Episode 125, The Christmas Special (Part I - The Nativity)

<p class="">Days grow shorter, rain turns to sleet, and nature's creatures are forced into hibernation. Winter is here; when the world wages war on us, through darkness, danger, and impending depression. But from the clouds of winter's despair, therein shines a light: gatherings among families and friends, spirits of fellowship and forgiveness, and scenes of feasts and festivities.</p> <p class="">It is Christmas, who shepherds us together – when we would otherwise be apart – and spares us from the cold, and into loving arms. As we shall see, the festival of Christmas has snowballed with the passing of many winters – from the early celebrations of the Romans and Vikings to the Christian nativity and commercialisation – but what has held this snowball together?</p> <p class="">Let us burn candles, logs, and line our homes with dancing lights; let us bring in trees and celebrate the hope of new life; and let us give generously and extend goodwill to our neighbours here, and around the world.</p> <div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" id="block-2fd5438cec7110e99b58"> <div class="sqs-block-content"> <div class="sqs-html-content"> <p class=""><strong>Contents</strong></p> <p class="">Part I. The Nativity</p> <p class="">Part II. The Nativity Continued</p> <p class="">Part III. Further Analysis and Discussion</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sqs-block horizontalrule-block sqs-block-horizontalrule" id="block-eaa965908f8ef766fc29"> <div class="sqs-block-content"> <hr /></div> </div> <div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" id="block-d334c7f37029b92f081c"> <div class="sqs-block-content"> <div class="sqs-html-content"> <p class=""><strong>Links</strong></p> <p class=""><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jesus-Nazareth-Pope-Benedict-XVI-ebook/dp/B00Q2YHX62/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1702415966&amp;sr=1-1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pope Benedict XVI, <em>Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives</em> (book)</a></p> <p class=""><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birth-Messiah-Commentary-Narratives-Reference/dp/0300140088" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Raymond E. Brown, <em>The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke</em> (book)</a></p> <p class=""><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1529003563?psc=1&amp;ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Judith Flanders, <em>Christmas: A History</em> (book)</a></p> <p class=""><a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520258020/christmas#:~:text=About%20the%20Book,-Written%20for%20everyone&amp;text=Packed%20with%20intriguing%20stories%2C%20based,songs%20and%20movies%2C%20and%20more." rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bruce Forbes, <em>Christmas: A Candid History</em> (book)</a></p> <p class=""><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revelation-Magi-Lost-Journey-Bethlehem-ebook/dp/B003V1WRYC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1700907599&amp;sr=8-1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Brent Landau, <em>Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem</em> (book)</a></p> <p class=""><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Divine-Births-Jesus-Other/dp/094434495X" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Robert J. Miller, <em>Born Divine: The Births of Jesus and Other Sons of God</em> (book)</a></p> <p class=""><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Journey-Magi-Meanings-Christian-Princeton/dp/0691606293/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Richard C. Trexler, <em>The Journey of the Magi: Meanings in History of a Christian Story</em> (book)</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sqs-block horizontalrule-block sqs-block-horizontalrule" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1702415024026_71653"> <div class="sqs-block-content"> <hr /></div> </div> <div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1702415024026_72135"> <div class="sqs-block-content"> <div class="sqs-html-content"> <p class=""><strong>Attributions</strong></p> <p class="">The following sounds were used with the permission of the copyright holder.</p> <p class=""><a href="https://freesound.org/people/OGsoundFX/sounds/423119/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Medieval City, OGsoundFX</a>; <a href="https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/625115/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Night Farmfields, klankbeeld</a>; <a href="https://freesound.org/people/m3fuss/sounds/179406/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Baby Breath, m3fuss</a>; all other sounds were produced by <a href="https://www.epidemicsound.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Epidemic Sound</a> and The Panpsycast.</p> </div> </div> </div>