Right after I finished recording episode #12 of the 12-part series on my Celtic Christmas Greetings podcast, I realized I forgot some Christmas memories that were shared by Nathan Deese, who played flute and other instruments on the album. So I thought I'd share a bonus episode with you.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• • I feature “Yule Log and Holly Berries” by Rathkeltair from their album Something Good For Christmas and from my compilation CD A Celtic Christmas
  • Nathan Deese performs with the Celtic music group Barrowburn
  • Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Podcast for more great Celtic Christmas music!
  • Hear more my Celtic Christmas Music on my holiday website

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The 12-part series of Celtic Christmas Greetings comes to an end today, but not the podcast. In fact, I plan to release more Celtic Christmas music and stories through this podcast in the future. So please stay subscribed. In part 12, I share my pick of some of the best Celtic Christmas CDs that you can own. These capture the heart of what is Celtic Christmas music. They will fill you up with peace, joy and merriment as you celebrate the holiday.

Thanks so much for being a part of my Celtic Christmas journey. Nollaig Shona Daoibh!

Oh and if you want more Celtic Christmas music, make sure you become a Patron of the Arts. I released my first ever Celtic Christmas song sung in Gaelic.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• • I feature “Without You on Christmas Day” by George Papavgeris from his album Ordinary Heroes and from my compilation CD A Celtic Christmas
  • You can find my list of the Best Celtic Christmas CDs on Amazon
  • I also have more Celtic Christmas music coming out on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast
  • You can find more personal podcast at www.celtfather.com
  • Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Podcast for more great Celtic Christmas music!
  • Hear more my Celtic Christmas Music on my holiday website

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Christmas is a time of celebration with family. One of my many families extends outside of my personal one and goes to The Shire, a magical place that appears in central Kentucky every three years. It's there that I met Nancy Flynn who wrote the final song on my Celtic Christmas Greetings album.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• • I feature “Christmas in the Shire” from my album Celtic Christmas Greetings
  • Hobbits, Hobbit drinking songs, and Memories of Middle Earth
  • Travel with me on a Celtic Invasion of Donegal, Ireland in 2015
  • Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Podcast for more great Celtic Christmas music!
  • Hear more my Celtic Christmas Music on my holiday website

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I had some funny ideas and misconceptions you have about parenthood as I share in today's podcast. I learned a valuable lesson that I share with other work-from-home parents.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• • I feature “Silent Night” from my album Celtic Christmas Greetings
  • Baby wearing for stay-at-home parents
  • Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Podcast for more great Celtic Christmas music!
  • Hear more my Celtic Christmas Music on my holiday website

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A Christmas story as a child complete with Star Wars figures, snowball fights, and the miracle of Christmas morning. Find out why I love snow and Christmas. You'll also learn who my #1 editor is and why I need one.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• • I play “Snowfall” from my album Celtic Christmas Greetings
  • Nathan Deese plays flute on “Snowfall”
  • Editing songs and sharing through my Gunn Runner fan club on Patreon
  • Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Podcast for more great Celtic Christmas music!
  • Hear more my Celtic Christmas Music on my holiday website

Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Greetings Podcast

Did you know that Frosty the Snowman was based in a particular city? You'll learn that fact and find out who the celebrity voice is in the TV show. Find out why I made a few adjustments to the song for my own “Frosty the Irish Snowman” for my CD Celtic Christmas Greetings.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• • I play “Frosty the Irish Snowman” from my album Celtic Christmas Greetings
  • History of “Frosty” and shillelaghs
  • Does it snow in Ireland?
  • Celtic Invasion Vacations and Galway
  • Samantha Gillogly plays fiddle on “Frosty”
  • Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Podcast for more great Celtic Christmas music!
  • Hear more my Celtic Christmas Music on my holiday website
  • You can find more about my love of Christmas and Celts here.

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I loved Christmas song when I was a kid. My daughter is now 4, and I want to educate her not only on some of the great Christmas songs out there, but also some of the great Celtic Christmas songs. But a lot of what makes something “great” is dependent on the child. I'm happy that she enjoys my “Frosty the Irish Snowman” and is singing “Christmas in Killarney”. So today, I share some of my favorite Christmas carols as a kid and as an adult.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• • I play “Jingle Bells” from my album Celtic Christmas Greetings
  • History of “Jingle Bells”
  • Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Podcast for more great Celtic Christmas music!
  • Hear more my Celtic Christmas Music on my holiday website

Subscribe to the Celtic Christmas Greetings Podcast

What do “Deck the Halls”, “We Three Kings” and “Scotland the Brave” have in common? In this episode, I answer that question as I talk about satire and songwriting for a song about a Scotsman who comes to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• Listen to the “Kilted Christmas” on the Celtic Christmas Podcast
• Satire
• Visions of “Deck the Halls”, “We Three Kings” and “Scotland the Brave”
• Steve Brownlee of Haggis Rampant
• The Funny Music Project
• “The Scottish King of Christmas” from Celtic Christmas Greetings
• Celtic Christmas Music

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In 2009 and 2010,I made a couple great trips to Europe, one to Germany for Christmas and one to Scotland. These sparked a beautiful Christmas love song I wrote for my wife.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• Do you love to travel? Join me on a Celtic Invasion Vacations of Donegal, Ireland
• Singing in Oban Scotland in a pub
• Christmas markets in Germany
• Rate the Podcast on iTunes
• “Christmas in Scotland” from Celtic Christmas Greetings
• Nathan Deese on flute

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In this episode, I explore the first Celtic Christmas songs that were written. It turns out there's a rich history that supersedes “Christmas in Killarney” by centuries. However, that song that I first heard recorded by Bing Crosby is still a favorite of mine.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• Rate the Podcast on iTunes
• The first Celtic Christmas song is “Wexford Carol” from Wexford, Ireland
• “Christmas in Killarney” from Celtic Christmas Greetings + Cards
• Samantha Gillogly has a great Celtic Christmas tradition
• Pickup her album of Celtic Chamber Music here.
• She recorded on Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits and The Bridge
• Celtic Christmas Music
• Celtic Christmas Podcast
• Do you have your own Celtic Christmas traditions?

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Today, I share some of the great Celtic Christmas traditions you can find in Ireland and Scotland as I share a song, written by Rie Sheridan Rose, that highlights some of these same traditions on my new album Celtic Christmas Greetings.

Celtic Christmas Notes

• Irish Christmas Traditions
• Irish candle in the window
• The Wren Boy Processional
• Decorations with holly and mistletoe
• How to say Merry Christmas in Irish–Nollaig Shona Duit
• Scottish Christmas Traditions
• Burning of Rowan
• Yule Bread
• Divination
• Yule Ale
• Rate the Podcast on iTunes
• “Let's Have a Celtic Christmas” from Celtic Christmas Greetings
• Celtic Christmas Podcast
• Celtic Christmas Music

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