Holiday humor, warmth, nostalgia, and commentary from the National Public Radio archives. The life of David Sedaris took an unexpected turn when his story "Santaland Diaries" was first broadcast on "Morning Edition" in 1992. Almost overnight, Sedaris went from obscurity to celebrity. His account of his experiences playing Santa's little helper at Macy's in New York is now a beloved classic, one of many featured in this festive and thought-provoking collection.
Each year since 1971, Susan Stamberg has managed to sneak her mother-in-law's recipe for cranberry relish onto the air. Storyteller Kevin Kling dreamed since childhood about becoming a dancer; an invitation to participate in a production of "The Nutcracker" proved too tempting to resist. Humorist Brian Ungar thinks holiday speeches are scary. Ghanian-born commentator Meri Danquah shares her thoughts on Kwanzaa. Cowboy poet Baxter Black describes a Christmas cookie with "the denseness of an anvil and the half-life of a radial tire."
And there's more, including commentary from Robert Siegel, Adam Gopnik, Claudio Sanchez, Steven Ivory, and others. Like an overstuffed stocking on Christmas morning, "NPR Holiday Favorites" is full of unexpected pleasures and evergreen delights.