1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: This special edition Christmas Eve Show is brought to you 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Welcome and 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: thanks for joining us for a special Christmas Eve edition 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: of Clay and Buck. Since it's Christmas time and this 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: is our Christmas Eve Show, let's talk about Santa Claus. 6 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: Take you on a little journey around the world with 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: how Santa Claus is celebrated today, but also the history 8 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: of Santa Claus. There was a real guy that Santa 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: is based on, and I think we should all know 10 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: about him because there are some lessons from the real 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: Santa Claus. 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 2: Apart from the. 13 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: Reindeers and the jolly red nose and the suit of 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: red with white fur and all this stuff, and the 15 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: bag full of toys and the Naughty and Nice list 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: and all that stuff, there's a real history to this. 17 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: Let's dive in a first, it's fascinting to see how 18 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 1: Santa Claus who started off and we're going to get 19 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: into this inspired by Saint Nick, a fourth century bishop 20 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:08,839 Speaker 1: known for his generosity, but today there are many variations 21 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: on this, like in the Netherlands, he's known as Ciner Klaus. 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: Center Claus is depicted as a stately bishop dressed in 23 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: red robes, and he arrives by boat from Spain, accompanied 24 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: by his helpers known as Petin Dutch, children leave out 25 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: their shoes with carrots or hey for Center Claus's horse, 26 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: and in return he leaves them, yes, of course, small 27 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: gifts or candies. The Dutch celebration takes place on November 28 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, December fifth, of course Saint Nicholas Eve, rather. 29 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 2: Than on Christmas. 30 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: In Germany and Austria, Santa has a counterpart named chris 31 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: Kind or the christ Child, representing the spirit of Christmas. 32 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: Chris Kind is off for christ kinned, I guess, I 33 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: guess it's Christkind. I don't speak the Germans that will yeah, 34 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: often portrayed as a young angelic faith You're sometimes accompanied 35 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: by Saint Nicholas and together they bring gifts to children 36 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: on Christmas Eve. 37 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: So yeah. 38 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: Germans also recognize someone named connect Ruprecht, a stern companion 39 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: of Saint Nicholas, who carries a switch a stick that 40 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: he can hit people with to remind children who behaves. 41 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: It seems varied. 42 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 3: German they have a special mean man who travels with 43 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 3: Santa Claus. They hit the children who don't speak properly 44 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 3: to the parents, and don't engineer all their cause perfectly. 45 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: And all that other good stuff, you know. Heading further 46 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: north to Scandinavia, we meet Julupuchi, the Finnish Santa Claus. 47 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: This name translates to Christmas Goat, which is a nod 48 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: to the ancient tradition where mischievous goat figures were part 49 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: of winter festivities. Today, Julupuki is a warm and friendly 50 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: figure who lives in Laplan, near the Arctic Circle, and 51 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: personally delivers presence to children. Then, of course there's Italy 52 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 1: yay hey he Monngorno, where children await La Belefana. Unlike Senna, 53 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: La Belefana is a kind hearted old woman who travels 54 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: on a broomstick, which is weird because we think of 55 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: a broomstick as something for a witch. But La Befana 56 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: is a very nice lady. She visits homes on the 57 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: night of January fifth, filling children's stockings with treats or 58 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: cold depending on, of course, are you a good boy 59 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: or a better boy? 60 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 2: You know how it goes. 61 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: The story of La Belafana ties actually into the epiphany 62 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: of the day. The Three Wise Men visited Baby Jesus. 63 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: A fun story about that. As you know, Balthazar was 64 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: the name of one of the three Wise Men, and 65 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: it's also the name of a size of wine bottle. 