1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Hello, everyone. Wait, we haven't started the show yet. What's 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: going on? We've kind of started the show, haven't we met. 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: I guess technically we're talking right, And there's our super producer, 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: Paul mission controled decads, So I guess we are doing 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: a show. We are also, as you hear this, we 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: are scattered to the wind, folks, fellow conspiracy realists. We 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: have lit out for the territories. As Samuel Clemens would say, 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: we have rewarded ourselves for surviving one more swing around 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: the sun or getting very close to it, hopefully right. 10 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: And the way we've rewarded ourselves is to take some 11 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: time off to go. I think in most of our 12 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: cases people are going to go be with their families, 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: and some of us are going to have some off 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: the grid adventures. Oh yeah, off the grid in totality, 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: if possible, at least in my case. Um. You know 16 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: what is going thing though, that we reward ourselves at 17 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: the end of the calendar year rather than at the 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: time when all of the snow has gone away and 19 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: it's not as cold anymore, because it feels like historically 20 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: humanity should be celebrating mostly that we got through the 21 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: winter right, it's not smack dab at the beginning of 22 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: the winter. That's true. That's true. Our species has become 23 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: somewhat presumptuous. And I we could also argue further that 24 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: the only real New Year any individuals should be celebrating 25 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: is their own day of birth. There you go, calendars aside, 26 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: that's the that's the thing that counts, right. What we 27 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: wanted to do is present to you today very special 28 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: episode on the mysterious origins of Christmas, the stuff they 29 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: don't want you to know, the explanation behind why we 30 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: cut down trees and bring them into our houses. What 31 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: is that you log for anyway? What? Yeah, yeah, you log? 32 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: That's perfect. I don't know if we get to it, 33 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: but it is pretty strange that so much of this 34 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: modern day Christmas is based on an overweight man in 35 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: a garish costume breaking into your house. Yeah, defying gravity 36 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: and all other physics in every way, basically to bring 37 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: you that xbox right right, right. And I think many 38 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: people would note that today here in the States, at 39 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: least in eighteen Christmas is an economic necessity for a 40 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: lot of businesses. It's a secular holiday. You know, people 41 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: who people who don't necessarily ascribe to the beliefs upon 42 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: which Christmas is ostensibly founded. Uh, still love the idea 43 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: of getting stuff, singing songs, special foods, jingle bells, you 44 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: know what I mean. Yeah, And the reason why we 45 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: are bringing all this up is because today, rather than 46 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: just making you episode, we are going to leave and 47 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: go into a bunker somewhere and hide, as Ben said earlier, 48 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: and we're going to play this discussion that we had 49 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: back in I believe was it that long ago? Yeah, 50 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: very very early on in the beginning of our our 51 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: audio podcast version of this show, because it was a 52 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: companion piece to a video we made that you can 53 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: find on YouTube right now called the Surprising Origins of 54 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: Christmas Classic But you can find that right now. And 55 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: it really is just I guess, in one word, it's 56 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: about the winter solstice. So play this for your friends 57 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: and family over over your time together, if you have 58 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: someone that you think should should learn a little bit 59 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: more about how we got from the origins of the 60 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: human celebrations that traditionally been had this time of year 61 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: to the modern day celebration of the thing we call Christmas. 62 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: We hope you enjoy. Please be kind because again, this 63 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: was a long, long time ago. You may notice Noel's voice, 64 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: uh if if you can hear it, because he was 65 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: our superproducer at the time. Paul Deckan was merely a 66 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: glimmer in Ben's eye at that time. Your son, you 67 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: didn't know he was your son. The heck of a 68 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: way for us to find out. I demanded DNA test. 69 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 1: No offense, Paul, but please enjoy from UFOs two ghosts 70 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: and government cover ups. History is riddled with unexplained events. 