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. 00:00:17.660 --> 00:00:22.440 However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:25.240 WhyChristmas.com is still current and active, 00:00:25.520 --> 00:00:28.300 and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet. 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:32.820 LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com. 00:00:33.050 --> 00:00:39.320 And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511. 00:00:56.400 --> 00:00:57.820 Well, it's good to see you back again. 00:00:58.040 --> 00:01:00.880 Welcome to Day 18 of the LifeSpring Advent Calendar. 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:02.940 I'm your host, Steve Webb. 00:01:03.760 --> 00:01:07.880 We've heard about Christmas carols, and we've heard about Christmas trees and mistletoe, 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:10.620 so I wonder what will be behind the door today. 00:01:10.940 --> 00:01:11.500 Let's take a look. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:12.320 Transcend. 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:49.160 Winter fires were burning bright, travellers journeyed in the night. 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:56.960 A husband led his weary wife through the falling snow. 00:01:57.460 --> 00:02:03.040 Today, Steve, we're going to be finding out about some more ways that different people around the world celebrate Christmas. 00:02:03.960 --> 00:02:09.280 We're going to start our round-the-world trip in Madagascar, and that's an island off the east coast of Africa, 00:02:09.410 --> 00:02:11.180 so it's very warm there at Christmas time. 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:14.700 People decorate their houses with holly, robins and snow scenes 00:02:15.150 --> 00:02:18.240 even though it's very warm and none of them actually exist in Madagascar 00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:20.980 Most people go to church on Christmas Eve 00:02:21.420 --> 00:02:24.980 The services start about 5pm and sometimes they last until midnight 00:02:25.860 --> 00:02:29.920 The Christmas meal is often chicken or pork with rice followed by a special cake 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:35.280 and in Madagascar, Father Christmas or Santa Claus is known as Dadabi Noeli 00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:39.399 In countries such as Russia and Serbia that have the Orthodox Church 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:42.300 Christmas is actually celebrated on the 7th of January. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:47.620 That's because the Orthodox Church still uses the Julian calendar for their religious dates. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:51.880 Advent in the Orthodox Church lasts for six weeks 00:02:52.440 --> 00:02:55.200 and has fixed dates starting on the 28th of November 00:02:55.760 --> 00:02:58.760 and ending on the 6th of January on their Christmas Eve. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:01.540 Also in countries that have the Orthodox Church, 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.600 it's common to fast on Christmas Eve until the first star is seen in the sky. 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:09.460 Some people even eat a vegetarian diet through Advent. 00:03:10.450 --> 00:03:13.400 In Russia, the first food eaten on the Christmas Eve is sosyevo, 00:03:13.820 --> 00:03:16.420 a dish made from wheat or rice with honey and fruit. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:20.760 In Poland, the meal starts with a large wafer biscuit called an oplotek, 00:03:20.980 --> 00:03:24.400 which is passed around the table and everyone breaks a piece off and eats it. 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:28.880 In Serbia at Christmas time, a special bread called sesnika is eaten. 00:03:29.380 --> 00:03:34.140 The loaf contains a coin and whoever finds the coin is said to be lucky for the next year. 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:38.540 That sounds a lot like our custom of putting a coin in our British Christmas pudding, Steve. 00:03:38.700 --> 00:03:40.620 You have to be very careful not to break your teeth. 00:03:41.940 --> 00:03:44.220 Well, we're going to finish today in another warm place. 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:45.140 That's Spain. 00:03:45.980 --> 00:03:48.980 People in Spain also have their main Christmas meal on Christmas Eve, 00:03:49.320 --> 00:03:50.920 but this time it's the 24th. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:55.980 The traditional Christmas dinner in Spain is pavo trufado de Navidad, 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:58.000 which is turkey stuffed with truffles, 00:03:58.100 --> 00:03:59.900 and they're the mushrooms, not the chocolate ones. 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:02.980 But in Galicia, a region in northwestern Spain, 00:04:03.140 --> 00:04:07.020 which is entirely surrounded by the sea, the main Christmas meal is often seafood. 00:04:08.540 --> 00:04:11.240 Although Spanish children get some small presents on Christmas Day, 00:04:11.700 --> 00:04:15.480 the main present giving day in Spain is Epiphany, which is on the 6th of January. 00:04:16.299 --> 00:04:20.980 Epiphany is when Christians, especially Catholics, remember that the wise men visited Jesus, 00:04:21.380 --> 00:04:23.660 and this is also the same night as Twelfth Night. 00:04:24.840 --> 00:04:29.860 In Spanish, Epiphany is known as Fiesta de los Tres Reyes Mejes, 00:04:30.700 --> 00:04:34.000 and in English this means the Festival of the Three Magic Kings. 00:04:35.080 --> 00:04:37.060 Children believe that the kings bring them their presents, 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:40.600 so they write letters to them on Boxing Day, which is the 26th, 00:04:40.760 --> 00:04:43.100 and Epiphany Eve, the 5th of January, 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:45.480 they leave out their shoes to be filled with presents. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:49.440 A special cake called Roscon is eaten at Epiphany, 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.340 and Roscon means ring-shaped roll. 00:04:51.740 --> 00:04:54.780 It's a very doughy cake and can be filled with chocolate or cream. 00:04:55.200 --> 00:04:56.440 Sounds really nice to me. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:02.300 So wherever you are for Christmas and whatever you're eating and drinking, I hope you have a great one. 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:36.400 I'm quite sure James and I mispronounced plenty of those words, 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:39.000 but it was fun to bring the information to you anyway. 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:44.680 As always, today's theme music was Brian Duncan and the Neal Soul Band with This Christmas, 00:05:45.380 --> 00:05:49.580 and our background music today was New Beat with Christmas in Bethlehem. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:53.740 If you've got a special custom or tradition where you live or come from, 00:05:54.320 --> 00:06:00.500 James would love to hear about it and add it to his site at www.whychristmas.com. 00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:07.040 Either contact me at steve.lifespring at gmail.com or email James over there at his website. 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:14.280 I'm Steve Webb for James Cooper, and this has been Day 18 of the LifeSpring Advent Calendar. 00:06:14.610 --> 00:06:16.760 Come on back. We'll be waiting for you right here.