66 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: And it is also the name of a very famous 67 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: restaurant in Lower Manhattan. For those of you who are 68 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: inclined very good French rout, I've been to Balthazar a 69 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: few times. In Russia, Santa Claus takes the form of 70 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: Dead Muros or grandfather Frost. Dead Mutus is accompanied by 71 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: his granddaughter Snigroschka, the snowmaiden. She sounds like fun. Together 72 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: they deliver gifts during New Year's celebrations rather than Christmas, 73 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: which is often observed in January later later than the 74 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: Catholic side of things because of the Orthodox calendar. In Japan, 75 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: Christmas is a relatively new holiday, but the idea of 76 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: Santa Claus is less rooted in tradition. Of course, in 77 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: religion and history and more commercial, Santa is known as 78 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: Yes Santa San and he brings joy, but the focus 79 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: is often on spreading happiness and enjoying festive meals like 80 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: Christmas cake and delicious fried chicken, things like that. In 81 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: a Mexico. The Christmas season has all kinds of vibrant traditions, 82 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: but Santa Claus isn't always the star. Instead, children wait 83 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 1: for losreas Magos, the three wise men who bring gifts 84 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: on January sixth, celebrating the Epiphany. Santa, however, has it's 85 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: grown so much in popularity in recent years, and it's 86 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: blending more and more with the traditional customs. So it's 87 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: fascinating how Santa became this big, big thing around the world. 88 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: It really is based on a bishop from the Eastern 89 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: Roman Empire in the third century AD. He was born 90 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: right around two seventy at two seventy a d. Notice 91 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: I don't say CE because it's AD, because the calendar 92 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: is set up around the birth of Jesus, so one 93 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: doesn't have to worship Jesus be a Christian carabininity of 94 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: that to accept that that is what the calendar. 95 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: Is just a little side note there. I really don't 96 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 2: like this. 97 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: CE nonsense and BCE nonsense. 98 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 2: It is before Christ. It is the year of our 99 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: Lord Ana Domini. AD. 100 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: Anyway, third century AD was a time of crisis in 101 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: the Roman world. The empire was vast, stretching from Britain 102 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: to Egypt and from Spain to Mesopotamia, which we all 103 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: know now is course Iraq. But its strength came from size. 104 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: It also created a lot of vulnerabilities the Eastern Roman provinces, 105 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: which were actually the richest and most urbanized. We often 106 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: think of, of course, the Roman Empire based in Rome, 107 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: and so it must have been that that's where all 108 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: the action was. This is true for a time, but 109 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: particularly at the latter period of the Roman Empire, really latter, 110 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: while the final few hundred years it was the Eastern 111 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: Roman Empire that was far more wealthy and sophisticated what 112 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:37,239 Speaker 1: became the Byzantine Empire later on, and Constantinople of course 113 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: the name of the city name for the emperor Constantine. 114 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: But so the third century is often called the Crisis 115 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: of the third century because between two thirty five and 116 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 1: two eighty four AD there were constant civil wars, economic instability, 117 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: and external invasions for the Roman Empire. More than twenty 118 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: emperors rose and fell in quick succession during this period, 119 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: many of them meeting really violent, nasty ends. And because 120 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: of the Eastern Roman Empire's closeness to a couple of 121 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: major rivals, including the Assassinid Persian Empire. They were under 122 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: a constant threat. In fact, you go back and you 123 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: look at this time, there are some periods where the Romans, 124 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: let's you say, we're lucky to maintain what they had 125 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: in the face of particularly powerful enemies in this part 126 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: of the region. It was amid this chaos that reforms 127 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: began to take root. The emperor Diocletian came to power 128 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: into eighty four AD, just a little bit after Saint Nicholas. 