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Epcot Festival of the Holidays Part 1

57:27
 
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Manage episode 312318533 series 2983405
Контент предоставлен Jason Canapp. Весь контент подкастов, включая выпуски, графику и описания подкастов, загружается и предоставляется непосредственно Jason Canapp или его партнером по платформе подкастов. Если вы считаете, что кто-то использует вашу работу, защищенную авторским правом, без вашего разрешения, вы можете выполнить процедуру, описанную здесь https://ru.player.fm/legal.
Soundscapes: Epcot Festival of the Holidays Part 1 Follow along with the show notes below!

Want More Here With The Magic?

Connect on social media:

We invite you to join us for Here With The Magic's 12 Days of Christmas! Beginning on December 12th, we will be covering over 8,000 miles and presenting 16 shows (4 of which will be exclusive to Here With The Magic Café Members) from exciting, festive locations! To learn more and to RSVP, click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2824527467846040

----------

(4:17) For centuries, the Winter Solstice has marked the emergence of religious and cultural celebrations all around the world. For millennia, it has been a time of reverence for and connection with nature, a moment to align ourselves with the natural world, the seasons, and the spiritual connotations of the Earth.

It has also served as a period of acknowledgement and gathering across diverse cultures and belief systems that exist in different parts of the world. As yet another calendar page reaches its end, we find ourselves once again in the imminence of the Winter Solstice, the holiday season, and all of the joy and anticipation it brings. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the New Year or the age-old festival of the Winter Solstice, whether you participate in religious traditions or not, the act of gathering together with friends and loved ones to share a joyful, sensory experience is a recurring theme found the world over, in holidays both old and new.

Here at EPCOT, the Festival of the Holidays promises that same feeling of joy in each of the eleven represented nations. Though each has its own unique culture and customs, a sense of familiarity propagates throughout every narrative. Weaving in and out of each story like the sweet aroma of holiday treats, the infectious, abundant merriment found Here could only inspire curiosity and an appetite for discovery.

(6:00) Our yuletide celebration begins at the forecourt of the World Showcase, where an unseen orchestra welcomes us with a symphony of classic holiday carols. Encircling the vast Lagoon is a collection of the most renowned destinations, their talismans and notable landmarks towering high over the heads of awestruck travelers. Each have gathered for this International Festival of the Holidays, to share their cherished traditions and divulge the legends that have been passed down through the generations. With so many enchanting stories to step into, this crossroads begs the question: where to begin? Clockwise, of course!

(7:12) The vibrant tapestry of color and music emanating from our left draws us into the heart of a joyous celebration in Mexico - ¡Feliz Navidad! All around us, the vibrato of mariachi song mingles with vivid hues of fuchsia and yellow to join the traditional red and green. Poinsettia flowers thrive in the warm, sun-bathed climate, and the intoxicating aroma of arepas, tamales, horchata and jalapeño engage our senses and hold us captive in their assertion.

The Mayan pyramid which stands sentinel at the heart of the pavilion carries on the Navidad festivities with vivacious decor to echo the mood redolent throughout the pavilion. Inside the eternally twilit Mercado, we find a host of holiday merrymakers shopping and dining by the waterside canal, taking leisurely boat rides or sampling the nation’s finest tequila.

(9:00) This pavilion is alive with laughter and memories in the making, and we get to catch a glimpse of what it might be like to celebrate the season in Oaxaca or Mexico City, wandering the open air markets and listening to the animated excitement of the locals as they share their plans for the holiday with one another.

(11:33) Back outside in the real-time sunshine, the talented vocalists and violinists of Mariachi Cobre regale us with beautiful holiday songs. Their jubilant geniality and heartwarming song lifts our spirits as their music soars and lilts around us. Dancers join the mariachi to tell the tale of Las Posadas.

(12:34) Las Posadas is a ritual reenactment of a very select part of the Christmas story, wherein Mary and Joseph, imminently anticipating the birth of their son, earnestly seek lodging in Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem. As they are turned away again and again, their hope wavers even in the light of their great mission for God, until one kind soul offers the safety and warmth of a stable and a bed of sweet-smelling hay.

