Christmas: Multimedia Resources

The notoriously secretive, family-owned super brand opens its doors. We go behind the scenes at the LEGO factory to see how staff gear up for the holiday season, create new lines for Christmas and manage the multi-language customer call center at the busiest time of year. We follow the construction of a spectacular Lego train in central London and meet the Addis family, who has built a huge LEGO sculpture in their Cambridgeshire living room every December for the last twenty years. (46;36 min.)

Explore the fascinating factory processes and surprising history behind the UK's favourite festive treats. Gregg Wallace visits the world's largest mince pie factory, and discovers the challenge of producing 2,000 perfect pies every minute. Cherry Healey travels to South Wales, where factory workers make enough tinsel in a year to reach from their hometown to Hawaii. And Ruth Goodman finds out about the explosive history of Christmas crackers. A BBC Production. (58:51 min.)

R. H. Macy had the vision to build a one room shop into one of the world's largest retail stores. Each year the holiday season kicks off with the parade that bears his name and his store has become a mecca for shopping, immortalized in the classic movie "Miracle on 34th Street." From his early days as a Nantucket whaler to his adventures as a world class merchant, R. H. Macy remains one of America's great success stories. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes) Distributed by A&E Television Networks.

In the industrialized world, Christmas means megabucks to the businesses that can create a fad or spot a trend. Filmed from a U.K. perspective, this program illustrates the annual scramble of key holiday-related industries—toys, video games, music CDs, luxury items, Christmas trees, and holiday foods—to catch the seasonal wave and ride it to high profits. But which products within each category will capture shoppers’ attention? The dynamics of—and glitches in—the global supply and demand cycle are thoroughly covered, factoring in the effects of brands, product licensing, advertising, research and development, and offshore manufacturing. (50 minutes)

Most people agree that the main purpose of food is to keep us healthy and energized for life’s daily challenges—but some foods have richer meaning. This program examines some of the world’s major social, cultural, and religious occasions and the foods that are central to them. Students are familiarized with culinary symbols and traditions associated with a variety of cultures, including the history of the wedding cake and the varying importance of alcohol. Occasions commemorating significant dates and historical developments are examined, including Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions, from both religious and secular perspectives. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (23 minutes)

In this animated version of Dylan Thomas' classic children's book A Child's Christmas in Wales, a young boy asks an elderly man what Christmas was like when he was a boy. The old man's answer draws us in to a fantastical, colorful, and unexpected world, where mermaids swam in Swansea Bay, wolves roamed the hills and valleys, and hippos trudged through the snowy town. This classic tale of the romantic nature of times gone by will enchant children and families. (27 minutes)

This program traces the story of Christmas, from its origins in Nordic and Roman mid-winter celebrations, through the advance of Christianity, and up to the present day. It pays particular attention to the small book that came out at the end of 1843 and to the moment in time that Charles Dickens became involved in the progression of the mid-winter festivity and changed its course forever. (1:17:48 min.)

This amusing musical cartoon adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic "A Christmas Carol" is an excellent introduction to the story for younger viewers. The premise is that the famous Mr. Magoo is performing as Ebenezer Scrooge in a Broadway production of "A Christmas Carol." The songs are engaging, but at the same time, most of Dickens's story and even a good deal of his language is retained. (52:07 min.)

A Frozen Christmas is the perfect way to get the family in the Holiday spirit with the most beloved animated Christmas characters, including Santa Claus, the Snowman, Elves, Santa's Reindeer, and more! Gather around and listen as Santa and his young elf pals narrate time honored Christmas story classics such as, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Little Girls' Christmas and more! (1:16:05 min.)

“One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.” And so we begin O. Henry’s best-known and timeless story. It’s a wonderful romantic tale of a young married couple who have little money to buy each other Christmas presents—with a charming surprise ending. Starring Rosemary Deleonardis, Kiah Gordon, David A. Silverstein, Linda Stiegler, and Adrienne Storrs. Adapted for the screen and directed by Scott Mansfield. (20 minutes)

Images, Music, and Memories of the Holidays. 17 Christmas Classics. The whole family will enjoy listening or singing along to instrumental versions of these all-time favorite Christmas songs. Songs Include: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Driving Home For Christmas, Sleigh Ride, White Christmas and more! (42:43 min.)

A collection of classic holiday songs for the whole family! (43:46 min.)

A collection of classic holiday songs for the whole family!

A collection of classic holiday songs for the whole family!

Family-friendly, seasonal music concert from The Kingston Trio, a first all-Christmas concert in their 60-year history. Shot as an annual Public TV special, it was captured at the historic Will Rogers Theater in Tulsa, OK, where 4,000 fans attended to celebrate with The group as they performed for the first time live, selections from their sole 1960 holiday classic album, Last Month of the Year. (52:24 min.)

Lee Greenwood sings a collection of classic holiday songs such as 'Joy to the World', 'White Christmas', and more! (1:44.00 min.)