71 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: You can turn back now or learn the stuff they 72 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: don't want you to know. Hello, everybody, thanks for tuning in. 73 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: I'm Ben, and and that makes this stuff they don't 74 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: want you to know that as we record this, we're 75 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: heading into one of the most popular holidays in the 76 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: United States for sure. Yeah, and throughout the world there 77 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: are a lot of places where this is a huge holiday. No, 78 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: could we have a little bit of theme music to 79 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: let people know which holiday we're talking about? I am wow, 80 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: that was a great choice. No, Yeah, that was a 81 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: good choice. No, you are superb producer, and I'm sure 82 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: everybody could guess that that means this is an episode 83 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: about Christmas. I wonder how that's gonna work with our 84 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: creepy music that you know, we're coming out of our 85 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: creepy music that a lot of people tell us is 86 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: weird and and too dark into that joyful thing that 87 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: nol just put in there. Well. Also, let's let's just 88 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: be honest, Matt, a lot of Christmas music is creepy. Yeah, 89 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna make a video where we just put some 90 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: some music in there that's supposed to be joyful and 91 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: happy and just edit it with some really creepy imagery 92 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: and see what happens. Why not chopping screw it and 93 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: um remix it, which is an interesting segue into the 94 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: story of Christmas. Now, a long time ago, you and 95 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: I did an episode on the secret origins of Christmas. Right, 96 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: that's correct, So if you haven't yet, you should head 97 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: on over to test tube or our YouTube channel and 98 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: check out that episode because there's lots of fun information 99 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: on the origins of this holiday. Most of our listeners 100 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 1: are probably familiar with the part of the story of 101 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: Christmas right and how it became what it is today, 102 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: which is um historically not the accurate birthdate of Jesus Christ. 103 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: It's the day when everybody gets together to celebrate. Yeah, 104 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: we're just kind of decided that this is this is 105 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: the day we will use and there's a reason that 106 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: it was chosen, right, lay it on me. Well, yeah, 107 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: it goes back the the December date goes back to 108 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: the pagan tradition of the Solstice. Uh, there are a 109 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: lot it was kind of a holy day, and there 110 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: are a lot of celebrations that occurred right around that 111 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: time and specifically on that day. Um, and then I 112 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: guess the church decided, well, we're going to we're going 113 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: to kind of be a competing market, or we're going 114 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: to compete inside this market, and we're going to make 115 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: our day bigger. Oh and Matte, we need to put 116 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: in a disclaimer here. This is something we talked about 117 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: when we first did our Christmas episode. If you are 118 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: a Christian, if you if you believe in Jesus Christ, 119 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: and you celebrate Christmas, none of the stuff that we're 120 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: saying is necessarily disrespectful. It's certainly not meant to be. 121 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: Oh no, no, not. You're just talking about the historical 122 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: evolution of Christmas. We're not talking about any of the 123 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: spiritual side of it. But um, it is true that 124 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: the reason the celebration occurs on December. You know, the 125 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: reason it's in that area of time is because there 126 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: was an earlier, pre existing Holy Day from a different faith, 127 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: as you said, uh, and the Catholic Church wanted to 128 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: absorb that as well. What what that process is called 129 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: is religious syncretism. And will pause for just a moment 130 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: to hear a word from our sponsor, and we're back. 131 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,719 Speaker 1: Religious syncretism is not unique to the Catholic Church and 132 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: the date of Christmas right now, not at all. You 133 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: you kind of have to if you really want to 134 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 1: look at it historically, you have to pull yourself out 135 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: a little bit from the belief just to look at 136 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: things historically and and religion like a lot of like 137 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: really anything else. Um, it's part of a competing belief system, 138 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: right and like um anything from what you believe with 139 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: about anomics or what you believe about um science or 140 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: you know, history and religion I'm just rambling. Or music. 141 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: That's something that people argue about all of the time 142 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:18,239 Speaker 1: with absolutely. Oh I'm going to say it. Musicologists are irritating. 143 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: You know. It's just it's an opinion, it's not that 144 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: doesn't make it a fact. The only fact is is 145 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: your opinion whether or not that band is good, buddy, layoff. 146 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: And when we when we talk about this sort of stuff, 147 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: the point you're making about uh, competing belief system is 148 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: interesting because, UM, in the evolution of religions and cultures 149 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: when they encounter each other, especially in previous centuries, one 150 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:51,319 Speaker 1: thing that we see is that the competing um aspect 151 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: of it is secondary to this sort of melding and blending. So, 152 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: for instance, when the Catholic Church goes to South America, 153 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: the and they and the Caribbean, then they recognize, right 154 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: finger quotes, recognize this God or this God is actually, oh, 155 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: this is this saint, um, And oh, don't worry. You 156 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: have been worshiping this saint and so you've been kind 157 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: of you just solved it a different thing. Yeah, just 158 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: called it a different thing and arose by any other 159 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: name would smell as sweet. That's that's the that's that's 160 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: the gist of it. And religious syncretism isn't necessarily bad. 161 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: It is tempting, of course, UM, to think that this 162 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: is some sort of degradation of a religion. Right, It's tough. 