In this special annual Christmas episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, Dan Hansen steps away from the usual home improvement topics to celebrate the season—and give back to listeners.
This year’s Extravaganza includes a festive giveaway: ten $100 gift certificates, awarded to listeners who share their favorite Christmas songs, memories, or traditions via email.
Dan opens the show with a humorous and heartfelt story about a long-ago family Christmas card featuring a screaming toddler—an unexpected reminder of how the most genuine moments often become the most meaningful memories. From there, the episode dives into the fascinating history behind familiar holiday traditions.
You’ll hear how Christmas cards originated in Victorian England, why they were once criticized as cold and impersonal, and how they eventually became a beloved seasonal ritual. Dan also explores the birth of Christmas music on the radio, beginning with the groundbreaking Christmas Eve broadcast of 1906, and how radio forever changed the way the holiday is shared and experienced.
The episode wraps up with the story of Christmas lights—from the risky early days of candle-lit trees to the invention and widespread adoption of electric lights that transformed holiday decorating. The show closes with warm Christmas wishes and a reminder to enter the holiday giveaway.
Episode Timeline
00:00 — Welcome to the Annual Christmas Extravaganza
01:49 — Christmas Card Chaos: A Family Story
04:37 — The Controversial Origins of Christmas Cards
09:58 — How Christmas Communication Evolved
11:25 — The Birth of Christmas on the Radio
18:25 — The First Christmas Eve Broadcast (1906)
22:32 — Radio’s Impact on Holiday Traditions
24:46 — The History of Christmas Lights
28:40 — Candles, Symbolism, and Seasonal Danger
32:23 — The Rise of Electric Christmas Lights
35:16 — Modern Christmas Light Displays
35:33 — Final Thoughts, Christmas Wishes, and the Giveaway