Festive Foreign Film Fans

Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message)2025 kicks off in a big way with a big country. We travel this episode to one of the cradles of civilization.  It’s a place with a rich history and a diverse geography.  Considered to be one of the four exceptional civilizations, it has nearly 18% of the world population, spans the equivalent of five time zones, and borders fourteen countries.  We are exploring the People’s Republic of China!  This is an ancient culture that has only recently begun to recognize Christmas in the last few decades, and yet China manufactures more than two thirds of the Christmas decorations in the world.  We discover Yiwu in tonight’s film, Merry Christmas, Yiwu, a documentary about a city in China with over 11 million residents and 600 factories.  It is an area surrounded by Christmas all year long. Unlike our other holiday films, this one presents a different perspective.  It features real people living in crowded dormitories and dealing with long hours, chemical fumes, glitter and glue guns – all to make our Christmas celebrations shiny and bright.  We see workers gluing pompoms onto Christmas hats, dipping colored balls into glitter, checking Christmas tree lights, and assembling Santas and reindeers. Most of them do not know about Christmas. It is not a part of their culture and they do not understand what the fuss is about. It is a striking contrast to watch how these residents travel miles away from their families and loved ones to live at their jobs in order to provide for themselves, and for us. After watching this, Christmas decorating will never feel the same.Email Address: [email protected]: @festivefans4F Playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm?si=rEwNHgOyRACX1IuPZe0PTw&pi=u-D3fbqpFNSw-phttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1000925224168484F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message)Live from Crystal Lake, IL, It's Festive Foreign Film Fans! Today's special holiday show is a recording of our first live show at Duke's Alehouse in Crystal Lake, IL.  We want to thank Mike and Rusty from the "Snow in Southtown" podcast for letting us use their Vista Blue song "Crystal Lake"!  It was a great crowd opener and perfect for our host city.   In fact, you will hear us thank all of our friends and family, guests and our host location in this episode for their incredible support.  However, we'd also like to do a shout out to our brethren on the Christmas Podcast Network.  These are the other shows who, like us, are discussing and enjoying Christmas most of the year.  You should listen to them all, if you want to lift your spirits and make the year a little more fun, no matter the season or month.   Specifically, I want to single out Chad and Seth from "Christmas Cousins" and Joe the Christmas Aficionado for the energy, entertainment and the beer tasting throughout the year; Jack Ford at "Total Christmas" who is so funny and inspired us to start our podcast; Tim Babb at "Can't Wait for Christmas" for introducing us to Christmas podcasts; Scott and Bran at "Christmas Morning" for giving us something to look forward to all year; "Tis the Podcast", "Totally Rad Christmas", and  "Merry Britmas" for introducing us to so many new Christmas topics and specials, and finally to Sean Sotka at the "Christmas Podcasts Podcast" who covers all of us all year.  You all make each non-Christmas Day a little more festive. It is fun to know that we have Yule brothers and sisters who share the same passion.  Merry Christmas to all -- friends, fans, and podcast family -- and may it be everything you dream of and wish for, but if not, try to make it special in your own right!  Looking forward to 2025! Email Address: [email protected]: @festivefans4F Playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm?si=rEwNHgOyRACX1IuPZe0PTw&pi=u-D3fbqpFNSw-phttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1000925224168484F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message)For this episode, we travel to the Middle East and the region which today is known as the Palestinian Territory. In the same way that Festive Fans covered Russia and Ukraine last December, we wanted to visit another area in need of hope during this holiday season.  Finding joy during times of war can be deeply challenging.  What is ironic is how the birthplace of the Prince of Peace has seen such ongoing human suffering, political tension, and regional instability.  We view the State of Palestine through the eyes of a father and son, Abu and Shadi, featured in the 2017 film Wajib.  Not only is there the existing tension between the Palestinians and the Israelis, but also the strained relationship between the father and son. Abu lives in the daily shadow of oppression, trying his best to continue a normal life.  Shadi lives in Italy, after having been forced to leave because of his political activity.  Their internal struggle is brought to the surface when Shadi returns to Nazareth for his sister’s wedding.  Shadi is angry by what he sees as the humiliation of the Palestinian people, but Abu is loyal and devoted to his homeland.  The two spend the day together hand-delivering wedding invitations.  The constant bickering can be exhausting, but their quiet resolution is touching and reminds us how hope can flourish even in the midst of strife.  If there is a Christmas message here, it is the importance of human connection among all people. This offers the only possibility for peace and the promise of a better tomorrow.Email Address: [email protected]: @festivefans4F Playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm?si=rEwNHgOyRACX1IuPZe0PTw&pi=u-D3fbqpFNSw-phttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1000925224168484F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message)During this week of Thanksgiving, we are grateful to learn so much this episode, really, especially for a holiday week.  We are spending our Black Friday just basking in these hard truths.  After a vain search for a Colonial Christmas movie, we really learned what the Pilgrims thought about Yuletime festivities – that they should be banned.  Instead, we decide to travel to another area that is equally unfriendly to our favorite holiday, just to learn how initial appearances can be deceiving.  We visit Algeria, located in North Africa, a place that offers us a true story on film, with thoughtful resonance and emotional impact.  It is a real-life event that challenges perceptions about religion, sacrifice, and obligation.  What does it mean to have deep faith and to be tested with your life?  How strong is your belief and your convictions?  These are the weighty questions that we still contemplate while dining on turkey and stuffing.  We embrace the diverse challenges posed by a place with remarkable beauty, a sprawling desert, and a powerful ethnic heritage.  Despite the heartache of the film and its true-life events, it does offer hope and joy, but it also poses a question of what it means to be festive.  Unlike many of the other countries that we visit, Christmas is a private event for the small Christian minority in Algeria and the challenges they face.  And yet, since we were concerned, they are still able to celebrate with delicious delicacies like bourek with creamy bechamel sauce, cinnamon and butter topped Tamina, and a basket of dates, dried figs, and nuts.  At least some things are the same wherever you go.  Yum!Email Address: [email protected]: @festivefans4F Playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm?si=rEwNHgOyRACX1IuPZe0PTw&pi=u-D3fbqpFNSw-phttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1000925224168484F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/