Ohio.

Click to Read More...

Language

Follow the Podcast

Over 5 Million Downloads!

Recent Podcast Episodes

Henry Ford’s Peace Ship – Podcast #172
May 16, 2022
Arbor Day Turns 150! – Podcast #171
April 28, 2022
Retrocast #9 – Podcast #170
April 13, 2022
The Father of Voice Radio – Reginald Fessenden – Podcast #169
March 31, 2022
The Case of the Hollow Nickel – Podcast #168
March 15, 2022
Retrocast #8 – Podcast #167
February 28, 2022
The Eddie Cantor Peace Prize – Podcast #166
February 15, 2022
Retrocast #7 – Podcast #165
January 31, 2022
The Glass House Girl – Podcast #164
January 13, 2022
Bad Apples #3 – Sunset Boulevard – Podcast #163
January 3, 2022