129 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: Santa We're going to get back to Santa gonna get 130 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: back to Santa. Buck is waving, as Trump would say, 131 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: he's waving. He's telling his history story. He's weaving all 132 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: over the place, probably the best history. So stay put. 133 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: Diocletian divided the empire into manageable regions and established something 134 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: known as the tetrarchy, which was for co emperors and 135 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: junior emperors ruling different parts of the empire. The system 136 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: evolved over time, but it laid the groundwork for the 137 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: formal distinction that would be made between the Western and 138 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: Eastern Roman Empire, which I was just talking about. So 139 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,679 Speaker 1: it was a period of profound change and a lot 140 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: of division and war and just you know, third century 141 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: was crazy stuff going on in the Roman Empire, and 142 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 1: that then brings me to Saint nick one of the well. 143 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: People don't think of him necessarily this way, but the 144 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: guy who you know, Santa Claus, is more famous really 145 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: than almost any Roman emperor. Maybe not Julius Caesar, but 146 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: probably Santa Claus comes from Saint Nicholas of Bari. His 147 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: life is a testament to faith, generosity, and compassion. So 148 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: he was also known as Nicholas of Myra. Born in 149 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: the third century, like I said, ad right around two 150 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: seventy in the city of Patisara. This is in modern 151 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: day Turkey. Historians will refer to this as Asia Minor, 152 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: but Asia Minor is effectively modern day Turkey. So his 153 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: parents were devout Christians and wealthy, but they taught young 154 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: Nicholas to have a deep sense of faith and a 155 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: profound commitment to helping others. Both of his parents is tragic. 156 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: They died of plague. That was a thing that used 157 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: to happen back then, just people be masked death from 158 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: the plague. This happen when Nicholas was very young and 159 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: left him an orphan. But he did have a substantial 160 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: inheritance because of his wealthy parents and the way that 161 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: he reacted to all This would set the course of 162 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: his life because Saint Nick, not then of course known 163 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: as Saint Nick, but Nicolas, chose to use this wealth 164 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: that was left to him by his parents to help 165 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: other people, especially the poor and the vulnerable. So he 166 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: devoted his life essentially to charity, and this would lead 167 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: to some of the legends that would grow around him 168 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: that would turn into the Santa Claus of today, and 169 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: one of the most famous stories recounts how he would 170 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: he secretly provided the dowries for three impoverished sisters. Their 171 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: father was unable to afford the dowry. Remember, dowry was 172 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: the bride price, or the price that the bride had 173 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: to pay to the family of the groom, different in 174 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: different traditions, but essentially for the upkeep and taking. 175 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,079 Speaker 2: Care of this bride for all over life. 176 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: So they faced the grim prospect their father did of 177 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: selling them into servitude because they couldn't afford to pay 178 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: a dowry to any potential suitors husbands. So under the 179 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 1: cover of night, Nicholas through bags of gold through their window, 180 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: or some people have suggested through their chimney. But I 181 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: think it was the window saving the family from this 182 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: awful fate of having to sell their daughters into servitude 183 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: to be servants forever, instead of being able to marry 184 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: and have their own family. So this was one of 185 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: the acts of legendary kindness that led to the legend 186 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: of Saint Nick and the gift giving that we see 187 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: during Christmas time. But Nicholas was incredibly devoted to God 188 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: and had a deep faith. He became a priest and 189 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: then leader bishop of Mira, which was a prominent city, 190 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: as I said, in Asia Minor then or what historians 191 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 1: call Asia Minor, but it was in an area of 192 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: the Eastern Roman Empire modern day Turkey, and he became 193 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: a well known bishop for his defense of Orthodoxy and 194 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: protecting his flock, protecting his people. His leadership was not 195 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: without challenges. It was during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, 196 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: remember mentioned Diocletian, and Christians were actually facing severe persecution, 197 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: so Nicholas himself was actually put in prison for his 198 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: faith the faith and despite the horrific conditions of his incarceration, 199 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: he remained steadfast and encouraged his fellow believers to endure 200 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 1: and remain true to their convictions. After the period of 201 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: persecution ended, Nicholas attended the First Council of Nicia in 202 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: three twenty five AD. This council, which was convened by 203 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: the Emperor Constantine Constantinople, right the great city of the 204 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:25,959 Speaker 1: Eastern Roman Empire, was pivotal in defining Christian Christian doctrine. 