to be able to enjoy food, share food, etc. This was about companionship, dancing together,

joy of life. Hello, I'm Neil McGregor, and in this series of podcasts, I'm looking at objects

to see how shared beliefs have helped shape societies.

Now we're focusing on the theatre of faith,

exploring the public ceremonies where whole communities come together

to sacrifice and to celebrate.

This episode is about festivals,

not just living with the gods, but partying with them.

This is the BBC. not just living with the gods, but partying with them.

This is the BBC.

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Okay, this is what you guys came down for.

Let the calm down begin.

Ten, nine, four.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Two, one.

Go!

No, Noel, Noel. Christmas, the one religious festival that in Britain is celebrated by most of the population.

But with a baffling mixture of Christian worship and alcoholic office parties,

appeals for the needy, family reunions, and, or was the target of particular

moral condemnation, a commercial frenzy. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

...