WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:02.540 Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster. 00:00:02.940 --> 00:00:07.060 You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:10.300 It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day, 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:12.960 so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. 00:00:13.440 --> 00:00:17.520 Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age. 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:22.440 However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one. 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:25.240 WhyChristmas.com is still current and active, 00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:28.300 and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet. 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:32.820 LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com. 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:39.320 And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511. 00:00:56.620 --> 00:01:00.920 Welcome to Day 8 of the Lifespring Advent Calendar. I'm your host, Steve Webb. 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:05.880 Well, I guess we're starting to get through the calendar now. I wonder what's behind door number 8. 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:07.140 Let's take a look. 00:01:31.660 --> 00:01:35.640 Well today Steve we're going to find out how different people around the world celebrate Christmas. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:37.040 Oh, this is going to be fun. 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:39.980 We're going to start somewhere that's very warm during Christmas. 00:01:40.460 --> 00:01:41.460 That's Ghana in Africa. 00:01:42.320 --> 00:01:46.940 The Christmas celebrations in Ghana last from the 20th of December to the first week in January. 00:01:47.660 --> 00:01:50.000 There are over 66 languages spoken in Ghana, 00:01:50.300 --> 00:01:52.480 and all these groups have their own traditions and customs. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:55.660 I think that could keep an advent calendar going all on its own. 00:01:56.340 --> 00:01:59.360 The night of Christmas Eve is the time that the celebrations really start, 00:01:59.800 --> 00:02:01.860 with church services that have drumming and dancing, 00:02:02.050 --> 00:02:04.200 and sometimes the services can last all night long. 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:10.060 And then people also go to church on Christmas Day, and they're dressed in their best colourful traditional clothes. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.920 After the service, people return home for the start of more parties. 00:02:14.290 --> 00:02:17.580 It sounds like Ghana really knows how to celebrate Christmas in style. 00:02:18.480 --> 00:02:21.420 Did you know that there are over 25 million Christians in India? 00:02:22.040 --> 00:02:25.600 In Bombay, Christians often put a manger in the front window of the house, 00:02:26.200 --> 00:02:29.440 and there's a great competition as to see who can have the best display. 00:02:30.220 --> 00:02:34.260 Giant paper lanterns in the shape of stars are hung in the streets between the houses, 00:02:34.820 --> 00:02:37.280 so they float above as you walk down the road. 00:02:38.380 --> 00:02:40.880 Because you don't get many evergreen fir trees in India, 00:02:41.150 --> 00:02:44.760 a banana or mango tree is sometimes decorated as a Christmas tree. 00:02:45.420 --> 00:02:48.760 And in India, Santa Claus delivers presents on a horse and a cart. 00:02:49.600 --> 00:02:51.500 I guess that gives the reindeer a rest. 00:02:51.920 --> 00:02:56.840 Well, over in the UK, I think we have a Christmas holiday that you don't have over there in the States, Steve. 00:02:57.220 --> 00:02:57.900 Boxing Day. 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:02.880 It's the day after Christmas, the 26th, and it started about 800 years ago. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:11.420 And it was the day when the alms boxes, which are a type of collection box for the poor that were often kept in churches, were open so the contents could be distributed. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:18.160 And it's also the day that household servants and staff normally had the day off work, so they could celebrate Christmas with their families. 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:24.940 Over the year it became the day when workmen would get their Christmas box or tip, but not many are given out on Boxing Day now. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:29.660 And of course, it's also the first day that you can start having cold turkey sandwiches for lunch. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.300 No, we don't have that one, James. 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:32.880 Perhaps I could try starting it here. 00:03:33.460 --> 00:03:34.840 Do you have any more customs for us? 00:03:35.380 --> 00:03:39.340 Well, I'd just like to say a quick happy Christmas to my cousins over in New Zealand. 00:03:39.600 --> 00:03:42.460 And I hope they enjoy their barbecue for Christmas dinner. 00:03:42.980 --> 00:03:48.240 And do you know, they sometimes have a full British-style Christmas meal with turkey and all the trimmings in the middle of June, 00:03:48.640 --> 00:03:52.420 which of course is their winter rather than December, which is the middle of their summer. 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:56.260 So, however you're celebrating Christmas, I hope you have a great time. 00:03:56.640 --> 00:03:58.200 Yes, enjoy. Have a great time. 00:03:58.320 --> 00:04:00.800 I played my best for you 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:03.040 Bum-ba-bum-bum 00:04:03.760 --> 00:04:05.140 Bum-ba-bum-bum 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:07.120 Bum-ba-bum-bum 00:04:27.840 --> 00:04:31.560 Hey, if you've got a special custom or a tradition where you live or come from, 00:04:31.840 --> 00:04:32.880 we'd love to hear about it. 00:04:33.340 --> 00:04:37.000 You can either contact me at steve.lifespring at gmail.com, 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:41.400 or email James over at www.whychristmas.com. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:43.140 We'd love to add it to the calendar. 00:04:44.140 --> 00:04:48.940 As always, the theme music today was furnished by Brian Duncan and the Neal Soul Band with This Christmas, 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:53.740 and a little bit of a different arrangement of Drummer Boy was performed by The Alice Project. 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:58.180 I'm Steve Webb, and this has been Day 8 of the Lightspring Advent Calendar. 00:04:59.260 --> 00:05:01.120 And it's what I want 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:02.580 This Christmas 00:05:02.940 --> 00:05:05.020 And it's what I want for you 00:05:05.410 --> 00:05:06.620 The story is told 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:08.560 This Christmas 00:05:08.900 --> 00:05:10.400 Of a newborn love 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:11.580 This Christmas 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:14.060 It's the best of all I know 00:05:14.440 --> 00:05:15.600 This Christmas brings