Which is bigger for you? Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

In this merry little episode we take a longer look at Christmas Eve and why it is what it is. Why do we celebrate the night before in a bigger way, in many cases, than the day of Christmas? For some, there is no bigger day of the year than December 24th. What is the magic of those hours — especially at night?

In reality and in fiction when it comes to Christmas it is Christmas Eve that is bigger. Every Christmas people hang their stockings, sing of Jesus, gather families, eat special foods and celebrate Christmas — all in the hours before Christmas on Christmas Eve.

Why do we do that?

Christmas Eve is where the real blending of Christianty and Paganism comes together. There’s magic in the darkness. And there has been for thousands of years.

Long before the Babe of Bethlehem was born Christmas was celebrated. In this episode we explore the spiritual and very real celebration of Christmas about Christ…before Christ.

Historians, dependent upon physical evidence and validated truth, are quick to dismiss anything Christmas related before Christ as Pagan. We say not so fast.

The evidence of Christmas before Christ about Christ is abundant. There were witnesses aplenty and in this episode we discuss their story and the evidence they left behind.

Of most curious interest is the case of the Shepherds, those famous night time guardians who so joyously spread the news of Christ’s birth. We know now these were not men of ignorance. They knew about Christ long before the Angels showed up.

We also talk of others who knew as well.

It is time this part of the Christmas story is shared.

Great new Christmas music is hard to come by even though we are treated to more Christmas music each and every season.

In this merry episode we do some of the dirty work for you and serve up some new music we think you’re going to love. This episode features four great songs — just the tip of the Christmas music iceberg that is the 2018 season. Will we do another episode like this? Stay tuned!

First up is a merry little tune called Crazy for Christmas by the Cooter Boys. Get their song here.

We also feature the snazzy works of Rehya Stevens, from her new album Celebrate.

The song we feature on this episode is called A Christmas Song.

Rehya is an old soul that gives a lot of warm feels with her original stuff. In fact, that’s the charm of this album. It’s orginal Christmas stuff. The merry shines through despite the fact the songs are unknown. Or perhaps because of that fact.

Also in this episode we are thrilled to hear the vocals of Emi Sunshine in a bluegrass tune telling a story of Santa’s reindeer. EmiSunshine has been attracting national attention since she was about nine years old, appearing at music festivals throughout the world, as well as on NBC’s “The Today Show,” “Little Big Shots,” the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere. Recently, several of her songs were used in the Elvis Presley documentary “The King.”

I won’t spoil the story. But it takes not just a song to tell the story but also an all-new award winning children’s book by Grant Maloy Smith. The book is a first release for Smith but as a recording artist his 2017 album “Dust Bowl – American Stories” was critically acclaimed and rose to the top 10 on Billboard’s Folk/Americana and Country album sales charts.

Plus, there’s a bonus in this can’t miss music-filled episode!