163 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: You just gotta you kind of have to decide to 164 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: not look at it that way. If you really believe, 165 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: you just have to I think, I think you really 166 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: need to have both of those thoughts going at the 167 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: same time. If you are a believer, Um, you just 168 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: have to understand that this is just the way history works, 169 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: as it the way or religious organizations do sometimes. And 170 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: and that's a great point now before we get too 171 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: far side tracked into religious syncretism, which you know I 172 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: find fascinating, uh, due to my travels in my sketchy 173 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: past where I where I participated in some of this 174 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: stuff firsthand. Um. One other thing that was hold on, 175 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: We're gonna have to go into more of that, okay, 176 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: the first for the end. Okay, alright, alright, So one 177 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: thing we should go into when we're talking about Christmas 178 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 1: is that Christmas in the United States has some traditions. 179 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: They're very strange and not necessarily related to, um, the 180 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 1: birth of a god, you know, like the the Yule log. Yes, 181 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: that was another tradition right there, having a very large 182 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: log that would burn for a good amount of time 183 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: that would keep you overnight basically warm. Also the Christmas tree, 184 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: oh yeah, what it is a weird idea of chopping 185 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 1: down a tree to put into your house to then 186 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: decorate and celebrate around. It doesn't seem to have much 187 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:13,839 Speaker 1: at least symbolism from a Catholic or from a Christian standpoint. Um. Again, 188 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: it goes back to the syncretism. I feel like we're 189 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: just making a podcast on religious syncretism. Well, we also 190 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: want people to check out the video if you haven't 191 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: had a chance to do it yet, And we can 192 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 1: speaking of Christmas, we can go ahead and wrap this 193 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 1: up like a present. Huh oh, I'm terrible at that, 194 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: but I'm disappointed by own joke. I'm sorry everybody, but 195 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: the as we wrap this up and go off to 196 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: prepare for our own holiday stuff, um, I will leave 197 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: us with a story about what one of my experiences. 198 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: Oh man, I can't wait to hear this. And let's 199 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 1: take a quick break right now to hear a word 200 00:12:53,200 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 1: from our sponsor and we're back, all right. So, um, 201 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: a while ago, several years and years ago, I lived 202 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: in Guatemala, and you know this man. And in Guatemala 203 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: there I lived in a part of the country called 204 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: Kaltenango or Jala, and in Jla, the Maya culture was 205 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: never fully extinguished eradicated by the Spaniards. It was can 206 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 1: I say Spaniards on the air? Is that that's correct? 207 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: Spanish cunquies. Okay, So years ago I lived in Guatemala, 208 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: and I lived in a town called kate Tenango or Zla. 209 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: And in this town, which is in the highlands, in 210 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: the mountain mountainous areas, uh, there is a large Maya population. 211 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: And this population and goodness was never fully eradicated by 212 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: Spanish conquistadores, but they did have belief systems heavily affected uh. 213 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:17,359 Speaker 1: Most notably, there is a figure called San Simon or Mashamon, 214 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: and Mashamon or San Simon is um nowadays worshiped in 215 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: some churches sort of a patron sainted gamblers, adulterers and 216 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: thieves and sounds yeah yeah, and there um. This this 217 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: character has this story. The saint rather has an amazing 218 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: story of evolution because h originally the folklore's believe that 219 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: Mashimon or what became San Simon was based on a 220 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: mountain spirit named the mom and if I'm pronounced that correctly, 221 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: my key jay is pretty often now and then became 222 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: Masha Moan. And then when the Spanish came and the 223 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: priest came, they said, oh, we recognize this guy. The 224 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: story goes that they wanted to dilute the popularity of 225 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: this this um, this deity, so they said, yeah, you 226 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: know that's that is St. Judas. That is an ask Judas. Yeah, 227 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: and you know Judas plays a horrible role in the Bible. 228 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: Most denominations think, yeah, no spoilers, but check out the 229 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: book and yeah and he. Uh. The thing was, this 230 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: did not this did not alienate the Maya from from 231 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: their culture, from their history with this deity. Instead, this 232 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: was just something that they folded into it. And now 233 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: San Simon is what's considered a folk saint, meaning that 234 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: he's not canonized by the Vatican and by the Holy See. However, 235 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: he's still around sound. And when I was in Guatemala, 236 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: I had a chance. After a very strange experience, I 237 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: ended up almost dying in a bus accident because you 238 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: ride busses everywhere and uh yeah, and then immediately I 239 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: headed off with some other people to go to this 240 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: shrine where they take this deity out once a day 241 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: or once a year, and um, because he hates the light. Really, yeah, 242 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: he's interesting and you make offerings of U scars and 243 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: