🍺 The Bastogne Beer Run: Battle of the Bulge's Secret Booze Mission

Happy Holidays History Nerds,

Are you all prepared for another New Year? Personally, I’m not excited for the influx of gym-goers with their overly zealous new years resolutions. But, I am ready to share some good times with family and friends to end the year.

We all love receiving gifts around the holidays so this year we partnered with Dollar Flight Club on doing a Hawaii Adventure Giveaway. It’s free to enter and all you have to do it enter your email for a chance to win. You can enter here

Did You Know? Coca-Cola played a huge role in shaping the modern image of Santa Claus? In the 1930s, they began using Santa in their holiday ads, and their depiction of a jolly, red-suited, white-bearded Santa became so iconic that it’s now the version we all know and love today!

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• The Most Necessary, Mid-Battle Booze Mission

• The History of The Exorcist

• Vincent van Gogh's Ear-y Christmas Surprise

• The First Christmas: No Mariah, Just Messiahs

The Bastogne Beer Run: The Most Necessary, Mid-Battle Booze Mission

During the harsh winter of 1944-1945, while the 101st Airborne Division was encircled by German forces in Bastogne, Speranza, then a young paratrooper, found himself in a situation that would cement his legacy. A brisk night on Decemember 22, 1944, Visiting a friend in a makeshift field hospital, he was faced with a simple request for a drink. With no means to fulfill this simple wish due to the scarcity of supplies and the chaos of war, Speranza improvised.

He ventured out, navigating through the debris and destruction of Bastogne, and found a beer tap in what was left of a local tavern. However, there were no cups available. He got creative and used his own helmet to collect beer, bringing it back to his wounded comrade. This act of kindness, in the midst of such adversity, not only boosted morale but solidified his legend status.

Years later, in 2009, when Speranza returned to Bastogne, he was greeted with stories of his own heroism. The local brewery had created "Airborne Beer," served in helmet-shaped bowls, celebrating the story of the American soldier who used his helmet to serve beer to his fellow soldiers.

Speranza's tale has since become a part of the lore of the Battle of the Bulge, showing the lighter moments in humanity shedding through the darkest times in history.

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Lights, Camera, Possession! The History of The Exorcist

On December 26, 1973, while the world was still digesting its Christmas dinners, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist hit the theaters. Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, the film followed the harrowing story of a sweet little girl, Regan, who falls under demonic possession. This movie features head-spinning stunts (literally) and the infamous vomit scene. Did you know that they tested using Campbell's soup as vomit but they didn’t find it revolting enough so they created their own concoction of Andersen’s pea soup mixed with oatmeal. 

The Exorcist became a cultural phenomenon and tested the mental toughness of its viewers. Audiences fainted, vomited, and fled theaters en masse. But there actually might be a real reason to be afraid. The movie set was plagued with eerie incidents, including a fire that destroyed much of the MacNeil home set—except for Regan’s bedroom. Cast and crew members were also injured or experienced personal tragedies during filming, adding to the movie’s ominous reputation. Even the trailer was deemed so terrifying it had to be pulled. If you are brave enough you can watch the original trailer here.

The Exorcist remains a benchmark for horror. Its influence is undeniable, paving the way for future supernatural flicks while embedding itself in pop culture. It was even the first horror movie to earn a Best Picture nomination and generated over $193 million on its original theatrical run. If you’ve ever heard someone yell, “The power of Christ compels you!” in a non-religious context, you can thank this movie. With its mix of psychological dread, gruesome visuals, and that spine-chilling tubular bells theme, The Exorcist didn’t just scare audiences—it made history.

Vincent van Gogh's Ear-y Christmas Surprise

On a chilly evening in Arles, France, the town was settling into the quiet of the holiday season, but at the Yellow House, tension was brewing between Vincent van Gogh and his fellow artist Paul Gauguin. That night, December 23 in 1888, after a particularly heated argument, Vincent did the unthinkable: he took a razor to his own ear, severing part of it. This act of self-mutilation has since become one of the most notorious anecdotes in art history.

After the incident, he wrapped the piece of his ear in paper and presented it to Rachel, a woman at a local brothel. This gesture was not only shocking to Rachel, who fainted upon receiving such an unexpected "gift," but it also marked the beginning of a new chapter in Vincent's life and art. Vincent returned home and collapsed, only to be found the next morning in a pool of blood by the police, leading to his hospitalization.

The aftermath of this event saw Vincent admitted first to a hospital in Arles, where he was treated for his injuries. Later, he voluntarily committed himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. It was there, amidst his struggles with mental health, that he produced some of his most celebrated works, including "The Starry Night." This incident, while tragic, underscored the intense emotional and psychological turmoil Vincent experienced, which in turn fueled his art, giving it a raw, emotional depth that resonates with viewers even today.

The First Christmas: No Mariah, Just Messiahs

The first recorded Christmas celebration took place on December 25, 336 AD, in the city of Rome. This was no ordinary gathering; it marked the inaugural occasion of Christians officially commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Why December 25? No, it wasn’t Jesus’ actual birthday—his birth certificate is still missing. The date was likely chosen to piggyback off popular Roman festivals like Saturnalia, a raucous week of gift-giving, drinking, and general debauchery, and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, which celebrated the "Unconquered Sun."

This first Christmas was probably pretty tame by today’s standards—no caroling, mall Santa’s, ugly sweaters and definitely no Mariah Carey playing on repeat 24/7. Still, it set the stage for centuries of yuletide joy. It’s fascinating to think that from such a humble beginning in 336 AD, Christmas has become the global, tinsel-covered juggernaut we know today. So, while you’re sipping eggnog or battling it out for the last toy on the shelf, give a nod to Constantine and those early Romans. They didn’t have Hallmark movies, but they knew how to kick off a celebration that would stand the test of time.

No matter what the holiday you celebrate, the LOL History team hopes you get to enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends. 2024 has been an amazing journey for our newsletter and to see what 2025 has in store for us. We thank you all for coming along on this journey with us. I hope you stick around to keep nerding out with us about history!

Trivia Time

In every issue of LOL History, we take a break from sharing historical events to bring you a quirky trivia section. Get ready to challenge your brain and impress your friends with some seriously weird knowledge