Let’s pause in this place for a moment to hear this beloved story, preserved through the ages and upheld by a melody to revive even the most enervated soul. Clap along and dance for joy; in Mexico, every day is a fiesta!

(21:05) From ¡Feliz Navidad! to Good Yul! we make our way past the Royal Summerhus and onto the fjords of Scandinavia, bidding the last reverberating notes of Mariachi Cobre a fond farewell. Here, we find festive touches bundled up in fair isle sweaters and plenty of yuletide cheer to keep us warm on a long winter’s night.

Beloved for its picturesque winter scenes and mysterious legends of Norse gods and Vikings, Norway has a cozy, whimsical feel around the holidays. Sweeping fjords bordered by tiny kingdoms and towering stave churches lend an air of storybook Magic to this enigmatic part of the world. Frosted and gilded with glimmering icicles, Norway is a winter wonderland at the approach of the Solstice, with long, starry nights offering breathtaking views of the majestic Aurora Borealis. Here, St. Lucia’s Day inspires a Festival of Lights to honor the Winter Solstice. Fires are lit to enliven the night and ward off sinister spirits, and young girls wear wreaths of candles on their heads to pay homage to St. Lucia’s martyrdom for her faith.

Here in this quaint Norwegian village, we find no shortage of festive decorations and inviting aromas. The Kringle Bakeri is warm and inviting, laden with sweetly spiced lefse, ornate kransekake, and skolebrød sprinkled with snowy coconut. Who could resist stopping in for a spell, to escape the cold and share a moment of sugary joy. Shops adorned in wreaths and holly are full of holiday bustle, while in the square outside, travelers gather to hear the story of a beloved holiday figure as he is known and loved by Norwegians.

(21:40) Julenissen is the cunning and clever barn “Santa” who brings Christmas presents to children. In Scandinavian tradition, a nisse is a silly, temperamental spirit tasked with caring for and ensuring the prosperity of the family he watches over. In the mid-nineteenth century, Julenissen became the spirited and generous gift-bearer to not just Norwegians, but many Scandinavians. He embodies the jolly nature of our more well-known Santa Claus, with all the mystique and lore of a guardian spirit, though his love of porridge and hiding in hayloft is a bit of a departure from cookies and milk by the fireside. His antics delight visitors of all ages as he spontaneously appears while a local woman, Sigrid, retells the timeless story of Julenissen and his integral part in the Norwegian holiday season. Let your heart be light as you listen to the tale of this jovial holiday legend.

(34:55) With the ringing of the Yule bell, our Christmas celebration in Norway comes to an end. A new year is just around the corner, and so we are invited to step into a very different narrative, one which dates back to ancient times and is highly revered by the people of China and their rich, enduring culture.

(35:45:) Chinese New Year is a time of hope and reflection, of gratitude and resilient optimism. Also known as Lunar New Year, this ritual dates back over three thousand years to the Shang Dynasty, when it was observed as a winter festival to honor the gods and ancestors. In an effort to thwart the vicious agenda of the beast, Nian, people wore red clothes, burned bamboo, and made commotion to scare him away. Today, the celebration continues as a more entertaining endeavor. Chinese families gather to exchange gifts wrapped in red paper, set off firecrackers and fireworks, and stay up late enjoying delicious, “lucky” food at a reunion dinner.

(37:00) One of the most recognizable Chinese New Year traditions is the incredible Lion Dance, which is either watched or performed by Chinese citizens and in Chinese communities across the globe. In China, the Lion symbolizes good luck and prosperity, strength of body and mind. With the new year at hand, the Lion Dance is performed to chase away evil spirits and bring good fortune to all in the months ahead.

Vibrant and astonishing to behold, this custom is unlike anything we experience in the Western world. While it evokes the same festive, whimsical persona as parade floats might do Here at Walt Disney World, the spiritual resonance and cultural significance of this tradition leave us awestruck at the millennia of history and heritage speaking through this majestic creature and the magnificent ceremony at hand. Let’s pause, once again, before we travel back to Christmastime. Be Here With the Magic of this ancestral story and its sounds still echoing through the ages.