205 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: Excuse me, you know the Nicene Creed for example, right, 206 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: we all know where that comes from. And according to 207 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: some accounts, Nicholas was very vocal in these debates, particularly 208 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: regarding the heretical teachings of Arius, who was somebody who 209 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: denied the divinity of Christ. So this was a very 210 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: serious heresy. Legend even suggests that Nicholas is zeal for 211 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: the defensive Orthodoxy led him to confront areas physically, though 212 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 1: people say. 213 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 2: Maybe this is not true. 214 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: It's more legend than history, but it sounds good in 215 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: the story, right Regardless Saint Nick's presence, I keep wanting 216 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: to say that Santa Claus, but he wasn't Santa Claus. 217 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: Then he was Bishop Nicholas of Myra. His presence at 218 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: Nicea underscored his role as a defender of the Christian faith. 219 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: But yes, he had major theological contributions, and he's a 220 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: huge saint. He is the best known saint really of 221 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: the Orthodox, of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. But Nicholas's 222 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: life was marked by countless acts of compassion and service, 223 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: so he was also an advocate on behalf of those 224 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: unjustly accused. There was a story where he intervened to 225 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: save three innocent men who had been condemned to death. 226 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: Nicholas confronted the executioner, halted the proceedings, and ensured that 227 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: justice prevailed. So there are these stories that highlight his 228 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: courage and his unwavering commitment to righteousness, to truth, to decency, 229 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: to justice. He passed away on December sixth, three p. 230 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: Forty three AD in my and his death marked the 231 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: end of a remarkable earthly life, but of course the 232 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,959 Speaker 1: legacy was just beginning. His tomb soon became the site 233 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: of major pilgrimage. In fact, pilgrims would come from near 234 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: and far to venerate Saint Nick, drawn by the reports 235 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: of miracles that were occurring in his resting place. In 236 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: ten eighty seven, fearing desecration of his remains during the 237 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: Muslim conquest of Lycia, sailors from Bari in Italy transported 238 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: his relics to their city, So today the Basilica di 239 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: San Nicola Inbari houses his remains, and the city has 240 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: become a major center of devotion to Saint Nicholas. So 241 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: over the centuries, his reputation grew and his image evolved 242 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: into a symbol of Christian generosity and kindness. In Eastern 243 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: Christianity he celebrated as a wonder worker, while in the 244 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: West his legacy merged with local traditions to the figure 245 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: that we have come to note today as Santa Claus. 246 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: The transformation from Bishop of Maira to the jolly figure 247 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: of Christian legend may seem a Christmas legend, rather may 248 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: seem distant from the actual guy who lived then, but 249 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: at its core is still the spirit of giving and 250 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: concern for others that defined his life. Saint Nicholas is 251 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: also remembered as a unifying figure in the Christian tradition. 252 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: Both Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches honor him as 253 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: a saint, and his feast day, December sixth, is celebrated 254 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: with joy and reverence around the world. So the legacy 255 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: of Santa Claus is an incredible thing, and it's something 256 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: that around this Christmas time as we think about the 257 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: birth of Jesus and we those of us who are 258 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: the Christian faith, reflect on the scriptures and the way 259 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: that this all came together. It's also interesting to know 260 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: the history of this great Saint, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, 261 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: Jolly Saint Nick, really was all just about giving, supporting, loving, 262 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: and serving others. The ultimate Christmas story, the ultimate Christmas legacy. 263 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoyed our discussion of the real Santa Clause. 