The winter holidays are upon us and it is hard not to get caught up in the rush of family gatherings, festive parties and the joy of children opening their gifts. But there is a reason these things occur during the darkest of days, and in this episode our own Ghost of Christmas Past explores some of those less-than-savory shadows. Not so long ago, there were enough harsh punishments to be doled out to both the naughty and the nice, and it was really, really hard to figure out which was which. In some ways, you could say, everyone was Scrooged. We then touch base with two spirits who'll keep our season bright: Greg Riebman of the Charles River Regional Chamber will share the business end of the holidays in town, and the Needham Community Council's Sandra Robinson reminds us of the gift of giving.

Every town has its own troubled past. If history has revealed anything, it is that humans can be pretty horrible to one another, both on a personal and on an institutional level. And when we evolve past it, most would pretty much like to forget that the transgressions ever happened in the first place.

Such is the case with enslavement in the Northern United States. We are, rightly, proud of the abolitionist history and the role we played in ending its practice in this country, but often conveniently choose to forget that there a time before, when the practice was considered acceptable... even in Massachusetts. In this episode, we look at the footprints that were left in state and town records, and the effort to bring a buried past back to light.

We also talk with Rev. Catie Scudera of the First Parish in Needham Unitarian Universalist Church. The First Parish has partnered with the Needham History Center and Museum to learn the truth about enslavement in Needham, and how best to remember those whom history has tried to forget.

This month, we urge you to take a stroll in the local cemetery. For the younger set, it is the source of chills and that creepy-crawly feeling at the back of your neck, best pushed to the periphery of their minds. However, for a long time graveyards have played a much more central role to a town's life. It is a place of remembrance, of duty, and, indeed, history.

While the expression may be 'dead men tell no tales', you will find that those who passed still have a lot to say, thanks to the efforts of those who laid them to rest. In this episode we explore some of the stones we have found at the Needham Cemetery and the meaning behind them. We will also talk with Laurence "Skip" Eaton, whose family has been witness to the tradition for over two centuries. He shares how the Eaton Funeral Home got started and why it has remained at the heart of his family, and the town throughout the years.