1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:05,340 Steve Webb: Hello, this is day 10 of the 2022 encore of the 2 00:00:05,370 --> 00:00:09,270 2009 season of the Lifespring Why Christmas show hosted by 3 00:00:09,270 --> 00:00:13,110 James Cooper, creator of whychristmas.com. And me the OG 4 00:00:13,140 --> 00:00:16,830 Godcaster Steve Webb. Remember, we're giving away an autographed 5 00:00:16,830 --> 00:00:21,060 copy of Bryan Duncan's NehoSoul Christmas CD. So be sure to go 6 00:00:21,060 --> 00:00:25,620 to Lifespring media.com/day Nine to see the question and how to 7 00:00:25,620 --> 00:00:30,030 enter the drawing. That's Lifespring media.com/day9. 8 00:00:30,180 --> 00:00:35,100 That's d-a-y numeral nine, no space. Every day from now to 9 00:00:35,100 --> 00:00:38,490 Christmas day, you'll hear an episode from the 2009 season. 10 00:00:38,550 --> 00:00:40,560 And if you're not yet subscribed, or following the 11 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,430 show, you can do that at LifespringWhyChristmas.show. And 12 00:00:44,430 --> 00:00:46,560 one more thing, if you're enjoying the show, and you'd 13 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,870 like to give some value back, you can do that at 14 00:00:48,870 --> 00:00:53,040 Lifespringmedia.com/support. And if you've got one of those new 15 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,060 modern podcast apps, you can stream support as you listen and 16 00:00:57,060 --> 00:01:00,180 you can boost the show. Take a look at your podcast app right 17 00:01:00,180 --> 00:01:03,210 now. Do you see a boost button? Then you're all set. If you 18 00:01:03,210 --> 00:01:06,030 don't see one then get a better podcast app at 19 00:01:06,330 --> 00:01:10,440 newpodcastapps.com. If you have any questions about that, email 20 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,980 me at Steve@Lifespringmedia.com All right, here's the show 21 00:01:13,980 --> 00:01:14,520 Enjoy. 22 00:01:33,530 --> 00:01:36,260 Hello, it's day 10 of the Lifespring Why Christmas show. 23 00:01:36,380 --> 00:01:38,420 If you've gotten your answers into the Christmas trivia 24 00:01:38,420 --> 00:01:41,960 questions from show number nine. Remember one lucky listener who 25 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:45,470 sends in the correct answers will win a signed copy of Bryan 26 00:01:45,470 --> 00:01:49,190 Duncan's NehoSoul Christmas CD. Be sure to listen to show nine 27 00:01:49,190 --> 00:01:51,950 if you missed it. Oh, I guess I should tell you that I'm Steve 28 00:01:51,950 --> 00:01:55,460 Webb. Today I'm going to tell you about the Holly and the Ivy 29 00:01:55,550 --> 00:01:59,750 and its significance to Christmas, Holly, Ivy and other 30 00:01:59,750 --> 00:02:02,030 greeneries such as mistletoe, which of course we already 31 00:02:02,030 --> 00:02:05,480 talked about, were originally used in pre Christian times to 32 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,810 help celebrate the winter solstice festival and to ward 33 00:02:08,810 --> 00:02:13,040 off evil spirits and celebrate new growth. When Christianity 34 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,980 came to Western Europe, some people wanted to keep the 35 00:02:15,980 --> 00:02:19,550 greenery and give it Christian meanings, and to ban the use of 36 00:02:19,550 --> 00:02:23,420 it to decorate homes. The UK and Germany were the main countries 37 00:02:23,420 --> 00:02:26,240 to keep the use of the greenery, and here are some of the 38 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:30,620 Christian meanings. For Holly, the prickly leaves represent the 39 00:02:30,620 --> 00:02:34,340 crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The 40 00:02:34,340 --> 00:02:37,310 berries are the drops of blood that were shed by Jesus because 41 00:02:37,310 --> 00:02:41,660 of the thorns. In Scandinavia, Holly is known as the Christ 42 00:02:41,690 --> 00:02:45,950 Thorn. In pagan times, Holly was thought to be a male plant and 43 00:02:45,950 --> 00:02:49,280 ivy, female plant. An old tradition from the Midlands of 44 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,640 England says that whatever one brought into the house first 45 00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:55,160 over winter tells you whether the man or the woman of the 46 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,790 house would rule that year. But it was unlucky to bring either 47 00:02:58,790 --> 00:03:04,100 into a house before Christmas Eve. And ivy, of course has to 48 00:03:04,100 --> 00:03:07,910 cling to something to support itself as it grows. This reminds 49 00:03:07,910 --> 00:03:11,990 us that we need to cling to God for support in our lives. In 50 00:03:11,990 --> 00:03:15,950 Germany, it's traditional that ivy is only used outside, and a 51 00:03:15,950 --> 00:03:18,740 piece tied to the outside of a church was supposed to protect 52 00:03:18,740 --> 00:03:22,460 it from lightning. So there you have it. Of course there are 53 00:03:22,460 --> 00:03:25,520 many other green plants that are associated with Christmas, and 54 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,880 might I suggest that you head on over to whychristmas.com to do 55 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,810 some foraging for yourself. For James Cooper, who will tell you 56 00:03:32,810 --> 00:03:36,950 a bit of christmas card origins tomorrow. I'm Steve Webb. Thank 57 00:03:36,950 --> 00:03:39,860 you for being a part of the Lifespring Why Christmas Show.