264 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: I gotta say, Santa has just always been a favorite 265 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: of mine, Jolly Saint Nick. It's one of the most 266 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: wondrous things about being a kid, is how amazing this 267 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: whole concept of Santa Claus is and how much joy 268 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: it brings to Christmas. What are the great stories that 269 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: we celebrate as part of any holiday, And by the. 270 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 2: Way, I know, of course, for those of us who are. 271 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: Christian, there's the cresh scenes and the birth of Jesus, 272 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: and that's really what Christmas is about. But Santa creates 273 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: an additional fun story for children to celebrate a great 274 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: time of year, celebrate kindness and giving and Christian virtues 275 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: and so things that are all tied in together. Anyway, 276 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: I just think Santa is amazing, so many great movies, 277 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: so much great culture. 278 00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 2: And fun as a result of it. 279 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: So I thought doing a little tour through history of 280 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: how Santa came to be really one of the great 281 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 1: and timeless characters of all time, of all history. 282 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 2: And I know. 283 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: We could talk more maybe another time, about the reindeer 284 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: and the rest of somehow these things, some of how 285 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: these things all. 286 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 2: Got added in. 287 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: And for me, if you're asking the best, the best 288 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: Christmas movie that involves the Santa. 289 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 2: Claus, wouldn't it have to be Miracle on thirty fourth Street. 290 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: Wouldn't that have to be the one? Welcome back to 291 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 2: Clay and Buck. 292 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: Since we are here on Christmas Eve, I thought we 293 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: could take a moment to go back in time and 294 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: talk about one of the most famous Christmas stories of 295 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: all time. No, not Miracle on thirty fourth Street, not 296 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: Die Hard, whatever your favorite Christmas movie may be, but 297 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: the story of George Washington, the Delaware I'm want to 298 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: do something of a theater of the mind, if you 299 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: will a little bit storytelling on this hopefully a perfect 300 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: thing for you to be listening to as you're driving 301 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: to wherever you're going to be celebrating Christmas tomorrow and 302 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: to just kick back and relax for a moment. So 303 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: we all know the basics of the story. But let's 304 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: go back in time together. The year is seventeen seventy six. 305 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:34,479 Speaker 1: America's revolution is hanging by a thread. Now, you have 306 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 1: to remember the second half of seventeen seventy six, leading 307 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: up to Washington's crossing of the Delaware was a critical 308 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: period and a desperate one for the American revolutionaries. The 309 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: colonies formerly declared independence on as we know, July fourth, 310 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: seventeen seventy six, Independence Day, and entered this new phase 311 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: where they were facing down one of the most formidable, 312 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: really the most formidable war machine in the entire world 313 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: at the time. So the fledgling Continental Army had to 314 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 1: deal with this challenge and take on the might of 315 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: the British and their Hessian auxiliaries mercenaries. Between July and 316 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: December of that year, the revolution's survival hung in the balance, 317 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: as defeat after defeat pushed General George Washington's army to 318 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: the brink of collapse. Yet from these trials emerged incredible 319 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:36,679 Speaker 1: courage and moments of strategic brilliance that would eventually ensure 320 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: the revolution's continuation and success. So in the summer of 321 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: seventeen seventy six, though none of that was assured, not 322 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 1: in the least. Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia July fourth, 323 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: they adopt the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, 324 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 1: formerly severing ties between the American Colonies and Great Britain. 325 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: It was a bull statement to the world at the time, 326 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: proclaiming the colonies free and independent, no longer under the 327 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: rule of King George the Third. 328 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: This was risky, of course. 329 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: The colonies committed themselves into a rebellion and their leaders 330 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,199 Speaker 1: faced well death if they were to be on the 331 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: wrong side of this, and they had to take to 332 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: the battlefield. As we know, despite the optimism surrounding the 333 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: Declaration of Independence, the reality of the military struggle was bleak. 