For 12 days in December 2020, we invited you to celebrate the holiday season, reflect on the year that was and look ahead with NPR Presents. Each day, we shared virtual events, holiday features from NPR hosts, journal prompts and some fun little surprises.
By putting a face to some of the NPR voices you’ve come to know and love and connecting with NPR listeners from across the country, we hoped to brighten your holiday season.
Have feedback about our 12 days of NPR Presents series? Share your thoughts with us by sending a note to [email protected].
Welcome to day one of 12 Days of NPR Presents! We’re so glad you’re part of the NPR community, and we can’t wait to celebrate the holiday season, reflect on the year that was and look ahead with you. For each of the next 12 days, we’ll be in your inboxes with virtual events, holiday features from NPR hosts, journal prompts and some fun little surprises.
If you’re feeling creative over the next 12 days, we invite you to channel that spirit into a zine! Short for “magazines,” zines are little handmade books — and since you’re the publisher, you get to make the rules. To craft one, as NPR’s Malaka Gharib said: “All you'll need is a sheet of paper, a pen, 30 minutes and a little creativity.” Malaka even created a handy how-to guide for NPR’s Life Kit podcast that you can follow. (Plus, she recorded a video workshop.)
If you want to make a zine for someone else, it could be a perfect holiday gift. Even just calling up a loved one — maybe a relative who’s alone this holiday season — to tell them about your creation could bring some joy. Or you could share it on social media (and peek at others’ tiny creations) with #NPRpresents.
If you make a zine you’re proud of, share it with us by replying to this email! At the end of the 12 days, we might share some of our favorites with this community.
What are you grateful for this year? From simple joys (like a solid cup of coffee or getting outside) to the bigger things (like resilient healthcare workers and heroic post office workers), take a moment to reflect and write about this year’s silver linings.
From NPR’s Morning Edition: 'Social Distance': A Community-Style Poem To Help You Feel Less Isolated
From West Virginia Public Radio's Mountain Stage:A concert of seasonal songs old and new
From NPR’s Life Kit: This Year, Spend Less On Gifts — But Make Them More Thoughtful
From NPR's Planet Money: Join the team this evening live on Tik Tok for answers to all your money questions.
If you have feedback about our 12 Days of NPR Presents series (or just want to introduce yourself, we’re friendly!), feel free to share your thoughts by writing to us.
Cheers and see you tomorrow,
The NPR Presents team
Christmas conifers don’t just magically appear in corner lots. If your seasonal decor includes a freshly-cut tree, there are many steps it took to get from its origins as a seedling in a snowy evergreen field to your living room. Today, join NPR's Planet Money as the hosts travel to the world's largest Christmas tree auction, where visions of sugar plums are met by the reality of supply and demand. After absorbing some financial facts about firs, you’ll be able to impress your family on your holiday Zoom call.
What scenes evoke the holiday season for you? How does the holiday season sound, look, smell, taste or feel? How has that changed this year — and how hasn’t it?
From NPR’s Weekend Edition: Joyful Holiday Cards That Don’t Shy Away From A Tough Year
More tree facts from NPR’s TED Radio Hour: How Do Trees Collaborate?
From NPR’s Coronavirus Updates: ‘Healing Is Coming’: U.S. Starts Vaccinating People Against COVID-19
Just announced: We’re hosting a family-friendly holiday trivia night with David Greene, Rachel Martin and Terri Simon next week. Sign up here!
Hanukkah Lights is NPR’s annual collection of stories about light, miracles and faith. “It's been a difficult year and these stories will reflect that. They're darker than usual,” NPR's Susan Stamberg writes. “But we hope the miracle of Hanukkah casts its light through these stories. We think the tales will resonate with you because of their mixture of sadness and strength.”
Tune in for the hour-long radio special, or hear individual stories from original authors, like Magin LaSov Gregg, who regales a daughter grieving the loss of her mother welcomes a surprise new companion into her life — or Lara Pasternak Robicheaux, who tells a story of food, family and the healing magic of keeping tradition alive.
To write today’s journal prompt, we passed the pen to NPR associate producer Lauren Landau, who says:
“As we celebrate Hanukkah in 2020, many take comfort in the message of spreading light during times of darkness. This was a notably dark year, and we could all use more light than usual. But 2020 also had its miracles, like the wave of creativity and support that arose out of widespread isolation. We made more phone calls, let our guards down to share updates on social media and organized video conferences with family members, friends and colleagues. We found ways to be together, apart.
"On Hanukkah, we remember that a great miracle happened. As we reflect on 2020, let’s celebrate the fact that during a year when we faced so much darkness, we insisted on finding ways to bring light and connection into our world.”
Today, write down — or share with a friend — the ways you’ve observed light and connection this year. Or, reflect on a memorable holiday story of your own from years past.
