Minnesotans know that with the coming of bitter cold, something else is knocking on the door. The holiday season is a time of tales, readings, song, and reflection. Get your fill of lutefisk; hear the church bells rung “the old fashioned way;” take a tour of Hmong New Year; feel the melancholy of the farm; experience foreign students first encounters with turkeys and pumpkin pies; and learn the history of fruitcake. These are some of the wide-ranging stories of Minnesota holiday life that await your senses.
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December 14, 1998 - Mainstreet Radio’s Tom Robertson attends an early morning ritual in Bemidji, as locals of Swedish descent keep the Santa Lucia tradition alive with an annual celebration said to be one of the largest of its kind in the U.S.
December 21, 1998 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on the lefse industry in Minnesota.
December 22, 1998 - Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports on the people behind the balsam boughs in Minnesota.
December 24, 1998 - On this Midday program, a presentation stories of the holiday…including Bob Potter reading "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", Kate Smith reading "The Fir Tree", Dan Olson reading the letter in the Sun Newspaper--"Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus;" the late Dave Moore reading "James Thurber"; and Greta Cunningham reading "A Brooklyn Christmas."
November 26, 1999 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Minnesota author Tom Hegg about his "Cup of Christmas Tea" books. Hegg hopes his titles can help people relax and focus on the true meaning of the holidays.
December 24, 1999 - Splendid Table host Lynne Rossetto Kasper talks about the history of fruitcake, and the idea of sending it to others.
December 24, 1999 - MPR's Andrew Haeg went out on St. Paul's Grand Avenue this afternoon to witness this years gift finding frenzy.
November 23, 2000 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Steven Meads, a chef at Mud Pie, who shares suggestions for folks who might want to make a quick, low fat vegetarian dish for Thanksgiving feast.
November 24, 2000 - Nearly 100,000 people are expected in downtown St. Paul for the three day Hmong New Year, two Minnesota Wild games, and other events. The majority of the participants will converge on the city's RiverCentre to celebrate the Hmong New Year. MPR’s Tom Scheck provides a glimpse into the celebration.
December 7, 2000 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports on local Kwanzaa event, where hundreds of proud parents, children and friends gathered at Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis, to watch a student-led Kwanzaa program.