(44:50) Across the bridge from China, a lively, percussive interlude meets our ears in the African Outpost. A space often overlooked by travelers on their way to the pavilion beyond, the Outpost has some of the most beautiful views of World Showcase Lagoon.

A marketplace mottled with the crafts and creations of traveling artisans, the vibrant rhythm and fascinating array of trinkets make this the perfect place to find a stocking stuffer or Hanukkah present as we pass through on our way to the next holiday story. Move to the beat and feel the gentle breeze drifting across the lagoon as you stroll along with us to the Bavarian village adorned in Christmas charm.

(46:20) Germany is the country wherein many of our most beloved holiday traditions find their origin. The first Christmas trees were decorated and displayed in German homes in the seventeenth century, laden with roses and apples, candies and other sweet delights. Hand-carved wooden nutcrackers said to protect families from danger were given as tokens of good luck, and still today are such an iconic symbol of the season. Christmas angels are found in nearly every German home, passed down through the generations as symbols of those talismans of Christmastime: hope, love, peace, joy, and togetherness.

During the month of December, Christmas markets pop up in cities and towns all over the world, seeking to emulate the look and feel of the original Weihnachtsmarkt in Germany. Stalls huddled together beneath majestic pine trees are hung with holly and ribbons and draped in sparkling lights and, if you’re lucky, a fresh blanket of snow. The cozy feel and evident yuletide cheer mingles with the inviting aroma of warm gingerbread and roasted chestnuts, like a Christmas scene right out of a Hallmark card or a Dickens novel. Friends and family meet to enjoy a glass of mulled wine or a sizzling bratwurst, exchange season’s greetings, or browse the selection of handmade ornaments and decorations from local crafters.

Here at EPCOT, a quaint Bavarian town has been transformed into an exquisite storybook village alight with holiday Magic. Red and gold baubles gleam from their garlands and wreaths adorning every shop and lampost, in every corner of this charming Alpine alcove. The smell of sweet caramel and savory schnitzel rises on the melody of a Christmas polka, inviting our senses to decide whether or not to assuage or deny our sweet tooth.

Shouts of “Prost!” and the clinking of steins signify an exuberant celebration, as visitors share stories and laughter by the fountain in the center of the square, inside the Weinkeller, and in between bites of strudel. Children crane their necks to watch in awe the confectioners and glass blowers at work on their beautiful (and often delicious) creations.

A chink of warm light spills into the square from the Die Weihnachte Ecke, the Christmas Corner where German Christmas decorations and centuries-old traditions are displayed and sold year-round. Find a blown glass Christmas pickle to hide in your tree on Christmas Eve, an Advent calendar to count down the days with your family, or an ornately hand-crafted Nutcracker to stand sentinel on your mantel, waiting for Der Weihnachtsmann - Santa Claus!

Encumbered by gifts and treats and a pretzel the size of wagon wheel, it is time to wish a Frohe Weihnachten (Merry Christmas) to Germany, the Weihnachtsmarkt, and all the Magic of the season in this European Christmas fairytale come to life. As we bid Auf Wiedersehen to the merry tunes, luscious sweets, and joyful memories we’ve made Here, we can hear the accordion music shift and crescendo as we continue our whirlwind holiday tour in…Italy!

(50:40) Residing in Southern Europe and bordered by the Mediterranean, Italy’s diverse landscapes, ornate architecture, and largely Roman Catholic population make it an international destination during the holiday season. From the snow-capped Alps in Northern Italy to the romantic canals of Venice and the sovereign grandeur of Rome, every region offers its own idiosyncratic customs and cuisine to accompany the merriment.

In the North, the joy of Christmas morning begins at midnight with a torch-lit ski trip down the mountains. In Rome, Italians attend Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican, where the Pope himself presides over the congregation to relay a message of peace and goodwill while a choir fills the palatial space with glorious song.

