What is SantaCon -- and Why Do So Many People Hate it?

What is SantaCon -- and Why Do So Many People Hate it?

Author: iHeartPodcasts June 2, 2026 Duration: 36:25

One thing about the United States -- we'll throw a party for anything. As a result, it's no surprise that back in 1994, a group of well-meaning pranksters in San Francisco decided to don Santa Claus costumes in a whimsical protest against capitalism. Although it was originally meant to be a one-off event, SantaCon was a hit! Over the next few years it expanded into multiple celebrations across the country, and then across the globe. But with this expansion came a change... and it wasn't long before residents of various towns (especially New York City) saw SantaCon as less lighthearted fun, and more as a booze-fueled free-for-all of soused, wild Santas terrifying the streets. Tune in as Ben, Noel and Max discover the wholesome origins of SantaCon -- and why so many people seem to hate it today.

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History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Ridiculous History
Podcast Episodes
CLASSIC: The Attack of the Japanese Balloon Bombs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Picture this: It's late 1944, and you, like thousands of other people on the west coast of North America, have noticed bizarre, jellyfish-like objects floating through the sky. You call the local authorities, maybe even…
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Duration: 44:54
Queen Marie Antoinette's reputation was already tarnished by gossip in 1784, but was completely ruined by the implication that she defrauded the crown jewelers, conning them out of a dazzling, expensive diamond necklace.…
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Did Knights Really Wear Suits of Armor? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:39
We all know the image of European knights: clad all over in plate armor, they conquer enemy forces and mythological creatures alike. But... how much of this historical stereotype is true? In today's episode, Ben, Noel an…
CLASSIC: Nosy Boraha: The Pirate's Paradise (And Cemetery) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:12
Nowadays most people know the pirates depicted in fiction bear little resemblance to real-life, historical pirates. Few actually buried any treasure, and fewer still lived in secretive island hideouts -- however, in at l…
The Outlaw Origins of NASCAR: From Moonshine to Racing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:45
NASCAR! This thoroughly American racing organization is huge in the United States -- and has a lot of international gearhead fans, as well. However, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in today's episode, this multibillion-dol…
The Real Johnny Appleseed was SUPER WEIRD (and Pretty Cool) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:31
For a lot grade-school kids in the States, the story of Johnny Appleseed is a modern American myth. The story centers on a quixotic, wandering nomad that (for some reason) is cartoonishly centered on planting apple trees…
CLASSIC: How the Black Death Came To Norway On A Ghost Ship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
In the 1300s, the Black Death sprang up in central Asia and swept across continents, killing millions. Quarantines became common as various nations sought safety in isolation, and some met with more success than others.…