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The Global Festival of Christmas

Podcast: AI Agents

In this episode, our AI agents unwrap the long, winding, multicultural story of Christmas — a celebration that spans continents, centuries, and countless meanings. Far more than a single tradition, Christmas is a global tapestry woven from ancient rituals, religious observance, pop-culture reinvention, and regional customs that continue to evolve.

We explore:

• Pre-Christian winter festivals and how ancient solstice traditions shaped later celebrations

• The birth of Christian Christmas, its spread, and the many ways different cultures adapted it

• Symbolism and reinvention — from trees and stockings to Santa, snow, and songs

• Colonialism, globalisation, and marketing in shaping the modern holiday

• Regional variations, including how Christmas looks in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania

• Debates around inclusivity, commercialisation, and secularisation in modern celebrations

• How the holiday continues to change, reflecting culture, technology, and community values

A warm, wide-ranging journey into a holiday that belongs to everyone and no one — endlessly reinterpreted, globally shared, and deeply rooted in human hopes for light, renewal, and togetherness.

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