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<v Steve>Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster.

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<v Steve>You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006.

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<v Steve>It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day,

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<v Steve>so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

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<v Steve>Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age.

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<v Steve>However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one.

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<v Steve>WhyChristmas.com is still current and active,

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<v Steve>and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet.

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<v Steve>Lifespringpodcast.com now forwards you to Lifespringmedia.com.

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<v Steve>And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511.

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<v Steve>Hi there, I'm Steve Webb and this is Day 12 of the Lifespring Advent Calendar.

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<v Steve>I'm so glad you're here.

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<v Steve>We're nearly halfway through the calendar, so I hope you're all half ready for Christmas.

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<v Steve>Let's open today's door and see what's behind it.

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<v Music>Grandma got run over by a reindeer.

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<v James>Today, Steve, we're going to be finding out about a Christmas custom that I don't think you have much over in the USA, and that's Christmas crackers.

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<v James>If you haven't heard about these before, they're a great addition to the Christmas dinner table.

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<v Steve>Well, James, I've done some research, and I found out that they were first made in your country, in the UK, in 1850 by a London sweet maker or candy maker called Tom Smith, and his name is still a big one in crackers.

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<v Steve>He wanted a new way of selling his sweets.

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<v Steve>Tom had been over to Paris and seen how they wrapped their posh sweets called bonbons in colored paper

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<v Steve>and wondered if he could do a similar thing.

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<v Steve>Then one night, while he was sitting in front of his log fire, the crackling of the fire made him think.

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<v James>What if I wrap my sweets in a colored wrapping and then when you open them they go bang?

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<v James>Oh, and I could include a toy in them as well.

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<v James>Then people would be bound to buy them.

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<v Steve>So, the first Christmas cracker was born.

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<v Steve>Crackers today are short cardboard tubes wrapped in colorful paper.

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<v Steve>There's normally a cracker next to each plate at the Christmas dinner table.

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<v Steve>Crackers in a colorful party hat, a toy or a gift, and a festive joke.

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<v Steve>The party hats look like crowns, and it's thought that they symbolize the crowns that might have been worn by the wise men.

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<v James>But perhaps the thing that crackers are most famous for are their jokes.

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<v James>They're notorious for being very bad indeed, so here for your listening pleasure, or something like that,

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<v James>or a selection of cracker jokes about Christmas.

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<v Steve>Today I'm joined by my sons Timothy and Steven.

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<v Steve>So guys, what have you got for me?

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<v Steven>How do snowmen get around?

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<v Steve>I don't know, Steven, how do they get around?

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<v Steven>They ride an icicle.

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<v Timothy>How does good King Wintesloss like his pizzas?

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<v Steve>Well, Timothy, I don't know, with pepperoni?

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<v Timothy>One that's deep, pan, crisp, and even.

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<v Steve>Okay

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<v Steven>Who hides in the bakery at Christmas?

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<v Steve>I don't know

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<v Steven>A mince spy

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<v Steven>Okay

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<v Timothy>Why did Santa's helper see the doctor?

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<v Steve>I don't know

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<v Timothy>Because he had a low elf esteem

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<v Steven>What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?

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<v Steve>I give up

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<v Steven>It's Christmas, Eve

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<v Steven>Okay

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<v Timothy>What does Father Christmas suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney?

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<v Steve>I don't know what.

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<v Timothy>Claustrophobia.

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<v Steve>Oh, that's a good one for you.

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<v Steve>Timothy's really claustrophobic.

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<v Steve>Okay, do you have any more?

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<v Steven>Yeah, we got a few left.

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<v Steve>Okay.

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<v Steven>Why does Santa have three gardens?

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<v Steve>I know this one.

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<v Steven>You do?

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<v Steve>I do.

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<v Steven>Okay.

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<v Steve>So he can ho, ho, ho.

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<v Steven>That's right.

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<v Steve>I heard that one about 25 years ago.

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<v Steve>Okay.

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<v Timothy>What carol is heard in the desert?

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<v Speaker 6>I don't know.

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<v Speaker 6>What?

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<v Timothy>O camel, ye faithful.

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<v Steve>Okay.

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<v Steven>What is the best Christmas present in the world?

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<v Steve>Okay, what?

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<v Steven>A broken drum. You just can't beat it.

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<v Steve>Okay.

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<v Timothy>How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?

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<v Steve>I don't know. How?

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<v Timothy>Feliz Navidad.

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<v Steve>Okay.

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<v Timothy>I got a couple more for you if you'd like to hear them.

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<v Steve>I'd love to hear them, Tim.

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<v Timothy>How did Ebenezer Scrooge win the football game?

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<v Steve>I don't know. How?

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<v Timothy>The ghost of Christmas past.

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<v Steve>Okay.

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<v Timothy>What do you call a cat in the desert?

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<v Steve>A cat in the desert.

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<v Steve>Ah, Sandy Claus!

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<v Timothy>Yep.

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<v Steve>Thank you, guys.

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<v Steve>Oh, those are bad.

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<v James>So there you have it.

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<v James>I hope your crackers go off with a bang,

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<v James>and remember that there are only 25 letters in the Christmas alphabet

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<v James>because the angels said Noel.

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<v Steve>Well, thank you, James, I think.

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<v Steve>Thank you, Steven and Timothy.

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<v Steve>Thank you, dear listener, for listening to day number 12 of the Lifespring Advent Calendar.

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<v Steve>Of course, the theme music today was Brian Duncan and the Neo Soul Band with This Christmas.

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<v Steve>Background music was Dr. Elmo with Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

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<v Steve>For James Cooper, I'm Steve Webb.

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<v Music>Last forever.

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<v Music>It's a love that I get from you.

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<v Music>It never gets old.