MPR captures the sounds a Minnesota Christmas. Some stories have song; some have shopping; some have snow…but all have some form of the holiday spirit.
December 24, 1992 - Duluth writer Michael Fedo shares his family memory of holiday slideshow presentations, and how it became a powerful time-marker.
December 10, 1993 - In this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Duluth author Michael Fedo reads essay on his recollections while traveling with musical partner Dan Kossoff as they toured the Midwest during the holidays.
December 13, 1993 - Writer Suzann Ledbetter reads a holiday story on the lengths taken in getting a Christmas tree. Story is from Ledbetter’s book “The Toast Always Lands Jelly-Side Down: And Other Tales of Suburban Life.”
December 22, 1993 - Minnesota poet and author Bill Holm comments on a number of winter topics, from the sense of poverty on the farm, to the meaning behind lutefisk.
December 23, 1993 - MPR’s Joe Follansbee reports from Rochester’s Federal Medical Center, where prisoners are preparing an annual production of “A Christmas Carol.” Follansbee interviews a few of the participants.
December 23, 1993 - Minnesota poet and author Bill Holm reflects on singing Christmas songs in his Lutheran childhood, with memories of the cold, tin ears, and a favorite carol.
December 24, 1993 - On this Christmas Eve Midday, listeners share Christmas stories and describe what the holiday means to them. Program also contains a reading and closes with holiday music.
December 25, 1993 - St. Paul author Lawrence Sutin shares his thoughts on being a non-Christian Christmas celebrant.
January 14, 1994 - In this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota author Barton Sutter reads his essay on recycling Christmas trees. This essay was later collected in Sutter’s book "Cold Comfort: Life at the Top of the Map."
November 24, 1994 - Minnesota author Susan Carol Hauser reads short essay on her family’s ritual Thanksgiving drive to see the Christmas lights in downtown Minneapolis.