Ancestral Findings

Well, two big reasons show up in the history.

One reason is a theological calculation that shows up early. A Christian writer named Sextus Julius Africanus (early 200s) argued that Jesus was conceived on March 25 and was born nine months later on December 25.  

Another reason is the Roman winter season. By late December, the empire already had major celebrations, including solstice-related festivals such as Sol Invictus on December...

In Poland, Christmas takes a different form than in many places. The most significant family moment often happens on Christmas Eve, not Christmas morning. That Christmas Eve gathering is called Wigilia, and in many homes it is the main event of the season. Even people who are not very religious still keep Wigilia traditions because they are tied to home, family, and the feeling that this night matters...

Podcast Notes...

Christmas in Mexico is not usually treated like one neat day on a calendar. It feels more like a long build that gets louder, brighter, and more crowded as it moves toward Christmas Eve. In many places, the season spills into the street. Neighbors join in. Kids play a role. Food shows up in big batches. Music follows you around like it owns the place.

A lot of Mexican Christmas customs come from Christian tradition, especially Cath...

December in South Africa does not whisper in with cold nights and frosted windows. It arrives with heat, long afternoons, and bright skies that can still be blue well into the evening. In many homes, Christmas planning is not about keeping warm. It is about finding shade, keeping food cool, and deciding whether the family gathering will happen inside, outside, or both. The season is still Christmas, centered on the birth of Jesus C...

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're looking at Christmas in Brazil.

In Brazil, Christmas often starts late. The house is full, the table is covered, and people are still arriving long after the sun has gone down. Outside, the air is warm because it is summer. Inside, the kitchen has been busy for hours. Someone checks the clock, not because the day is rushed, but because the meal is usually timed to build ...

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're looking at Christmas in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, Christmas is not squeezed into a few days. It spans months and fills homes, churches, streets, and entire neighborhoods. People begin talking about Christmas early, and once it starts, it stays in view for a long time. The heart of it is still the same. Christians gather to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, a...

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're looking at Christmas in Australia.

Christmas in Australia arrives in summer. The days are long, the evenings stay warm, and the sun is strong. That changes the look of the season right away. There is no snow. There are no winter coats. Instead, you see beaches, backyard shade, cold drinks, and families planning how to gather without melting in the heat.

Even in the summe...

Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we're taking a look at Christmas in Japan.

In December, Japan looks like it is ready for Christmas. Cities light up at night. Store windows fill with trees, ornaments, and Santa Claus. Christmas music plays in shopping areas, train stations, offices, and restaurants. Bakeries line their shelves with seasonal cakes, and signs advertising special meals appear weeks ahead of time...

Today, let's step into Ukraine during Christmas.

Ukraine is a country where Christianity has been part of daily life for more than a thousand years. In the year 988, the rulers of Kyivan Rus accepted Christianity, and from that point on, Christian worship became part of how families lived, worked, and marked the year. Christmas grew out of that long history, shaped by church life and home life together.

Because of this, Christmas i...

When you arrive in Iceland in December, the first thing you notice is the quiet. Snow sits on the hills like a thick blanket, steam rises from hot springs, and the cold air feels crisp but clean. Towns look small against the vast landscape, and most homes glow with warm lights by mid-afternoon. The short daylight makes every window feel like a beacon, and families across the country lean into these warm touches to brighten the long...

If you visit Denmark in December, the first thing you notice is the season's softness. Winter comes early, and daylight is brief, so the Danes respond with warm lights, quiet streets, and homes that glow through the dark. It feels like the whole country leans into comfort when the cold settles in. Walking through a Danish town at this time of year, you see people moving at an easy pace, carrying small bags from local shops, and hea...

Winter settles early in Finland. Snow drifts across roads and fields, covering the ground in a thick white layer that stays for months. Days grow short, with the sun rising late and setting early, sometimes leaving only a faint glow in the sky before darkness returns. These long nights shape the pace of December. Finnish families respond to the darkness by filling their homes with light, warmth, and steady traditions that guide the...

Norway enters December with early sunsets, cold mornings, and towns covered in snow. Families across the country settle into routines that feel steady and comforting. The winter can be long, so people bring warmth into their homes. Windows glow with lights, ovens fill with baked goods, and families take out decorations that they store away the rest of the year. The season feels more like a shared tradition than a single holiday, an...

Christmas in Sweden unfolds during one of the darkest times of the year. Days are short, nights are long, and much of the country sees only a few hours of daylight in December. These conditions gave shape to many Swedish Christmas customs. Families learned to bring light into their homes through candles, soft decorations, warm food, and long held habits passed down through generations.

The season begins in late November ...

Christmas in Scotland has a long history shaped by home life, local customs, weather, church traditions, and the slow return of daylight after long winter nights. Scotland is known for cold Decembers, early sunsets, and quiet towns lit by warm windows. These things give the season its feeling. Families have passed down habits for hundreds of years. Some came from church. Others came from farming life. Others grew from the way peopl...

Christmas in France has ...

Let's walk into the Chri...

Let's explore the Christ...

Let's explore the richne...