Podcast Episode Details

The Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar is a daily celebration of the season’s history and global traditions. In today’s episode, we take a linguistic tour of the globe to learn how to share the joy of the season with others, no matter what language they speak.

Speaking the Language of Christmas

One of the most beautiful aspects of the Advent season is how the message of “Peace on Earth” transcends borders. Today, Steve Webb and James Cooper explore the many ways people express holiday cheer across different cultures. From the familiar sounds of Europe to the unique dialects of the Pacific Islands, we discover that the heart of the greeting remains the same.

Listener Contributions from Around the Globe

This episode is truly a community effort, featuring recordings from listeners who shared their native tongues. We hear Dan Johnson from Cincinnati explain the French Joyeux Noël, and Olē from the Faroe Islands shares a unique Norwegian and Faroese greeting. Maria also joins the show to teach us the traditional Russian way to announce the Nativity of Christ, Srejstvom Christovom.

From Gaelic to Hawaiian

James attempts (with varying degrees of “British” accents) to navigate the pronunciations of Flemish, Danish, and Finnish. We also take a trip to the islands, learning the Samoan and Hawaiian versions of the greeting. Steve even throws in a special “Californian” version for those celebrating near the surf. It is a lighthearted but educational look at the diversity within the global Body of Christ.

To see a full list of these greetings and their spellings, be sure to visit the world’s premier Christmas information site at WhyChristmas.com. For more episodes exploring the deep roots of our faith, visit Lifespring Media.

Entities: Steve Webb, James Cooper, Dan Johnson, Faroe Islands, Russia, Madagascar, Madagascar, Samoa, Hawaii, Bryan Duncan, NehoSoul Band, Pittsburgh Symphony Brass.

Content Importance: Understanding how to say Merry Christmas in different languages allows us to better appreciate the vast, international community of believers and the universal nature of the Christmas message.

Outro: However you say it, we hope your Christmas is filled with joy and peace. I’m Steve Webb for James Cooper. Come on back tomorrow; we will be waiting for you right here.