One of the most eminent hallmarks of Italian culture is the importance of gathering together with friends and loved ones to share a meal and purvey gratitude for the gift of life and each other. At Christmastime, this ritual takes on an even greater meaning. Deliciously irresistible delicacies and traditional feasts are at the heart of the holiday for Italians during this month-long celebration. On Christmas Eve, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditionally meatless custom that includes seven (yes, seven!) courses of seafood to begin the holiday on a pure and healthful note.

Then, all is undone by the plethora of regional sweets that adorn holiday tables in homes across the country. Panettone is the perfect accompaniment to a Christmas morning cappuccino, while a Roman breakfast spread might include spiced mostaccioli pastries. In Siena, cavallucci flavored with almonds, anise, and bejeweled with candied fruit dance of the palette and recall sweet memories of holidays past. All throughout Italy, tables groan under the weight of such tantalizing treats, while laughter rings from the rafters and glasses are raised high in hope and joyous revelry.

Here at EPCOT, we find a replica reminiscent of a Christmas scene in Piazza San Marco, complete with garland and lights strung up along the archways of Doge’s Palace and wrapping the wrought iron lampposts casting halos of light onto the stone benches and the towering Campanile. The genuine counterpart of this Venetian square also plays host to a multi-story tree comprised entirely of golden lights, with a gleaming Star of Bethlehem burning brightly into the night from on high.

(51:20) Here, the square remains open and inviting, elegant and refined. The raised platform at the center serves as a sort of stage to welcome our final guest of honor, a most enigmatic and benevolent figure called La Befana. Her story is legend, dating back to as early as the eighth century, and helps to account for the reason why, in Italy, Christmas is celebrated well into January.

As she tells her tale of Christmas, of how she has searched in earnest for the Christ child each Epiphany Eve for more than two thousand years, listen to the yearning in her voice, the longing to complete her quest, and the generosity of spirit that she has displayed throughout her journey.

La Befana leaves gifts and sweet treats for Italian children on the evening of January 5th, hoping that she will find the Christ child in her travels. In exchange, families leave a glass of goccia di grappa (Italian brandy) a wedge of cheese to fortify as she goes. And although she declined the invitation of the three wise men to accompany them on their way to visit the baby Jesus, she has never given up her dream of finding him and paying homage with her own humble offerings. Legend tells of her diligence and unwavering faith, her kindness, and the hope that guides her on her way. She is undeterred and tenacious; her spirit cannot be broken at the notion of her dream finally being realized someday, somehow.

La Befana’s story is the perfect place to pause on our holiday tour of nations. Listen to her words, the passion in her voice as she inspires us to seek the desires of our hearts, to say “yes” in the year to come - to new adventures, chance encounters, and quiet moments of joy and reflection at all of the wonders that surround us.

The holiday season is a time to turn back time and contemplate, not just the triumphs and trials of the year gone by, but the moments in between. These are the moments of waiting, of wondering, of wishing and willing reality to pan out half as well as our daydreams. They are the moments of pause and peace and utter contentment that stand out in our memory as prominently as our highs and lows. They are the “before;” before the sun comes up, before the day winds down, before the clock strikes midnight and we welcome in a brand new year.

Let’s create more of those moments this holiday season. Let’s find more Magic in the mundane, more wonder in the waiting. Like La Befana waiting in wistful longing for the appearance of the Christ child, like the anticipation of a season of joy and togetherness, or of the arrival of a sprightly barn Santa, these moments of “before” are charged with such a palpable energy, it could only be described as the Magic of the holiday season.

And so, until we continue our yuletide expedition around the world, we hope you’ll find a moment to step into these timeless and beloved holiday stories. Find a narrative that resonates with you, that fills you with a sense of nostalgic joy or curiosity. Listen to the sounds of the season, both near and far, and let your heart be comforted by the holiday traditions that never fail to find us and bring us home, year after year.

As our holiday journey continues, we hope you’ll come along and be a part of it all. Let us bring you into the realms of enchantment that live Here, onto the pages of this living storybook that spans the generations. Let your heart be light. Let your spirit be lifted up, adorned with Christmas cheer, and Here, as always, With the Magic.

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Manage episode 312318533 series 2983405
Контент предоставлен Jason Canapp. Весь контент подкастов, включая выпуски, графику и описания подкастов, загружается и предоставляется непосредственно Jason Canapp или его партнером по платформе подкастов. Если вы считаете, что кто-то использует вашу работу, защищенную авторским правом, без вашего разрешения, вы можете выполнить процедуру, описанную здесь https://ru.player.fm/legal.
Soundscapes: Epcot Festival of the Holidays Part 1 Follow along with the show notes below!

Want More Here With The Magic?

Connect on social media:

We invite you to join us for Here With The Magic's 12 Days of Christmas! Beginning on December 12th, we will be covering over 8,000 miles and presenting 16 shows (4 of which will be exclusive to Here With The Magic Café Members) from exciting, festive locations! To learn more and to RSVP, click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2824527467846040

----------

(4:17) For centuries, the Winter Solstice has marked the emergence of religious and cultural celebrations all around the world. For millennia, it has been a time of reverence for and connection with nature, a moment to align ourselves with the natural world, the seasons, and the spiritual connotations of the Earth.

It has also served as a period of acknowledgement and gathering across diverse cultures and belief systems that exist in different parts of the world. As yet another calendar page reaches its end, we find ourselves once again in the imminence of the Winter Solstice, the holiday season, and all of the joy and anticipation it brings. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the New Year or the age-old festival of the Winter Solstice, whether you participate in religious traditions or not, the act of gathering together with friends and loved ones to share a joyful, sensory experience is a recurring theme found the world over, in holidays both old and new.

Here at EPCOT, the Festival of the Holidays promises that same feeling of joy in each of the eleven represented nations. Though each has its own unique culture and customs, a sense of familiarity propagates throughout every narrative. Weaving in and out of each story like the sweet aroma of holiday treats, the infectious, abundant merriment found Here could only inspire curiosity and an appetite for discovery.

(6:00) Our yuletide celebration begins at the forecourt of the World Showcase, where an unseen orchestra welcomes us with a symphony of classic holiday carols. Encircling the vast Lagoon is a collection of the most renowned destinations, their talismans and notable landmarks towering high over the heads of awestruck travelers. Each have gathered for this International Festival of the Holidays, to share their cherished traditions and divulge the legends that have been passed down through the generations. With so many enchanting stories to step into, this crossroads begs the question: where to begin? Clockwise, of course!

(7:12) The vibrant tapestry of color and music emanating from our left draws us into the heart of a joyous celebration in Mexico - ¡Feliz Navidad! All around us, the vibrato of mariachi song mingles with vivid hues of fuchsia and yellow to join the traditional red and green. Poinsettia flowers thrive in the warm, sun-bathed climate, and the intoxicating aroma of arepas, tamales, horchata and jalapeño engage our senses and hold us captive in their assertion.

The Mayan pyramid which stands sentinel at the heart of the pavilion carries on the Navidad festivities with vivacious decor to echo the mood redolent throughout the pavilion. Inside the eternally twilit Mercado, we find a host of holiday merrymakers shopping and dining by the waterside canal, taking leisurely boat rides or sampling the nation’s finest tequila.

(9:00) This pavilion is alive with laughter and memories in the making, and we get to catch a glimpse of what it might be like to celebrate the season in Oaxaca or Mexico City, wandering the open air markets and listening to the animated excitement of the locals as they share their plans for the holiday with one another.

(11:33) Back outside in the real-time sunshine, the talented vocalists and violinists of Mariachi Cobre regale us with beautiful holiday songs. Their jubilant geniality and heartwarming song lifts our spirits as their music soars and lilts around us. Dancers join the mariachi to tell the tale of Las Posadas.

(12:34) Las Posadas is a ritual reenactment of a very select part of the Christmas story, wherein Mary and Joseph, imminently anticipating the birth of their son, earnestly seek lodging in Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem. As they are turned away again and again, their hope wavers even in the light of their great mission for God, until one kind soul offers the safety and warmth of a stable and a bed of sweet-smelling hay.

