Hi and welcome back to our wonderful Christmas traditions around the world. I am Z Michelson, and this podcast is what we're doing to explore the most fascinating and surprising and heartwarming holiday traditions around the world. And I know I didn't hit on every country or even every state in the United States. But what I do like is that we have a little taste of what goes on around the world. When this episode airs, I know it's going to be the week after Christmas Day. However, many, many cultures celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, which is January 6th, and that is supposedly when the Three Kings arrived at the manger. So people do celebrate all the way up to January 6th. However, this is my final episode, and today we're going to explore some symbols such as flowers to folklore, and we're going to meet Santa's various global cousins. So with that in mind, I am going to take you back to Germany. Yes, Germany. It's called Christhein, Germany. Now instead of Santa in Germany, many of the German families are visited by Christheind, a gentle, angelic figure who delivers gifts quietly and anonymously. Doesn't that sound cute? And again, this is in Germany. So Germany has many, many different traditions. You can go online and probably Google what are the German traditions, and they'll probably give you a lot more than what I'm saying here. However, like I said, these are small little vignettes just to kind of give you an idea of some of the different traditions that are celebrated around the world. Now I am going to go to Russia next. Yep, believe it or not, Russia. Russia has what's called Father Frost. Now in Russia, Father Frost or Dead Moroz, I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing that right, so I do apologize. They deliver gifts on January 7th. Remember what I said about the Feast of the Epiphany? Now on January 7th, this tall Father Frost, he's very tall, he's very regal, and he travels with his granddaughter, the snow maiden. Doesn't that sound cute? So again, we're in Russia. Father Frost, he travels around with his granddaughter, the snow maiden. Interesting, considering Prussia is very, very cold. Now what I'm going to do next is I am going to ask everybody to send me an email of how your family traditions celebrate. What do you do? Is there something different that nobody else does, just other than your family? Now you can send me a direct email. It's zmichelson at gmail.com. Don't forget Z is spelled Z-E-E. So zmichelson at gmail.com. I'd really love to hear your family tradition, how you celebrate. Do you incorporate any of your culture, heritage into your traditions? That'll be fun. And maybe next year you'll be featured on my Christmas traditions around the world. Moving right along, I'm going to New Zealand. Yeah, I don't think I've hit New Zealand in these episodes. So it's a place in New Zealand, and I do apologize, I'm gonna really make a mess out of this name. Pautukawa, and I'm gonna spell it for you. P O H U T U K A W A. New Zealand. New Zealand's official Christmas flower isn't the Poinsettia. Nope, it's not the Poinsettia. It's the bright red Pokukawa blossom. And again, I'm probably destroying that poor name, but it sounds pretty. Now this blossom covering the country in color during the southern hemisphere, summer's Christmas. Because yes, they have their summer in our northeast winter. So again, they have this wonderful flower. It does cover the countryside during the season, and they do have summer at that time of year. Or I should say summer weather. Now here's something exciting. China. Now, China has what's called Christmas apples. The Chinese family exchanged beautifully packaged apples on Christmas Eve. These traditions began because the word apple resembles the Chinese word for peace. Isn't that nice? So in China, the word apple resembles the word for peace. So Chinese families exchange beautifully packaged apples on Christmas Eve. That would be pretty cool to do here, don't you think? Package up some apples and give it to your neighbor. You know, it's a new tradition because the word in Chinese resembles the word peace. Now this is my last one, and I know I've talked about this on some of my shows and perhaps even on my radio station, which is ZMaxRadio.live, in case you want to hear some great Christmas music to the end of the year. Now on St. Lucia Day in Sweden, that's December 13th. Now on this day, on the 13th in December, the oldest daughter wears a white gown and a glowing wreath of candles. She brings coffee and saffron buns to her family. Saint Lucia Day marks the hopeful beginning of the holiday season. So the oldest daughter wears a white gown and a glowing wreath of candles, and I know that this is very exciting for the youngsters, the daughter that gets the oldest daughter that gets picked, and sometimes they celebrate with other families around the neighborhood. So on December 13th, the oldest daughter wears a white gown, a glowing wreath of candles, bringing coffee and saffron buns. And I'm sure you can find the recipe for saffron buns on the internet. Saint Lucia Day marks the hopeful beginning of the holiday season. So it is part of the kickoff to the holiday season. That might be something fun to do with your kids, and I wouldn't do candles that really burn flame. I would do the little candles that are LED lights. Makes it a little safer. Well that's it, guys. I've been through several of these episodes, and that's all the global Christmas journeys I have for you this year. I know there are a lot more out there, and I'll bring some more to you next year. But from witchers to roll a skates to lanterns to tamales, Christmas traditions around the world is far richer and more diverse than most of us ever, ever imagined. So thanks for listening today. Thanks for tuning into my podcast. Feel free to listen to my radio station till the end of the year because we play Christmas music and holiday traditions on zmaxradio. And wherever you are, may your holiday season be bright, joyful, and full of wonder. Again, this is Z Michelson, and remember what I always say reach for those stars, and if you can only get to the moon, at least you made the trip. Have a happy new year, everyone.