The two Russian choreographers and connoisseurs of the tradition, Vasily Medvedev and Yuri Burlaka, developed this version of The Nutcracker. They combine the choreography and historic stage designs from the original of 1892 with the brilliance of today’s dancers. This production reveals all the nostalgic charm of the wonderful music by Peter Tchaikovsky and promises the anticipation of Christmas. (1:53:05 min.)

Holiday embraces familiar and new winter celebrations as part of our American experience with the handmade. Celebrate some of our most important cultural and religious customs and get inspired to discover your own creativity. Distributed by PBS Distribution. (53:14 min.)

In this second of two episodes on Europe's greatest festivals, we'll dance with Spaniards at Sevilla's April Fair, celebrate Bastille Day in Paris, run with the bulls at Pamplona, and hoist a frothy stein at Munich's Oktoberfest. And we'll celebrate a traditional family Christmas, browsing the holiday market in Nürnberg and sledding down alpine slopes by torchlight in Switzerland. With the entire continent as our playground, fun is our mission. (24:55 min.)

Christmas, Easter, Passover, Yom Kippur, Bar or Bas Mitzvah, and other significant feasts and rituals of the Christian and Jewish faiths are discussed in this program. Jesus is shown as the role model for Christian behavior as exhibited by the early martyrs and saints. Protestantism’s rejection of saints as religious icons is examined. The spiritual characters of specific modern "saints," including Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Sister Emmanuelle, are examined. (59 minutes)

There's an enormous amount of farm work to be done on the estate in the lead-up to the festive season, including the hay harvest to make food for the animals over winter. Peter travels to the Royal Agricultural Society's annual show with sheep expert Richard Spencer to choose a new ram for the flock. Back at the farm, Ruth makes mincemeat for the Christmas mince pies. She also prepares for the hoped-for hay harvest celebration with some essentials - bread and butter. (58:14 min.)

Today, we are so excited to invite you to our long-awaited premiere of the Christmas video! In this festive episode: 00:00 Preview 00:10 Winter Forest Walk 01:30 Victorian Christmas Tree Decorations 04:57 Under the Tree 🎄 06:23 Lingonberry Sponge Cake 09:23 Spicy Christmas Drink 10:17 A time to keep 11:12 Christmas Table Setting Sponge Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, Soaking Lingonberry, Spicy Christmas Drink

The following video provides a brief introduction to some of the more traditional Christmas food items, including plum pudding, mince meat pie, eggnog, and more. Get the workbook here: http://amzn.to/2gRAzhP (3:57 min.)

Join us for an international holiday feast, as Anglophenia's Kate Arnell takes a look at several traditional Christmas dishes from around the world. Starting with the U.K., of course...(6:20 min.)

11 Symbols of Christmas with pagan and religious meanings. Wreaths, Candy Cane, Christmas Tree, Star Toppers (Star of Bethlehem), holly, poinsettias, stockings, Christmas lights, gifts, mistletoe and tinsel (7;32 min.)

Summarizes origin of Christmas: 12 Day Yule Celebration at the Winter Solstice, Christian Lights, Christmas Trees, Nativity, Roman Holiday Saturnalias (Dec. 25), Christianity choose Dec. 5 the birth by observing other practices, Santa Claus, secular vs. solemn religious ceremony starts in the 1300s from 1400s, Carols evolution, New York City birth place of secular modern Christmas to two New Yorkers, Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem, President Pierce first put tree in the White House, Macy used Mall use Santa as marketing, Norman Rockwell designed modern Santa icon, Rudolf Red-Nose Reindeer story and song, White Christmas WW II song, It's a Wonderful Life, Holiday Specials started 1962, Charlie Brown Christmas 1965, (41:57 min.)

Have you ever asked What is Christmas? Why did it start? In our video "The History of Christmas" we will answer all of those questions and more. We will cover the most important religious aspects of Christmas as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world and we will also talk about the more secular versions of the holiday including Santa Clause, Christmas Trees, mistletoe and more! (9:39 min.)

As winter marches on and Christmas nears, they must source a yule log: firewood to burn for the Twelve Days of Christmas. At the cottage, Ruth winter-proofs the house, making a paper blanket and remedies for coughs and colds. It is also a chance to begin preparations for the Christmas banquet in earnest - in particular, a very Victorian invention, Christmas crackers. Ruth enlists the help of Christmas cracker historian Peter Kimpton. (58:13 min.)

Christmas has got to be one of the best times of the year and most of the Christmas music is also great, it makes you feel the Christmas spirit, but 20th century are the best in my opinion, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. (17:52 min.)

Christmas carols are one of the holiday season's most recognizable traditions. Ensembles that have remained dormant for the entire year come together to sing these iconic songs in public squares and on neighborhood doorsteps. But did you know that the the history of carols is far older than the Christmas holiday? Join us as we explore the rich history of carol singing in this music history video from Liberty Park Music! (3:40 min.)

Updated image of apolitical Santa Claus after propaganda of the Civil War.