Let’s pause in this place for a moment to hear this beloved story, preserved through the ages and upheld by a melody to revive even the most enervated soul. Clap along and dance for joy; in Mexico, every day is a fiesta!

(21:05) From ¡Feliz Navidad! to Good Yul! we make our way past the Royal Summerhus and onto the fjords of Scandinavia, bidding the last reverberating notes of Mariachi Cobre a fond farewell. Here, we find festive touches bundled up in fair isle sweaters and plenty of yuletide cheer to keep us warm on a long winter’s night.

Beloved for its picturesque winter scenes and mysterious legends of Norse gods and Vikings, Norway has a cozy, whimsical feel around the holidays. Sweeping fjords bordered by tiny kingdoms and towering stave churches lend an air of storybook Magic to this enigmatic part of the world. Frosted and gilded with glimmering icicles, Norway is a winter wonderland at the approach of the Solstice, with long, starry nights offering breathtaking views of the majestic Aurora Borealis. Here, St. Lucia’s Day inspires a Festival of Lights to honor the Winter Solstice. Fires are lit to enliven the night and ward off sinister spirits, and young girls wear wreaths of candles on their heads to pay homage to St. Lucia’s martyrdom for her faith.

Here in this quaint Norwegian village, we find no shortage of festive decorations and inviting aromas. The Kringle Bakeri is warm and inviting, laden with sweetly spiced lefse, ornate kransekake, and skolebrød sprinkled with snowy coconut. Who could resist stopping in for a spell, to escape the cold and share a moment of sugary joy. Shops adorned in wreaths and holly are full of holiday bustle, while in the square outside, travelers gather to hear the story of a beloved holiday figure as he is known and loved by Norwegians.

(21:40) Julenissen is the cunning and clever barn “Santa” who brings Christmas presents to children. In Scandinavian tradition, a nisse is a silly, temperamental spirit tasked with caring for and ensuring the prosperity of the family he watches over. In the mid-nineteenth century, Julenissen became the spirited and generous gift-bearer to not just Norwegians, but many Scandinavians. He embodies the jolly nature of our more well-known Santa Claus, with all the mystique and lore of a guardian spirit, though his love of porridge and hiding in hayloft is a bit of a departure from cookies and milk by the fireside. His antics delight visitors of all ages as he spontaneously appears while a local woman, Sigrid, retells the timeless story of Julenissen and his integral part in the Norwegian holiday season. Let your heart be light as you listen to the tale of this jovial holiday legend.

(34:55) With the ringing of the Yule bell, our Christmas celebration in Norway comes to an end. A new year is just around the corner, and so we are invited to step into a very different narrative, one which dates back to ancient times and is highly revered by the people of China and their rich, enduring culture.

(35:45:) Chinese New Year is a time of hope and reflection, of gratitude and resilient optimism. Also known as Lunar New Year, this ritual dates back over three thousand years to the Shang Dynasty, when it was observed as a winter festival to honor the gods and ancestors. In an effort to thwart the vicious agenda of the beast, Nian, people wore red clothes, burned bamboo, and made commotion to scare him away. Today, the celebration continues as a more entertaining endeavor. Chinese families gather to exchange gifts wrapped in red paper, set off firecrackers and fireworks, and stay up late enjoying delicious, “lucky” food at a reunion dinner.

(37:00) One of the most recognizable Chinese New Year traditions is the incredible Lion Dance, which is either watched or performed by Chinese citizens and in Chinese communities across the globe. In China, the Lion symbolizes good luck and prosperity, strength of body and mind. With the new year at hand, the Lion Dance is performed to chase away evil spirits and bring good fortune to all in the months ahead.

Vibrant and astonishing to behold, this custom is unlike anything we experience in the Western world. While it evokes the same festive, whimsical persona as parade floats might do Here at Walt Disney World, the spiritual resonance and cultural significance of this tradition leave us awestruck at the millennia of history and heritage speaking through this majestic creature and the magnificent ceremony at hand. Let’s pause, once again, before we travel back to Christmastime. Be Here With the Magic of this ancestral story and its sounds still echoing through the ages.

