Christmas history: everything you wanted to know

Did Oliver Cromwell ban mince pies? When did people first give Christmas presents? And why does Santa wear red? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne in this episode first aired in 2020, George Goodwin, historian and author of Christmas Traditions: A Celebration of Festive Lore, answers listener questions about the history of the festive period. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices