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In the waning days of the old year, when the sun turned hot and the wind warm, there came word from the South Country. It was said that the Fellowship of the Festive Fans had a mission in the land of the Middle Earth. A spiritual quest was formed to find the Kiwi Christmas.

Could it be there, not in the cold hearts of the orcs and the trolls, but in the ordinary folk in the country and the cities? Is it absent, scattered like starlight across the sea, faded in the sad and meager lives like the weary world we see in the moving picture called Christmas?

The festive group sets out from a small and stunning hamlet, nestled between the misted ranges and the blue hush of the Pacific. The sun is high and the grass is green in Oceania, not like the world above with its snow and shoveling. What is Christmas in this land? Does it have its own songs and laughter, along with its long and golden evenings?

Along the journey, there are ancient ferns and plants here with many rivers that whisper of old magic. There are no icicles, no frosty panes — only fish grilled hangi-style and sweet wine. We travel to the roadstops, strange but beautiful places with names like Queenstown and Auckland, and the companions are bewildered. There are no wreaths, no sleighbells, no reindeer. Only sunburn, barbecues, sausages, and Snoopy’s Christmas. We ask the same question: “Have you seen Christmas here?”

At last, the company arrives at a high hill above the Bay of Islands, where an old pohutukawa blooms with crimson fire. It is the place where the first Christmas mass was celebrated. The tree stands watch, its bark gnarled with age and memory. Beneath it, is a message, spoken not with tongue, but with the wind and sea, and in a voice as deep as midwinter.

“You seek Christmas,” we all hear, though no voice speaks. “Know that men carry it with them. You speak as though Christmas lives only in a wintry place, with its snow-laden songs. But here, it wears jandals and is found in the barbecue smoke. It dances in the eyes of tamariki leaping through sprinklers. It is summer-born, and it lives in true hope and kindness, no matter the location."

And so, after this episode, the circle is no longer sad for the plight of the family in Christmas. We do not search any longer, we are knowing. Christmas is found in New Zealand, and not with traditional images of snowmen, skating, and fireplaces. Instead, it lives with blue skies, beaches and the sunlight borne by its residents to the ends of the Middle Earth. And lo! It is good, especially for a 50th episode!

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Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message)

The Festive Fans take this episode to Ethiopia to answer that age-old question: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Well, yes they do. In fact, it’s a lot different than what you might imagine. They like fasting, then eating, then playing a competitive field hockey game played like medieval combat. It’s an ancient tradition carried on now with neighbor against neighbor or town against town. Typically, it is played by men only, and it is supposed to be the game that the shepherds played the night that Jesus was born – “allegedly”.

Oh, and for Christmas, Ethiopians will dress in white. And it’s not on December 25th, it’s on January 7, according to the calendar of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. So, they do know how to celebrate. In fact, they spend forty-three days getting ready. Before all the feasting begins, they must fast to be physically and spiritually ready for the big event. In Ethiopia, Christmas isn't just a holiday—it’s a full-body experience – and they avoid eating meat, dairy, or animal products in those days leading up to Christmas. It is called the Fast of the Prophets.

When the families do gather to eat, they enjoy doro wat (spicy chicken stew), eaten with injera (a sourdough flatbread). Someone will also usually butcher a goat in their backyard, which is another holiday custom. Although, you won’t learn any of this from our featured film Crumbs, a post-apocalyptic futuristic sci-fi adventure featuring an angry Santa. It may be avant-garde. It may be alternative. It may be independent. You decide, but it’s just not festive.

We hope our visit here in 2025 may change some perceptions. Too often, Ethiopia and Christmas are associated with the Band Aid song. It may seem patronizing, culturally insensitive, or overly simplistic today, but let’s give it a break. We know that the title of the song — Do They Know It’s Christmas? – may feel condescending. Obviously, as Ethiopia is home to some of the oldest Christian traditions in the world, of course they know about Christmas.

However, this question is rhetorical. It’s about how, at that time, with so many suffering from extreme hunger, whether anyone would feel that it’s Christmas. The song isn’t about questioning Ethiopian faith; it’s challenging how everyone else can celebrate in comfort while the Ethiopians were facing a natural disaster and a horrible famine, compounded by war, displacement, and logistical collapse. International aid was desperately needed and although the lyrics may seem awkward today, they did shock the world into awareness and action. The song wasn’t written to teach about geography or theology. It was written to raise money for food aid and medical supplies, and it worked tremendously.

So let’s put the past aside. Come enjoy a trip to celebrate a beautiful country that is, at times, vibrant, messy, joyful and holy, but always with a big heart and a proud heritage.

Email Address:
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4F Playlist:

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Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message)

Join the Festive Fans for a little Pura Vida Christmas! Tonight’s country runs on this magical motto. After two years, we are finally making our way to Central America. Our first stop? We visit the beautiful, lush country of Costa Rica. We promise that everything about it will bring a smile to your face, including our featured film from 2024, Paradise Falls: A Christmas Story. It’s a festive tale filled with dreams, wishes, ghosts, and a donkey … you know, just a classic Christmas story.

And don’t be fooled by their “pure life” slogan -- that doesn’t mean chill. Costa Rica has an incredibly diverse landscape filled with waterfalls, volcanoes, and a rainforest full of howler monkeys, sloths and coatis, all packed into a country that's smaller than West Virginia. “Ticos” know how to turn up the holiday spirit.

They may not have snow here, but there is plenty of sunshine. Christmas may be warm, but they know how to party, with rodeos, bull runs, and lots of tamales. Making tamales is a social event. Families gather in assembly lines to wrap them in banana leaves, stuffing them with pork, rice, and vegetables. It’s festive and chaotic, and a great way to bond.

You’ll want to pack your surfboard and hiking shoes for this trip, but make sure your wrapping paper is recyclable and your gifts are sustainable. Costa Ricans pride themselves in being eco-friendly. Instead of a white Christmas for this show, we'll make it a green one. And don’t forget to leave some coffee out for Santa.

Email Address:
festivefans@gmail.com

Instagram:
@festivefans

4F Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm?si=rEwNHgOyRACX1IuPZe0PTw&pi=u-D3fbqpFNSw-p

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm

Facebook Page:
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