um booze. He likes booze. And interestingly enough, I'm pretty 244 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: sure that when Josh and Chuck were in Guatemala, Josh 245 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: and Chuck from stuff that stuff you should know. I'm 246 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: pretty sure that Josh visited San Simone as well. So sorry, 247 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: I know I'm talking your ear off. It's great. I 248 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: love it, man. I'm sitting here like a little kid 249 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: listening to a Christmas story. But we do have uh 250 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: secret origins of Christmas. Matt. I have to ask you, 251 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: what's the most surprising thing you learned about Christmas? As 252 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: we close out? I would say the most surprising thing 253 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: I learned about it was just the furthest back history 254 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: of the holiday season from the chronology of three fifty four. 255 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: That was really interesting. We cover that in the the 256 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: original episode that we made just to see. I was 257 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: looking through that document earlier today and it's just fascinating. 258 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: It was basically a picture book that this that this 259 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: guy had made for a wealthy man had made for him, 260 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: and not much of it exists or I don't think 261 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: any of it is surviving now today, but that was 262 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: one of that was the first place that it was 263 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: mentioned the idea of this this holiday. Um, it's not 264 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: really surprising. It was just I guess it was just cool. Yeah, 265 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: and I forgot to mention, I know, we should have 266 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 1: wrapped this up earlier. But there there there's more than 267 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: one St. Nick. There are multiple guys, and I think 268 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: they based the St. Nichola Us is often attributed to 269 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: a Greek saint. Is that correct? Yeah, there are several 270 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: others that then get wrapped up in this one guy 271 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: that we call St. Nicholas now, and they're all these 272 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: different stories about you know, we talked about it and 273 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: throwing the coins into um a needy family's home, and 274 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: that's where the stockings came from, because he allegedly put 275 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: him in a stocking. Um. There was a great picture 276 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: I found. It was a painting of one of the St. 277 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 1: Nick's saving a I think he was he was he 278 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: was a prisoner of some sort and he was going 279 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 1: to be executed and he was staying the blade. It's 280 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: a painting of I guess a time when this one 281 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: of the saints saved a guy from being executed. It 282 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: was an awesome painting on some on some straight up 283 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:49,719 Speaker 1: gandof thou shalt not oh, totally man, He's just not today. 284 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: So um it's it's weird because we are often we 285 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: we often grow up, at least in the States, associating 286 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: the idea of this jolly obese man with a snow 287 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: white beard who goes into your house at night, but 288 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: it's okay because he leaves things for you. Um. And 289 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: it's it's astounding that coca cola is uh so so 290 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: inextricably intertwined with the story of the modern Santa Claus. 291 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: Because I know some people write to us about that. 292 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,719 Speaker 1: Um we I think we explore some of that in 293 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: our episode. Do we mention that a little bit? Well, 294 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: maybe we'll do another one, where does Santa come From? 295 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: That's going Um so while we're off to work on that, 296 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: let us know what you think. Check out our shows, 297 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: drop us a line on Facebook and Twitter where conspiracy 298 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: stuff at both of those places. Please do tell your 299 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: friends about this show. When you're sitting around, like right now, 300 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: if you're listening to this alone in your room after 301 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: you've been hanging out with family all day, you should 302 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: go downstairs. May be, uh I don't get your dad 303 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: or your mom or your sister, your brother, get somebody 304 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: and be like, hey, you should check this out. This 305 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,360 Speaker 1: is crazy show that I really like. Uh, you can 306 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: show them our video. To show them the video, share 307 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,159 Speaker 1: it on Facebook. It will be awesome and tell us 308 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: what they think, even even if they don't like it. 309 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: But Matt, what do you what kind of emails do 310 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: you want to receive this time around? Well? I do 311 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: want to know. I want to know the most heartfelt 312 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: or the most thoughtful gifts that you got for somebody 313 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: this year. I want to know about that. I want 314 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: to know why, like why you got what it was, 315 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: and why you got it for that person. Does it 316 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: need to be a Christmas gift? You cann't be, you know, 317 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: just like or maybe just the kind thing you did 318 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: for somebody, Okay at some point in the year. That's 319 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, is you do something kind for somebody, 320 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 1: just randomly, or for somebody you know really well, or 321 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,679 Speaker 1: just for somebody at the grocery store. Just do something 322 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: cool and let us know the story. We may just 323 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: read it on air. You can write to us directly. 324 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: Our email It's us is conspiracy at how stepworks dot com. 325 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: M H.