(44:50) Across the bridge from China, a lively, percussive interlude meets our ears in the African Outpost. A space often overlooked by travelers on their way to the pavilion beyond, the Outpost has some of the most beautiful views of World Showcase Lagoon.

A marketplace mottled with the crafts and creations of traveling artisans, the vibrant rhythm and fascinating array of trinkets make this the perfect place to find a stocking stuffer or Hanukkah present as we pass through on our way to the next holiday story. Move to the beat and feel the gentle breeze drifting across the lagoon as you stroll along with us to the Bavarian village adorned in Christmas charm.

(46:20) Germany is the country wherein many of our most beloved holiday traditions find their origin. The first Christmas trees were decorated and displayed in German homes in the seventeenth century, laden with roses and apples, candies and other sweet delights. Hand-carved wooden nutcrackers said to protect families from danger were given as tokens of good luck, and still today are such an iconic symbol of the season. Christmas angels are found in nearly every German home, passed down through the generations as symbols of those talismans of Christmastime: hope, love, peace, joy, and togetherness.

During the month of December, Christmas markets pop up in cities and towns all over the world, seeking to emulate the look and feel of the original Weihnachtsmarkt in Germany. Stalls huddled together beneath majestic pine trees are hung with holly and ribbons and draped in sparkling lights and, if you’re lucky, a fresh blanket of snow. The cozy feel and evident yuletide cheer mingles with the inviting aroma of warm gingerbread and roasted chestnuts, like a Christmas scene right out of a Hallmark card or a Dickens novel. Friends and family meet to enjoy a glass of mulled wine or a sizzling bratwurst, exchange season’s greetings, or browse the selection of handmade ornaments and decorations from local crafters.

Here at EPCOT, a quaint Bavarian town has been transformed into an exquisite storybook village alight with holiday Magic. Red and gold baubles gleam from their garlands and wreaths adorning every shop and lampost, in every corner of this charming Alpine alcove. The smell of sweet caramel and savory schnitzel rises on the melody of a Christmas polka, inviting our senses to decide whether or not to assuage or deny our sweet tooth.

Shouts of “Prost!” and the clinking of steins signify an exuberant celebration, as visitors share stories and laughter by the fountain in the center of the square, inside the Weinkeller, and in between bites of strudel. Children crane their necks to watch in awe the confectioners and glass blowers at work on their beautiful (and often delicious) creations.

A chink of warm light spills into the square from the Die Weihnachte Ecke, the Christmas Corner where German Christmas decorations and centuries-old traditions are displayed and sold year-round. Find a blown glass Christmas pickle to hide in your tree on Christmas Eve, an Advent calendar to count down the days with your family, or an ornately hand-crafted Nutcracker to stand sentinel on your mantel, waiting for Der Weihnachtsmann - Santa Claus!

Encumbered by gifts and treats and a pretzel the size of wagon wheel, it is time to wish a Frohe Weihnachten (Merry Christmas) to Germany, the Weihnachtsmarkt, and all the Magic of the season in this European Christmas fairytale come to life. As we bid Auf Wiedersehen to the merry tunes, luscious sweets, and joyful memories we’ve made Here, we can hear the accordion music shift and crescendo as we continue our whirlwind holiday tour in…Italy!

(50:40) Residing in Southern Europe and bordered by the Mediterranean, Italy’s diverse landscapes, ornate architecture, and largely Roman Catholic population make it an international destination during the holiday season. From the snow-capped Alps in Northern Italy to the romantic canals of Venice and the sovereign grandeur of Rome, every region offers its own idiosyncratic customs and cuisine to accompany the merriment.

In the North, the joy of Christmas morning begins at midnight with a torch-lit ski trip down the mountains. In Rome, Italians attend Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican, where the Pope himself presides over the congregation to relay a message of peace and goodwill while a choir fills the palatial space with glorious song.