From NPR Music and Alt. Latino host Felix Contreras: A Jazz Piano Christmas
From NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour host Linda Holmes: Listener Questions On Maintaining Mental Health During The Pandemic And Lockdowns
From NPR’s Morning Edition: Christmas Lights Cut Through The Gloom Of 2020
Just announced: afternoon workshops with creative, resilient women. Learn more and save your spot for Sunday’s event.
NPR’s How I Built This with Guy Raz is a podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists and the movements they’ve built. But 2020 called for adaptation. So, the show expanded, launching a weekly livestream video series where Guy interviews leaders about how they’ve built resilience in 2020.
Today, Guy interviewed Morra Aarons-Mele, host of The Anxious Achiever podcast and founder of Women Online. Morra helps people rethink the relationship between mental – and she knows a thing or two about modeling positivity during challenging times.
This year has been unlike any other. When you’ve felt like giving up, who has kept you going? What kind of support has meant the most to you? Write a few sentences thanking the people who have kept you afloat in 2020.
From Morra Aarons-Mele at the 2018 How I Built This Summit: 3 Ways to Thrive as an Introverted Entrepreneur
For more lessons on entrepreneurship, check out Guy Raz’s book, released earlier this year.
Revisit all of our How I Built This Resilience series conversations from this tumultuous year.
Stories of resilient women don’t stop with How I Built This, of course. NPR’s global health and development blog, Goats & Soda, has been covering this theme all year, culminating in a special report profiling 19 resilient women around the world. We invite you to join three of those women for our first-ever virtual creative workshop this Sunday. Hone your skills as a burgeoning comic artist, compose the perfect portrait or learn the art of reporting a meaningful story. Space is limited, so save your spot today.
Today, we're sharing a holiday playlist curated by Tiny Desk concert producer Bobby Carter. Bobby, aka DJ Cuzzin B, used to perform at nightclubs and parties around the world. While live music venues are now mostly closed, Bobby has been producing electric sets to soothe the soul on Instagram Live.
As a professional DJ, Bobby knows the power of a thoughtfully composed playlist. The right playlist can create the perfect mood for a special occasion and even help you say something when you can’t find the right words. Crafting a playlist can also provide a fun challenge: learning to combine music from different genres in a way that just works.
Listen to Bobby’s eclectic playlist of classics, current hits and brand new holiday jams on Spotify or Tidal.
2020 has presented countless challenges, and music is one thing that’s gotten us through. For today’s prompt, we invite you to reflect on these questions: What songs have you had on repeat this year? Have you kept up with new releases — or found yourself being a creature of comfort, going back to reliable favorites? How has your relationship with music changed this year? If you were creating a playlist to dance alone in your apartment, what would be on it?
From NPR’s Life Kit: How To Make A Good Playlist: Tips From A Tiny Desk Producer
From NPR Music: The Best Music of 2020
From Deceptive Cadence: Beethoven's Life, Liberty And Pursuit Of Enlightenment
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Feeling Zoomed out? Have all of the party and none of the tech issues by listening to the latest episode of NPR’s Ask Me Another, a show that combines trivia, comedy and music. Modeled after an office party chock-full of mandatory fun, this week’s episode features Christmas Carols — literally, people named Carol — plus adults trying to make sense of kids’ slang and a game featuring some very smart, musical people.
Join host Ophira Eisenberg, house musician Jonathan Coulton and special guests Bobby Lopez, Kristen Anderson Lopez and Andrew Bird for an hour of holiday cheer.
What made you laugh this year? Have you sought out humor in new and different ways? Is there someone you can rely on to make you laugh — or do you have a trick to make someone else smile? Write down your thoughts.
From NPR’s Arts Desk: NPR’s 2020 Book Concierge, our interactive, year-end reading guide
From NPR’s All Things Considered (and Mary Louise Kelly’s aunt): What Scots Call Their Snowplows
From NPR’s It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders: The Year in Celebrity Culture with 'Who? Weekly'
This year, Goats and Soda, NPR's global health and development blog, has been reporting on how women around the world are adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. And in this isolating time, artistic self-expression has helped many women stay connected.
Today at 2:30 p.m. ET, join NPR’s first-ever Zoom creative workshop with three sessions led by inspiring women involved in this reporting. When you RSVP for the virtual event, you can choose your own adventure:
- Make a comic about a woman who inspires you with comic artist Laura Gao.
- Learn to set up a portrait with award-winning photographer Julia Gunther.
-Learn the art of reporting out a meaningful story with NPR's own senior producer Marisa Peñaloza.
Write a letter to your January 2020 self. What would you say? Would you give advice? Would it be a note of caution? A message of hope?
From NPR’s All Things Considered: How To Retain Your Heat And Stay Upbeat While Socializing In Winter
From NPR’s Weekend Edition: Play the Sunday Puzzle
From Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!: Not My Job: We Quiz Sisters Este and Alana Haim On Another Sibling Band
Historically, Tiny Desk concerts have been intimate video performances, recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. The series has hosted big names like Lizzo and Taylor Swift — but it’s also known for giving a stage to up-and-coming artists. While Bob and the Music team are working from home for the foreseeable future, they’ve created a new series called Tiny Desk (home) concerts, where artists perform from their own desks.
