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. 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:58.880 Hello and welcome back to the LifeSpring Advent Calendar. 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.600 I'm Steve Webb, your host, and it's Day 11. 00:01:01.980 --> 00:01:04.220 I wonder what we'll find behind the door today. 00:01:04.559 --> 00:01:05.040 Let's find out. 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:25.500 Well, today we're going to be finding out about something that's really part and parcel of Christmas. 00:01:26.220 --> 00:01:26.920 But do you know why? 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:31.080 Can you guess what we're going to be talking about from the carol that's playing in the background? 00:01:32.160 --> 00:01:33.540 That's right, it's Holly and Ivy. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.160 And we just might find out about mistletoe as well. 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:37.820 James, what can you tell us? 00:01:38.220 --> 00:01:40.780 Holly, Ivy and other greenery such as mistletoe 00:01:41.020 --> 00:01:44.640 was first used in pre-Christian times to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival. 00:01:45.240 --> 00:01:47.180 They were also thought to ward off evil spirits. 00:01:47.820 --> 00:01:50.000 Well, how did these come to be identified with Christianity? 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:51.940 When Christianity came into Europe, 00:01:52.290 --> 00:01:55.220 the early church tried to ban the use of greenery as it was pagan. 00:01:55.800 --> 00:02:00.340 but a lot of people wanted to keep using greenery to decorate their homes as it was cheerful in the winter. 00:02:01.020 --> 00:02:04.220 The UK and Germany were the main countries to keep using greenery 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:07.200 and the different plants were given new and Christian meanings. 00:02:07.600 --> 00:02:09.360 So James, what can you tell us about holly? 00:02:09.600 --> 00:02:13.640 The prickly leaves represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:18.180 and the berries are the drops of blood that was shed by Jesus because of the thorns. 00:02:18.820 --> 00:02:22.400 And in Scandinavia, holly is sometimes known as the Christ thorn. 00:02:22.820 --> 00:02:24.560 Ah, very interesting. What about ivy? 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:27.660 Ivy has to cling to something to support itself as it grows. 00:02:28.220 --> 00:02:32.080 This reminds Christians that they need to cling to God for his support in their lives. 00:02:32.940 --> 00:02:35.600 Okay James, we know that apart from holly and ivy, 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:39.100 there are many other evergreen plants that are also associated with Christmas. 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:44.180 And probably my favourite and the most famous is the kissing plant, mistletoe. 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:45.420 What can you tell us about that? 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:49.680 Mistletoe actually grows on other trees, commonly willows and apple trees. 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:51.380 And it's a bit of a parasite. 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:56.620 The practice of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient druids in Western Europe. 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:02.560 It was supposed to possess special powers which would bring good luck to the household and ward off evil spirits. 00:03:03.420 --> 00:03:05.160 It was also used as a sign of friendship. 00:03:05.740 --> 00:03:08.340 And that's where the custom of kissing under the mistletoe comes from. 00:03:08.760 --> 00:03:11.540 And that custom was first started here in good old England. 00:03:12.140 --> 00:03:13.820 I would never have guessed that. 00:03:14.100 --> 00:03:19.280 Tradition says that you have to pick a berry off the sprig of mistletoe that every time there's a kiss underneath it. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:21.960 and when all the berries are gone, there can be no more kissing, 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:25.240 so make sure you get a bunch with plenty of berries on it this year. 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:30.820 It's traditional to take decorations down on Twelfth Night, 00:03:31.140 --> 00:03:34.040 which is also known as Epiphany and is the 6th of January. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:37.840 During the Middle Ages, greenery, including mistletoe, 00:03:38.130 --> 00:03:40.000 was often left hanging up until Candlemas, 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:43.860 and that's when Christians celebrate Jesus going to the Jewish temple as a baby, 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:45.220 and that's in early February. 00:03:46.320 --> 00:03:48.620 To find out more about some other Christmas plants, 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:51.000 please go over to whychristmas.com. 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:19.500 Well, now you have some fun new facts to tell your friends. 00:04:19.769 --> 00:04:22.180 That was day number 11 of the Lifespring Advent Calendar. 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:29.300 Of course, as always, the theme music today was furnished by Brian Duncan and the Neo Soul Band with This Christmas. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:33.780 And the background music today was Chuck Stevens with The Holly and the Ivy. 00:04:34.320 --> 00:04:35.620 Please remember to come back tomorrow. 00:04:36.030 --> 00:04:37.960 You never know what you'll find behind the door. 00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:40.580 For James Cooper, I'm Steve Webb. 00:04:41.080 --> 00:04:41.680 God bless you. 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:54.320 It never gets old. It's a love I need. And it's what I want. And it's what I want for you. 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:59.580 Story and soul. Of a newborn love. 00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:01.800 It's a Christmas