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Travel with Rick Steves

427 More European Christmas Traditions

Travel with Rick Steves

Rick Steves

Places & Travel, Rick Steves, Travel, Public Radio, 721132, Society & Culture, Npr, Europe

4.52.5K Ratings

🗓️ 12 December 2015

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Nothing says Christmas like fresh oysters and fermented trout — at least according to some Europeans. Learn about the yuletide traditions of France, Norway, Greece, London, the Spanish Basque Country, and small-town Italy, from the varied fare to unusual holiday decorations to Santa's leaner — and often meaner — overseas counterparts.

For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0

What makes Christmas time special where you live?

0:03.0

Everybody feels good and nice at Christmas time.

0:05.0

Maybe the next day it's hell again, but Christmas, it's Christmas, it's something else.

0:10.0

Hi, I'm Rick Steves.

0:11.0

We'll get you in the spirit of the season in the hour ahead as we check in with friends in Europe about the special ways they celebrate the holidays.

0:18.0

We'll contrast the big city excitement of pre-christmas London with the traditions you'll find in small town

0:24.0

Italy. In France, holiday treats include a decadent Yule Log Cake this time a year.

0:29.2

It's rolled cake with chocolate and cream and trust me at the end of dinner you don't have room for this but you do have to go through it.

0:37.0

While in Norway it's not Christmas unless I eat the fermented trout.

0:40.0

And we'll learn about the woodsy version of Santa in Spanish

0:43.6

Bas country, but be careful to avoid those elves in Greece.

0:47.3

They're not dangerous. They will not wound you or kill you, but if they come into

0:51.8

your house, it'll be a mess.

0:54.0

Celebrate everything, it's travel with Rick Steves.

1:00.0

A lot of people travel with walls up.

1:02.0

Bringing those walls down is what allows you to have those moments where you truly connect with new people and cultures.

1:08.0

Rosetta Stone can help take down one of the biggest walls, the language barrier.

1:13.0

Rosetta Stone is fun to use, you learn fast, and you can use it on your smartphone,

1:17.0

tablet, or computer.

1:19.0

For a special discount, go to Rosetta Stone.com

1:22.0

slash Rick Steves.

1:25.0

When you mentioned the 12 days of Christmas in Europe, you start counting on the 25th,

...

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