The Secrets Hidden in Netflix's Fireplace Videos: From a 1966 New York TV Station to Streaming Platform Christmas Easter Eggs

On Christmas Day, you open Netflix and casually put on a fireplace video as ambient background. Logs crackle, flames flicker, and everything seems normal. But you did not notice the box of Eggo waffles next to the fireplace, or the string lights on the wall spelling out a secret message.

You just missed an Easter egg. And it is not the only one.

More Than Just Flames: The True Nature of Netflix Fireplace Videos

Netflix currently offers more than ten fireplace-themed videos, from the classic Fireplace for Your Home series to special editions themed around hit shows. In December 2013, director George Ford produced the first fireplace video for Netflix, launching the streaming platform's Yule Log era.

For Christmas 2024, Netflix released fireplace videos themed around Squid Game, Bridgerton, and Spellbound. In 2025, they went further with three new versions featuring Stranger Things, Wednesday, and KPop Demon Hunters, each running a full hour with original music and hidden Easter eggs.

Easter Egg Checklist: How Many Did You Find

The Stranger Things version is set in the Byers family living room in the town of Hawkins. Hidden near the fireplace are Eleven's beloved Eggo waffles and a Dungeons & Dragons board game, while alphabet string lights on the wall spell out secret messages. As the video plays, Upside Down elements gradually invade the scene, turning the cozy living room eerie.

The Wednesday version is set in Nevermore Academy principal Weems' office. At the start, Wednesday's sidekick Thing snaps its fingers to light the fireplace, then quickly scurries out of frame. The Squid Game version features Front Man's green telephone beside the hearth, while the Bridgerton version hides Lady Whistledown's quill pen and a bouquet of wisteria. Every detail is carefully crafted fan service.

What You Did Not Know: It All Started with a 1966 Memo

The tradition of the televised fireplace predates Netflix by nearly 50 years. In 1966, Fred M. Thrower, president of New York's WPIX (Channel 11), saw a Coca-Cola Christmas ad featuring Santa standing by a fireplace. Inspired, he decided to create a televised Christmas gift for New Yorkers living in apartments without fireplaces.

On December 24, 1966, at 9:30 PM, the first Yule Log video aired on WPIX. It was filmed at Gracie Mansion, the residence of New York City Mayor John Lindsay, using 16mm color film. The video looped a burning fireplace accompanied by Christmas music, with no commercial interruptions.

The program aired continuously from 1966 until it was discontinued in 1989, returning in 2001 due to viewer demand. It became one of the most iconic Christmas traditions in American television history, imitated by countless stations but never truly replicated.

Why a Fireplace Video Deserves Serious Attention

Netflix's fireplace videos may seem like simple holiday decorations, but they are actually a sophisticated micro-marketing tool. When you play the Stranger Things fireplace video at a family gathering, you are not just enjoying the ambiance of flames. You are simultaneously giving the show free promotion.

Every Easter egg discovered becomes a talking point on social media, and every share is a moment of brand exposure. Netflix has transformed a 60-year-old television tradition into a content marketing masterclass for the streaming era.

Next Christmas when you put on a fireplace video, do not rush to treat it as background noise. Look carefully at what is hidden beside the flames. You might discover something more interesting than warmth.