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Steve Webb: Hello, and welcome
Day 2 of the 2022 encore of the

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2009 season of the Lifespring!
Why Christmas show, hosted by

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James Cooper of perhaps the
largest source of Christmas

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facts on the internet,
whychristmas.com., and me, Steve

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Webb, the OG Godcaster and host
of over 3000 podcast episodes at

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lifespringmedia.com.  Every day
from now to christmas day,

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you’ll hear an episode from the
2009 season. If you’re  not yet

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subscribed or following the
show, you can do that at

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lifespringwhychristmas.show.
And if you enjoy the show and

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would like to give some value
back, you can do so at

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lifespringwhychristmas.show/support.
And if you have one of those

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great new modern podcasts apps,
you can stream sats and boost

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the show. For more information
on that, go to

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newpodcastapps.com.  Ok. Enough
of the preamble. Here’s the

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show. Enjoy!

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Welcome to the Lifespring why
Christmas show day two. Remember

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we'll have a show a day right up
to and including Christmas. I'm

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Steve Webb, and I'll be your
host today as we discover why

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Christmas is celebrated on the
25th of December. There's

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certainly no date given in the
Bible for the birthday of Jesus

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but Christmas was first
celebrated on the 25th of

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December in the fifth century in
the time of the Roman Emperor

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Constantine. The date was chosen
because this was also the time

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of the winter solstice, the
ancient pagan Roman midwinter

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festival called Saturnalia, and
another Roman festival called

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Dies Natalis Solis Invicti,
which means the birthday of the

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unconquered sun, as in that sun
we see in the sky. In choosing

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December, Constantine took over
the pagan celebrations and used

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them to celebrate the
unconquered Son of God, Jesus

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the light of the world instead.
So why the 25th of December?

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Well, the 25th of March was also
a sacred day to the pagans when

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they celebrated the coming of
spring and new life. The early

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Christians took over this day as
the day when Mary was told by an

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angel that she would be the
mother of Jesus. This is called

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the Annunciation in the church
calendar and is still celebrated

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by many Christians on March 25.
And what's nine months after

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March 25. Of course, December
25. To find out lots more about

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Christmas go to
whychristmas.com. To hear more

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shows from Lifespring media,
head on over to

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Lifespringmedia.com. We'll see
you tomorrow when James will

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tell you a bit about Christmas
trees. Until then enjoy your

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Christmas season. For James
Cooper wishing you all the best,

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I'm Steve Webb