402. Christmas: Pagan or Christian?

How was Paul McCartney influenced by life in postwar Liverpool? How did he and the Beatles first learn to make music? And were they influenced by literature as well as other musicians? Join Tom Holland as he asks Paul McCartney these questions and more in a very special interview ...  Show more

Why did the Battle of Marathon change the world so considerably? How did the battle itself unfold? And, could the Athenians really triumph over the indomitable Persian Empire…? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the terrible Battle of Marathon, and its aftermath. Join The Rest ...  Show more

Merry Christmas . . . I've heard the argument that Christians are wrong to celebrate Christmas... and I can understand that view point given it's DARK pagan history (i.e. lawlessness, rape, human sacrifice) (Here is one of hundreds of links you can find on the origins of Christma ...  Show more

I've heard the argument that Christians are wrong to celebrate Christmas... and I can understand that view point given it's DARK pagan history (i.e. lawlessness, rape, human sacrifice) (Here is one of hundreds of links you can find on the origins of Christmas and Saturnalia. http ...  Show more

The roots of this festive holiday reach way back through history, with links to Nordic myths and the Roman Saturnalia. For colonists in 17th century America, celebrating Christmas was controversial… and in this telling, a despairing Puritan preacher goes so far as to try and canc ...  Show more

We’re familiar with the Christmas carol “The 12 days of Christmas” but in the middle ages, this extended holiday Christmas looked a bit different. There were plenty of lords-a-leaping and ladies dancing but the only partridge was trussed up on the King’s table next to the swans-a ...  Show more