One of the most eminent hallmarks of Italian culture is the importance of gathering together with friends and loved ones to share a meal and purvey gratitude for the gift of life and each other. At Christmastime, this ritual takes on an even greater meaning. Deliciously irresistible delicacies and traditional feasts are at the heart of the holiday for Italians during this month-long celebration. On Christmas Eve, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditionally meatless custom that includes seven (yes, seven!) courses of seafood to begin the holiday on a pure and healthful note.

Then, all is undone by the plethora of regional sweets that adorn holiday tables in homes across the country. Panettone is the perfect accompaniment to a Christmas morning cappuccino, while a Roman breakfast spread might include spiced mostaccioli pastries. In Siena, cavallucci flavored with almonds, anise, and bejeweled with candied fruit dance of the palette and recall sweet memories of holidays past. All throughout Italy, tables groan under the weight of such tantalizing treats, while laughter rings from the rafters and glasses are raised high in hope and joyous revelry.

Here at EPCOT, we find a replica reminiscent of a Christmas scene in Piazza San Marco, complete with garland and lights strung up along the archways of Doge’s Palace and wrapping the wrought iron lampposts casting halos of light onto the stone benches and the towering Campanile. The genuine counterpart of this Venetian square also plays host to a multi-story tree comprised entirely of golden lights, with a gleaming Star of Bethlehem burning brightly into the night from on high.

(51:20) Here, the square remains open and inviting, elegant and refined. The raised platform at the center serves as a sort of stage to welcome our final guest of honor, a most enigmatic and benevolent figure called La Befana. Her story is legend, dating back to as early as the eighth century, and helps to account for the reason why, in Italy, Christmas is celebrated well into January.

As she tells her tale of Christmas, of how she has searched in earnest for the Christ child each Epiphany Eve for more than two thousand years, listen to the yearning in her voice, the longing to complete her quest, and the generosity of spirit that she has displayed throughout her journey.

La Befana leaves gifts and sweet treats for Italian children on the evening of January 5th, hoping that she will find the Christ child in her travels. In exchange, families leave a glass of goccia di grappa (Italian brandy) a wedge of cheese to fortify as she goes. And although she declined the invitation of the three wise men to accompany them on their way to visit the baby Jesus, she has never given up her dream of finding him and paying homage with her own humble offerings. Legend tells of her diligence and unwavering faith, her kindness, and the hope that guides her on her way. She is undeterred and tenacious; her spirit cannot be broken at the notion of her dream finally being realized someday, somehow.

La Befana’s story is the perfect place to pause on our holiday tour of nations. Listen to her words, the passion in her voice as she inspires us to seek the desires of our hearts, to say “yes” in the year to come - to new adventures, chance encounters, and quiet moments of joy and reflection at all of the wonders that surround us.

The holiday season is a time to turn back time and contemplate, not just the triumphs and trials of the year gone by, but the moments in between. These are the moments of waiting, of wondering, of wishing and willing reality to pan out half as well as our daydreams. They are the moments of pause and peace and utter contentment that stand out in our memory as prominently as our highs and lows. They are the “before;” before the sun comes up, before the day winds down, before the clock strikes midnight and we welcome in a brand new year.

Let’s create more of those moments this holiday season. Let’s find more Magic in the mundane, more wonder in the waiting. Like La Befana waiting in wistful longing for the appearance of the Christ child, like the anticipation of a season of joy and togetherness, or of the arrival of a sprightly barn Santa, these moments of “before” are charged with such a palpable energy, it could only be described as the Magic of the holiday season.

And so, until we continue our yuletide expedition around the world, we hope you’ll find a moment to step into these timeless and beloved holiday stories. Find a narrative that resonates with you, that fills you with a sense of nostalgic joy or curiosity. Listen to the sounds of the season, both near and far, and let your heart be comforted by the holiday traditions that never fail to find us and bring us home, year after year.

As our holiday journey continues, we hope you’ll come along and be a part of it all. Let us bring you into the realms of enchantment that live Here, onto the pages of this living storybook that spans the generations. Let your heart be light. Let your spirit be lifted up, adorned with Christmas cheer, and Here, as always, With the Magic.

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