<p style="text-align: center"><img decoding="async" src="https://cantwaitforchristmaspod.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Ulysses-S-Grant.jpg" alt="" width="750"></p> <p>On this episode, we’ll learn the story of president Ulysses S. Grant making Christmas a national holiday in the United States. We’ll also talk about a quaint town in California where you can get a little Christmas all year long, we’ll count down the top five Christmas themed First Draft segments from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and I’ll ask for your help with naming a new segment for 2026. </p> <p><a href="https://cantwaitforchristmaspod.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cwfc-160-ulysses-s-grant-and-christmas-as-a-national-holiday.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Download here!</a></p> <p>00:00 &#8211; 01:52 Intro<br /> 01:52 &#8211; 07:27 We Need A Little Christmas Now &#8211; Solvang, CA Trip Report<br /> 07:27 &#8211; 16:24 5 Golden Things &#8211; Christmas themed First Draft segments from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert<br /> 16:24 &#8211; 23:59 Ulysses S. Grant and Christmas as a National Holiday (in the United States)<br /> 23:59 &#8211; 25:47 The Segment With No Name&#8230;yet<br /> 25:47 &#8211; 27:45 Wrap Up<br /> 27:45 &#8211; 30:54 Outtakes</p> <p>“We Wish You A Merry Christmas” United States Marine Band<br /> &#8220;Jingle Bells&#8221; Performed by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Boardtique" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kristen Nowicki</a></p> <p>(The embedded player for the episode is bellow the links)</p> <p>Solvang Photos<br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cantwaitforchristmaspod/p/DVLPn0plFrU/?hl=en" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/cantwaitforchristmaspod/p/DVLPn0plFrU/?hl=en</a><br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CantWaitForChristmasPod/posts/pfbid0rQCJDHhZed52iCvduXWQbEH2LeonQi9FkFLKUkwN4GDbym5ewfWdG7SCb4tg4dqjl" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/CantWaitForChristmasPod/posts/pfbid0rQCJDHhZed52iCvduXWQbEH2LeonQi9FkFLKUkwN4GDbym5ewfWdG7SCb4tg4dqjl</a><br /> <a href="https://www.threads.com/@cantwaitforchristmaspod/post/DVLPovLFE9B?xmt=AQF0Y4V8_LsAUwVPlWATTBdqKGm5u5xjTrEIA8VC36mxdvgQuNju9zvQacPt52h-GdoBJ2jW&#038;slof=1" target="_blank">https://www.threads.com/@cantwaitforchristmaspod/post/DVLPovLFE9B?xmt=AQF0Y4V8_LsAUwVPlWATTBdqKGm5u5xjTrEIA8VC36mxdvgQuNju9zvQacPt52h-GdoBJ2jW&#038;slof=1</a><br /> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/christmaspod.bsky.social/post/3mfoeesncek2d" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/christmaspod.bsky.social/post/3mfoeesncek2d</a></p> <p>Jule Hus- Solvang&#8217;s Christmas Store<br /> <a href="http://www.solvangschristmashouse.com" target="_blank">http://www.solvangschristmashouse.com</a></p> <p>The Ultimate Escape Rooms (The Mischevious Nisse)<br /> <a href="https://theultimateescaperooms.com/solvang/" target="_blank">https://theultimateescaperooms.com/solvang/</a></p> <p>Christmas themed First Draft segments from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert<br /> 2020<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/TYl0TYCsDbY?si=PiFp2eP630JROGxP" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/TYl0TYCsDbY?si=PiFp2eP630JROGxP</a><br /> 2024<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/htlX-VAuVbs?si=meZv3-2OtHUQpkPO" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/htlX-VAuVbs?si=meZv3-2OtHUQpkPO</a><br /> 2021<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/vP8nVklw99c?si=6GGS_iHY02HiVcmy" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/vP8nVklw99c?si=6GGS_iHY02HiVcmy</a><br /> 2023<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/M2zZAshSRz8?si=eGRTEx7PX-J8elXo" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/M2zZAshSRz8?si=eGRTEx7PX-J8elXo</a><br /> 2016<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/fVXzXH_OCyI?si=9eRWjcn8YkmEhWqn" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/fVXzXH_OCyI?si=9eRWjcn8YkmEhWqn</a><br /> 2025<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/sq5O2Ee1pXw?si=azOfu_QYayJ0Z1o" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/sq5O2Ee1pXw?si=azOfu_QYayJ0Z1o</a></p> <p>Closer to Christmas podcast<br /> <a href="http://closertochristmas.com/" target="_blank">http://closertochristmas.com/</a></p>