On December 26, 2022, Kim Monson welcomes historian and author Bill Federer to trace the rich traditions of Christmas from St. Nicholas to modern celebrations, and Epoch Times journalist Nanette Holt to share heartwarming stories of secret Santa police officers and a retirement home for heroic horses.
Bill Federer, founder of American Minute and author of numerous historical works, traces the origins of Christmas gift-giving traditions back to St. Nicholas, a third-century Christian who gave away his wealth to help the poor. Federer explains how Nicholas secretly threw bags of gold into the window of a merchant with three daughters, saving them from a desperate fate when their father faced bankruptcy.
The tradition of secret gift-giving spread through the centuries, evolving from Greek Orthodox practices through the British Empire’s Boxing Day to the Dutch settlers in New York who brought their St. Nicholas celebrations to America. Federer connects these traditions to the deeper theological message of Christmas, exploring how God’s gift of free will allows humanity to choose love voluntarily rather than through compulsion.
Federer presents a masterful explanation of Christian theology, arguing that God hides himself so humans can exercise free will, and that Jesus came as the Lamb to take the judgment for humanity’s sins. He traces the concept of sacrifice from Adam and Eve through Abraham to Christ, showing how the lamb has been central to redemption throughout Scripture.
“An eternal being who’s innocent suffering for a finite period of time is equal to all of us finite beings who are guilty suffering for an eternal period of time. Jesus literally suffered the equivalent of eternal damnation in all of our places, and he’s the only one who could have done it.”
Bill Federer, Author and Historian
Bill Federer continues his historical journey, tracing how St. Nicholas transformed into the modern Santa Claus. He explains that the Dutch pronunciation of St. Nicholas became “Santa Claus,” and that after the Reformation, Martin Luther moved gift-giving from St. Nicholas Day (December 6) to Christmas Day, attributing gifts to the Christ Child, which Germans pronounced as “Christkindl,” eventually becoming “Kris Kringle.”
The historian details how St. Boniface converted the Germans from worshiping Thor and introduced the evergreen tree as a symbol of Christianity, and how Washington Irving’s writings helped shape the American image of St. Nicholas. Thomas Nast’s Civil War-era illustrations and Coca-Cola’s marketing campaigns further crystallized the modern Santa image. Through it all, Federer emphasizes that the core tradition traces back to a real person who loved Jesus and gave generously to the poor.
“You go back to the beginning, there really was a guy in the third century who loved Jesus and gave away his money to help the poor, and that’s who we remember.”
Bill Federer, Author and Historian
Nanette Holt, journalist for the Epoch Times, shares uplifting stories of kindness from police departments across America. In Lake Placid, New York, anonymous donors began providing funds for officers to distribute to citizens in need, turning potential traffic stops into moments of hope and second chances.
Holt describes body camera footage from Ocala, Florida, where an officer pulled over a man who had been working all day to earn $100 for medicine. When he took a shortcut through a parking lot trying to reach the pharmacy before closing, the officer handed him $100 instead of a ticket. Similar programs operate in Fremont, Nebraska, and Walhalla, South Carolina, allowing officers to experience joyful moments rather than only encountering people at their lowest points.
“The officers are up and with people at the very lowest point in their lives. There’s been a tragedy or they’re having to deliver some really bad news or they’re having to arrest someone who’s made some really bad choices, whatever the case may be. This allows them to share a joyful moment, you know, and to spread hope.”
Nanette Holt, Epoch Times Journalist
Nanette Holt highlights the Piano Guys, a musical group that has garnered over 2 billion streams worldwide. The group began when pianist John Schmidt walked into Paul Anderson’s music store in Utah to practice on a piano before a gig, leading Anderson to propose making videos to sell pianos.
Schmidt teamed up with cellist Stephen Sharp Nelson, creating breathtaking videos featuring grand pianos in unexpected locations like the Great Wall of China and abandoned Scottish castles. Holt emphasizes their message of perseverance and hard work, noting that the Piano Guys inspire audiences to do difficult things and create something beautiful through dedication.
“They want to inspire people to do difficult things, to persevere, and to get to the other side where they have something really beautiful and worthwhile for all that hard work.”
Nanette Holt, Epoch Times Journalist
Nanette Holt concludes with the heartwarming story of Mill Creek Farm in Alachua, Florida, a 335-acre retirement sanctuary for horses who served as police or military animals. Founded by a couple who met while attending the University of London, the farm provides permanent homes for 138 horses, three miniature donkeys, and a zorse.
The founders originally bonded over visiting rest pastures for milk delivery horses in London, dreaming of creating a place where horses could retire permanently. After building their fortune in hotels, they chose to spend retirement caring for these animals. Holt shares the Christmas miracle of Peyton, a 22-year-old horse who was about to be euthanized when his owner decided she no longer wanted him, but was rescued by Mill Creek Farm to live out his days in dignity. The oldest resident, a former police horse named R.C., is approaching 45 years old.
“All of them will never be sold, never sent away. Once they come onto the property, they never set a foot off of it. That’s where they go until they are buried one day in the Field of Dreams and honored there.”
Nanette Holt, Epoch Times Journalist
Episode from The Kim Monson Show
Episode from The Kim Monson Show
Episode from The Kim Monson Show