334 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: In July, British General William Howe launched a massive campaign 335 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: to capture New York City, a strategic point that controlled 336 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: access to the Hudson River. Howe's forces were formidable, consisting 337 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: around thirty two thousand British regulars and those Hessian mercenaries 338 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 1: will talk more about them. This was the largest expeditionary 339 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: force that Britain had ever assembled at that time, and 340 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: facing them was just George Washington's Continental Army, inexperience and 341 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,640 Speaker 1: poor early equipped troops, about twenty thousand of them in total. 342 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 1: So the British assault began on August twenty seventh, seventeen 343 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 1: seventy six, at the Battle of Long Island, which is 344 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: also known as the Battle of Brooklyn Heights. The Continental 345 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: Army was routed. How's superior tactics the skill of his 346 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:24,119 Speaker 1: soldiers overwhelming numbers were just too much for Washington and 347 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: his forces. They were flanked and had to retreat ignominiously 348 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 1: in the moment in a struck. A stroke of luck 349 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: and ingenuity, Washington managed to save his army by evacuating 350 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: them overnight during a across the East River under the 351 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: cover of fog. So that defeat on Long Island then 352 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: led to Washington's army being driven out of New York City, 353 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: and by mid September the British occupied that city and 354 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 1: further defeats followed the Battle of Harlem Heights for example, 355 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: on September sixteenth was a minor success for the Americans, 356 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: gave a little bit of a boost to their morale, 357 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: but generally speaking, the campaign was going poorly. On October 358 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: twenty eighth, there was the Battle of White Plains and 359 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: Washington was again forced to retreat. This then led to 360 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:18,679 Speaker 1: Washington's army having to retreat across New Jersey. I mean, 361 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: there was the fall of nearby Fort Lee, and they 362 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: realized they had to just create distance between them and 363 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: the British before it was too late. The retreat across 364 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 1: New Jersey was a dark and desperate chapter for the Americans. 365 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: Washington's army was in the roughest of situations in terms 366 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 1: of their materiel and the morale that they had, so 367 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 1: by December, Washington had fewer than five thousand men. The 368 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: Continental Congress fled the city of Philadelphia to Baltimore, and 369 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: things appeared bleak. But then George had a brilliant idea 370 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: and put it into action. General George Washington's Continental Army 371 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 1: is in a terrible state, bloodied, battered, and would be 372 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 1: broken were it not for their indefatigable leader, George Washington himself. 373 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 1: They've suffered many defeats, these rebels against what was then 374 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 1: the most powerful empire in the world. The British morale 375 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: is low, the winter snows have hit hard, and the 376 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: dream of an independent United States seems to be slowly 377 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: but surely evaporating. George Washington, ever, resolute, refuses to give in, and, 378 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: recognizing that he needed a change of fortune, he planned 379 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: a daring and desperate gamble. He decided to lead his 380 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: men across the icy Delaware River and strike at the 381 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:08,439 Speaker 1: encamped forces in Trenton, New Jersey, including the fearsome Hessian soldiers. 382 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,679 Speaker 1: These mercenaries who've been hired by the British Empire. They 383 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: were Germans in order to fight against the colonials. This 384 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 1: was more than just a proverbial roll of the dice. 385 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: If Washington and his men failed, there was the very 386 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 1: real possibility the revolution could be lost. But if they succeeded, 387 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: it could turn things around and give them momentum with 388 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: a battlefield victory that would inspire the cause of the 389 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 1: revolution to endure. We can think back to then, what 390 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: did Washington say, Probably something like, men, the hour is 391 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: upon us. I know you are cold, I know you 392 00:24:55,080 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: are tired. But to make history in this great new 393 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 1: nation of ours is going to be costly and difficult. 394 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: It is not the easy fights that will be remembered, 395 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 1: because it is not the easy fights that will matter. Tonight, 396 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: we crossed the Delaware and march on Trenton This our 397 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:23,679 Speaker 1: cause of liberty demands, and together we shall prevail. We 398 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 1: shall overcome this situation. Now, this crossing that Washington engaged 399 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: in was no small feat. As we know, the Delaware 400 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: River in wintertime is swift of current, treacherous, the night 401 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 1: dark as pitch. Washington divided his forces into three groups. 