Did you know that the writer of one of our most famous and joyful Christmas carols was fathered by a man called Ebenezer? He may have been Ebenezer, but was he a Scrooge?

What are your favourite sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas? What are ours?

How do you translate German songs if you don't speak German? Who is Thomas Oliphant, and how is today's song related to the early folk music of Wales? What are wax cylinder recordings and how do they work? What do they sound like?

Join Josh and Kristian for all this and more on today's episode, where we explore the first in our December Series of Winter Carols - the popular and joyful 'Deck The Halls'.

Popular Versions -

Bing Crosby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar3iOScaFLw

Pentatonix (For a more modern flare ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqItlHUSN-4

Nat King Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1r0y59B4cc

Will you will you (will you) come back to the Toora Loora podcast!?

Welcome back! Salutations! What's the craic and how are ye getting on!? You're all very welcome back to the show after a bit of a hiatus!

Where have we been? What's been going on? How does a 19th Century war between Texans and Mexicans relate to an old Irish love song by Sir Thomas Moore? All these questions and more are about to be answered, so be sure to tune in and hear Josh and Kristian explore the old folk song 'Will You Come to the Bower'!

It's good to be back :)

Notable versions:

The Dubliners (Luke Kelly Live) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE2iM2J9byY

The Wolfe Tones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxuKWOnPXSM

Paddy Reilly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6j961GRfWA

Shane MacGowan and The Popes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndgBPZDWG3w

Andy Irvine and Lillebjørn Nilsen (Live in Telemark) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDxFDGOmJZo

"When First Unto This Country, A Stranger I came,

I courted a fair maid, and Nancy was her name,

I courted her for love, her love I didn't obtain,

Can you think of any reason why I should complain"

What are we thankful for? Did we buy anything nice for Black Friday? Why is Kristian putting Christmas porridge on the doorstep at night? For the what!? The Cow-Shed Elf!? Oh right....

Join us for our delayed Thanksgiving Special (well, twas as good a thing to talk about as any when it comes to today's lovely song!)

Today we discuss the phenomenon of not just songs, but entire cultures and holidays crossing the sea in times gone by before changing, adapting, evolving, and returning to their ancestral homes as completely different beasts. The correlation between people, places, histories, and songs has never been stronger!

Our song today is a very old one, first heard by us on a phenomenal Planxty Compilation album called 'Between The Jigs and Reels' and sung by the man himself, Mr Donal Lunny! Come join our chats and as always, don't be afraid to get involved on our socials!

Notable Versions:

Planxty 1973 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wS1iorel04

Crooked Still - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwhisMsFQ2Q

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCUHHFrI3xM