logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
26m 30s

Heart and Soul: A Colombian Christmas in...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

In the heart of Colombia, very special Christmas celebrations take place not in December but in February. Its roots lie in the days of slavery when many Afro-Colombians were serving their masters' festivities during that time. In an act of cultural and racial resistance that has been preserved for nearly 200 years, Christmas celebrations in Quinamayo are held 40 days after the traditional birth date of Jesus and the amount of time that the Virgin Mary is said to have rested after delivery, and right after the end of harvest season. Christina Noreiga asks how the celebrations came about and why they have a special magic for both young and old.

Up next
Today
Ark of the dry lands
Researchers in Morocco are developing dry-land agriculture at ICARDA (the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas). It is home to a gene bank, in which around 150,000 different seed-types are kept in perfectly calibrated cold vaults, and duplicated to prot ... Show More
26m 29s
Yesterday
Bonus. World of Secrets: The Killing Call
Sidhu Moose Wala explodes onto the Canadian music scene. His sound is a fusion of two worlds - hip-hop with the poetic language of rural Punjab, where he is from. After years of struggle he is making it. But with the spotlight comes a dark side. As his fame grows, so do the threa ... Show More
35m 54s
Jul 8
Re-homing France’s immigrant workers
France’s last foyers – housing for immigrant workers – are set for demolition. But some current residents are worried about what they’ll lose. Hundreds of “foyers” - housing units especially for immigrant workers – were built after World War II. The economy was booming and France ... Show More
27m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
171: Christmas Special VIII: Festivities in the Jazz Age
“There is a million dollars here for the asking!” This is the story of Christmas in the 1920s. Yeah, the whole decade—why not? One hundred years ago, people were just beginning (or reviving) traditions that are entrenched in our holiday celebrations today. Charitable giving at Ch ... Show More
34m 10s
Dec 2024
The First Recorded Christmas Was The Latest Birthday Party Ever
Whether or not you yourself celebrate Christmas, there's no denying it's one of the world's most well'known holidays -- in fact, this commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ may be the most famous birthday in the Western world. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in this holida ... Show More
36m 9s
Dec 2013
108 – The Christmas Special
Ever since I was a kid in Catholic school, I’ve been somewhat fascinated by the date of Christmas. I often wondered where it came from, given that it doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible, and (as the feast is celebrating the birth of Jesus) it seemed rather odd to set the date so ... Show More
17m 7s
Dec 2024
Zara Tindall's peek inside Royal Family Christmas
Zara Tindall has shared a glimpse into the royal family’s festive celebrations at Sandringham, offering insight into the long-held traditions they continue to observe to this day. Speaking at the Battle of the Commentators charity lunch in Londonm Princess Anne’s daughter gave a ... Show More
8m 40s
Dec 2024
Roman Saturnalia
Episode 1 in our 'Origins of Christmas' series. This Roman winter festival laid the foundations for many of our Christmas customs today- feasting, gift-giving and revelry. During Saturnalia, Emperors held elaborate games at the Colosseum while others gave gag gifts. Meanwhile, in ... Show More
22m 33s
Dec 2023
Wise Men from the East
It's (still) Christmas!! On the feast of St. Stephen's Day (AKA Boxing Day), we gather around the cozy fire with our egg nogg and our gifts to talk about...martyrdom? Here's one extra Christmas special on the full twelve days of the holiday and the connections between Christmas m ... Show More
1 h
Nov 2024
Happyish Holidays: The Worst Thanksgiving Ever?
Subscribe to TTFA Anthologies here. Two days after Nora’s husband Aaron died, she celebrated Thanksgiving with her family. Well... maybe not “celebrated.” Every year, millions of people do the same thing during the holidays. In this episode, we talk with some of those folks, incl ... Show More
1 h
Nov 2024
Call It Holidays and the City
Jess & Camilla are in The Big Apple discussing their favorite holiday drinks, traditions and most importantly, how to remain calm during the high stress moments of the most wonderful time of the year! Camilla also reveals what she did to her guests that made her swear she’d never ... Show More
48m 52s
Nov 2024
Noël à Stockholm : Secrets et Traditions avec Virginie Caplon
. Savez-vous pourquoi Noël est célébré le 24 décembre en Suède ? Dans cet épisode de notre série sur les traditions de Noël à travers le monde, nous explorons les coutumes festives suédoises avec Virginie Caplon, une invitée familière de notre émission, qui réside à Stockholm. La ... Show More
11m 32s
Nov 2022
How Boise’s Lisa Sánchez Celebrates Día De Los Muertos
We’re celebrating Dia de los Muertos by chatting with Lisa Sánchez about how she celebrates the Mexican holiday. The Boise City Councilperson talks about her favorite Day of the Dead altars and spoiling her ancestors with treats they couldn’t have while they were living. Plus, Li ... Show More
13m 52s