402 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: While two failed to cross the river because of the 403 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: icy fury, he led the central column himself. Of this, 404 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: of course memorialized in the timeless painting of Washington crossing 405 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 1: the Delaware. The water is frigid, the ice jagged and unrelenting. 406 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: Many of Washington's men have no shoes. In fact, imagine this. 407 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 1: It is wintertime and their feet are wrapped in rags. 408 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: Yet they press on, driven by Washington's leadership and the 409 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: hope of achieving liberty for the nascent United States of America. 410 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: You can imagine soldiers whispering to themselves under their breath 411 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: trying to summon whatever courage they could as they pushed 412 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 1: ice floes away from their boat. Mind you, at this time, 413 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: in this period, many of these men would have been 414 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: unable to swim, and so not only did they risk 415 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 1: hypothermia within minutes of falling into the icy water had 416 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: their rickety boat tipped over, but they very well could 417 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:08,239 Speaker 1: have drowned even if they were within the ability to 418 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 1: get to the shore had they been able to swim. 419 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:12,959 Speaker 1: At the helm of the boat, of course, is George 420 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: Washington himself. His presence steals the men against the biting 421 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:21,119 Speaker 1: cold and the sense of doubt that this could be 422 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 1: the end. If they fail, perhaps there will be tribunals 423 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,400 Speaker 1: and the hangman's noose for some of those we now 424 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: know as founding fathers of the greatest country in the 425 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: history of the world. It's almost four am when the 426 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 1: Army of Washington completes its crossing, and against all odds, 427 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: somehow they made it. But it's not just the crossing 428 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 1: of the Delaware that was so critical. Another part, a 429 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: nine mile march in the snow for men who would 430 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 1: be poorly clothed and prepared for this, That had to 431 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: be the next thing on the agenda, and the march 432 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 1: is grueling. Soldiers were collapsing from exhaustion, hunger, and exposure 433 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: to the elements. Yet the army moved on step by 434 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 1: step with the promise of victory, keeping them on their feet. 435 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: Washington must have turned to his men, courage. The dawn 436 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:31,959 Speaker 1: is near, he would have said, Trenton awaits at dawn. 437 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: The Continental Army finally arrives after their grueling march outside 438 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: on the outskirts of Trenton. The Hessians were caught completely 439 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: by surprise and immediately had to scramble to arms to arms. 440 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: Although they would have said it in German, Washington then 441 00:28:54,840 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: recognized that the time had come, raised his sword, rallied 442 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 1: his troops, and they charged. Hold the line. Washington would 443 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: have said, forward, men, forward, The battle is swift. 444 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 2: Lasted less than an hour. 445 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: Washington's army captured nearly one thousand Hessian prisoners, took minimal 446 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: losses to his force, and it was a stunning victory, 447 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: a beacon of hope for the fledgling American Revolution. Washington 448 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: would have been patting his men on the shoulders and 449 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: cheering for each other at this enormous turn of fortune. 450 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:46,719 Speaker 1: For the army of the Continental Continental Army at this point, 451 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: and on this cold December morning, they would have recognized 452 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:56,959 Speaker 1: that things were changing. George Washington's leadership, courage and determination 453 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: had carried the Continental Army through another ordeal, a tremendous hardship, 454 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: and ultimately it would lead to what would have seemed 455 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 1: an incredibly improbable outcome, a victory over the greatest empire 456 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: of the time and the beginnings of the greatest nation 457 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: in all history. A very merry Christmas. Indeed, we'll be 458 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: right back. When we think of Christmas, we think of 459 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: so many great things, a lot of jolly stuff as well, 460 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: like Santa himself. But there's another side to some of 461 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: the lore. I wanted to spend a moment on that now, 462 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: Like the crampis. Yeah, sure, Santa Claus has twinkling lights 463 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 1: and cheerful songs, but in certain parts of Europe the 464 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: festive season carries a more mischievous figure with it as well. 465 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 2: Crampus. 