Today, you can watch a special holiday Tiny Desk (home) concert with renowned composer, producer and musician Cory Henry of Snarky Puppy fame. You can also revisit past holiday Tiny Desk concerts in this playlist.
Write a letter to your December 2021 self. What would you say? What would you like to have accomplished by that time? How would you like to think differently? Where would you like to be?
From NPR’s TED Radio Hour: Making Sense Of 2020
Ethereal Souls: Jazz Night In America Remembers Those We Lost In 2020
From NPR Music: The Best Reissues And Box Sets Of 2020
"Joy To The Mountain",
The NPR Presents team
This evening, the NPR community will gather for holiday trivia — and we saved you a spot! Morning Edition and Up First hosts, David Greene and Rachel Martin, will kick off three rounds of friendly, competitive holiday fun alongside trivia mastermind Terri Simon.
On the fence about joining? Here’s what past attendees said about our virtual events:
“This was such a breath of fresh air.”
“Thanks for doing this!! Makes the pandemic just a bit more manageable.”
“I was literally weepy with happy tears when I logged off. A balm for the soul, all of it."
Trivia night starts at 7 p.m. ET, and you can sign up until five minutes beforehand, so tell a friend.
Though it can be hard to remember, there were some good things that happened this year. Sam Sanders, host of It’s Been A Minute, regularly collects and shares audience stories of the best things that happened to them in a given week. Today, the show released a special episode of the best things that happened all year — from new friendships to gestures of kindness big and small.
Whats the absolute best thing that happened to you this year?
From NPR’s Susan Stamberg: These Artists Will Change Your Mind About Winter
From NPR’s Weekend Edition: Meet Beave, The Internet's Most Famous Beaver
From The Picture Show: COMIC: Reflections On 'The Nutcracker' And Gender Identity
Happy Winter Solstice! At Last, We've Made It To 'The Shortest Day'
If you missed our earlier installments of 12 Days of NPR Presents, or if you're just in the mood for a joyful listen, here’s a playlist of all the stories featured so far. The playlist is available exclusively on the NPR One app.
NPR One is NPR's app that gives you the news you need and the podcasts you love. Just hit play for a mix of stories and podcasts from NPR and your local Member station. Download the app here.
You can also find a collection of news stories and podcast episodes from this year that remind us of the events that made 2020 so unprecedented. To start listening, tap on the “An Unprecedented Year” button on the Explore tab of the NPR One app.
What have you had to reprioritize this year to get to what really matters? Has your relationship to work, your loved ones or yourself changed? And how?
From NPR's Weekend Edition: Iranian American Chef Discusses Role Of Food In Yalda Day Celebrations
From NPR's Morning Edition: A Cookie And Linguine: 2 'America's Test Kitchen' Dishes For Your Holiday Table
From NPR's Goats and Soda: Need A Reminder Of How Gorgeous Earth Is? Peep These Photo Award Winners
From NPR’s National Desk: 'Could You Help Santa?' In Christmas Wish Lists, Children Write Of Pandemic Hardships
Merry Festivus,
The NPR Presents team
NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour is a podcast that serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. The show recently started publishing five days a week, and is hosted by a team of art journalists: Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson and Aisha Harris — plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. (They also have a weekly newsletter, which we highly recommend.)
For today’s main feature, host Linda Holmes created a quick holiday pop culture quiz just for you. Test your knowledge or challenge a friend.
What TV shows or movies make it feel like the holiday season? The classics? The Hallmark rom coms? Write down your favorites to return to when you need a boost, or check out more ideas below.
From Pop Culture Happy Hour: Our 12 Favorite Things of 2020 and The Cider-Sipping, Mitten-Wearing Guide To 2020 Holiday Movies
From All Songs Considered: Bob And Robin's Holiday In Space
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
The NPR Presents Team
P.S. Have you created a zine this holiday season? Share it with us at [email protected]!
Today on It’s Been A Minute With Sam Sanders, Sam is sharing holiday recommendations with All Things Considered co-host Audie Cornish and NPR film Critic Bob Mondello. On the show, they also discuss their least favorite things around the holiday season (like how they all really feel about Christmas caroling and the early 2000s classic Love Actually).
What have you learned about yourself this year? When looking back on this time, are there lessons you’ll take away? Do you have new year resolutions?
For 5 Years Secret Santa Has Spread Holiday Cheer In Idaho
From NPR's Morning Edition: Advice For Getting Through The Holidays When You're Far From Family
NPR’s Code Switch unpacks society enforcing beauty ideals through new years resolutions: Beautiful Lies
Today is the final day of our 12 days of NPR Presents! We’re so glad you joined us — and we hope to meet you in real life at an in-person event someday. In the meantime, you can visit nprpresents.org to stream past events and RSVP for upcoming virtual events.
Thank you for being part of our NPR community. We wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season with your loved ones near and far.
Merry everything,
The NPR Presents Team