466 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 1: This fearsome creature, half goat and half demon, has been 467 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,959 Speaker 1: a part of Christmas folklore for centuries, offering a chilling 468 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: contrast to the warmth of the holiday season. The origins 469 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: of Crampus can be traced back to ancient pre Christian 470 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 1: traditions in the Alpine regions of Europe. His name is 471 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: derived from the German word crampin meaning claw, and his 472 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 1: terrifying appearance with long horns, fangs, and a llulling tongue 473 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: believed to echo pagan representations of wild spirits and fertility demons. 474 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 1: These figures were often associated with the dark winter months, 475 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: when life seemed more precarious and mysterious forces were thought 476 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 1: to roam the earth. As Christianity spread through Europe, pagan 477 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 1: customs were gradually incorporated into Christian practices. Crampus was entwined 478 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: with the story of Saint Nicholas, the benevolent figure who 479 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: rewarded well behaved children. When Saint Nicholas offered gifts and blessings, 480 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: Crampis became his sinister counterpart, punishing naughty children with switches 481 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: and chains, or the most frightening tales, carrying them off. 482 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 2: In a sack. 483 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,680 Speaker 1: And then there's Crampus knocked the night of the Beast 484 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 1: that celibate on December fifth, well before Christmas, fortunately, but 485 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day. On this night, 486 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 1: men dressed as Crompus parade, or rather as the Crompus 487 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 1: parade through towns and villages, rattling chains, brandishing bundles of 488 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 1: birch branches, and playfully frightening onlookers. The processions are known 489 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 1: as Crampuslafa or Crampis runs. They are boisterous, chaotic celebrations 490 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,920 Speaker 1: that combine fear and fun. Revelers may be chased or 491 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: teased by these crompuses, but the night is also an 492 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: opportunity to revel in the thrill of the supernatural. But 493 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 1: in many ways, Crampus was a tool for moral lessons. 494 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: The duality of Saint Nicholas and Crampus represented the carrot 495 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: and stick approach to discipline, especially for young children. Be 496 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: good and you'll be rewarded. Be bad and you'll face 497 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 1: the consequences the crompus. In fact, parents would invoke Crampus 498 00:32:56,240 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 1: to encourage children to behave, reminding them that the creature might. 499 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 2: Visit if they don't behave. 500 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 1: During the twentieth century, Crampus's terrifying image fell out of 501 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 1: favor in Austria, Germany and other countries. The Catholic Church 502 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 1: viewed the Crompus as inappropriate or even subversive. The tradition 503 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:16,959 Speaker 1: was suppressed, but it never entirely disappeared, and folklore has 504 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: a way of enduring. So in the late twentieth century 505 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: the Crompus began to surface again, and now the Crompus 506 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 1: has experienced a resurgence, thanks in part to global interest 507 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: in folklore and alternative holiday traditions. Crompus has actually become 508 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:38,720 Speaker 1: something of a pop culture icon over in Europe, and 509 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 1: he appears in films, books, and holiday events throughout the world. 510 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 1: What was once a localized Alpine custom for certain parts 511 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,960 Speaker 1: of northern and Eastern Europe is now celebrated as a 512 00:33:52,040 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: quirky and sometimes spooky counterpart to the joys of Christmas, 513 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:00,840 Speaker 1: and Crampus is enduring a pear. It really lies in 514 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: his ability to balance the festive with the frightening. He 515 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: reminds us that the holiday season isn't just about warmth 516 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,839 Speaker 1: and light. It also acknowledges the shadows and the struggles. 517 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: By embracing Crampus, we honor a tradition that adds depth 518 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,359 Speaker 1: to our understanding of the Christmas season, one that is 519 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 1: as much about reflection and redemption as it is about celebration, 520 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:24,240 Speaker 1: So as you hang your stockings and trim your tree, 521 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 1: take a moment to remember the dark companion of Saint Nicholas. 522 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: Whether you find him terrifying or thrilling, the crampus adds 523 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 1: a dash of the uncanny to the magic of Christmas.