0:00:03 > 0:00:05Well, whether you call him Father Christmas,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07Santa Claus or Kris Kringle,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10they're all names for one man - St Nicholas.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13And today, December the 6th, well, this is his special day,
0:00:13 > 0:00:17and I'm here in York to find out how this fourth-century bishop,
0:00:17 > 0:00:20known for his secret gift of giving,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23has become the figure we all know and love.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25God bless you all.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28I've come to Gloucester Cathedral to meet an artist who's
0:00:28 > 0:00:33overcome huge obstacles and is now using his painting skills
0:00:33 > 0:00:36to express the true meaning of Christmas.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40# So here it is Merry Christmas... #
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Don't worry, don't worry,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46you've not tuned in accidentally to an old edition of Top Of The Pops.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50I'm Noddy Holder and I've come to York, too, to uncover
0:00:50 > 0:00:53the origins of one of our best-loved and famous carols.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57# O tidings of comfort and joy... #
0:01:11 > 0:01:12As Christmas is fast approaching,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15we'll be singing some great festive favourites,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17and there'll also be a stunning performance
0:01:17 > 0:01:20of Gabriel's Message by The Swingle Singers.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23And we begin with an Advent hymn
0:01:23 > 0:01:26that expresses that sense of hope this season is all about.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Have you ever wondered why we hang our Christmas stockings up
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and find a chocolate coin or two inside, if we're lucky?
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Well, this is just one of the traditions
0:03:34 > 0:03:36that started with St Nicholas.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39His name has been squashed and squeezed through
0:03:39 > 0:03:43a variety of languages until it became...Santa Claus.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Have no fear, St Nicholas is here!
0:03:47 > 0:03:52Canon Jim Rosenthal is founder of the International St Nicholas Society.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55I'm St Nicholas. Now, what's your names?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Sporting the robes of this fourth-century bishop and saint,
0:03:58 > 0:04:03he's determined we discover the Christian roots of Santa Claus.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Every year,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Canon Jim is instrumental in the St Nicholas Festival in Canterbury.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12But today I'm meeting him at York Minster,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16which has a whole chapel dedicated to the saint he so admires.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18St Nicholas was a very rich man.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20His parents died at an early age,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22leaving him a lot of money.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24After training for the priesthood,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27he realised that people were suffering
0:04:27 > 0:04:29and he decided to give his money away.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32And he did it in gradual ways and through his legends,
0:04:32 > 0:04:37but his most famous legend is that of the three bags of gold coins.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40He heard of a man who had three daughters that were going to
0:04:40 > 0:04:44be sold into slavery because he had no money for their dowries.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48So he took it upon himself, late at night, to give money to them secretly.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52And he took these coins, each on a different night,
0:04:52 > 0:04:56put them through the chimney or the window - legend says both -
0:04:56 > 0:04:58and they fell into the Christmas...
0:04:58 > 0:05:01what we can now call Christmas stockings, and finally
0:05:01 > 0:05:05the father says, "I wonder who's doing this great deed of generosity for us?"
0:05:05 > 0:05:07and he stays up one night and he finds that it's Nicholas.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Nicholas says, "Don't say anything,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12"because I'm doing this because Jesus wants me to do it
0:05:12 > 0:05:15"as his priest and I can afford to do it."
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Why is St Nicholas so important to you?
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Why are you so passionate about him?
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Because I believe St Nicholas was a walking gospel person.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27He was the beatitude made flesh.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30All the things that Jesus asked us to do in the Gospels -
0:05:30 > 0:05:33to be kind, to be generous, compassionate -
0:05:33 > 0:05:37he was all those things. Because the world is hurting
0:05:37 > 0:05:41and we have an answer, and this man, Nicholas, can help bring that.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46He's not the answer but can help lead us to the answer in Bethlehem.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50And, of course, that is the true gift of Christmas, the generosity of God.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Oh, I think I've found the warmest spot on the market.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Now, one of the most well-loved
0:08:26 > 0:08:31and recognisable carols is the classic God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Noddy Holder, who knows a thing or two about a classic Christmas song,
0:08:34 > 0:08:40came here to York to find out about the story behind it.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44# So here it is Merry Christmas
0:08:44 > 0:08:47# Everybody's having fun...#
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Well, I suppose you already know that I love Christmas.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55It's Christmas!
0:08:55 > 0:09:00But what you probably don't know is that God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
0:09:00 > 0:09:05is the only carol that features in Dickens's classic Christmas story.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08# God bless you merry gentlemen, may nothing you dismay. #
0:09:08 > 0:09:11And also you might not know that it dates back
0:09:11 > 0:09:13as far as the 16th century.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20It's my favourite carol too and I want to find out how it came about,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22so I'm going to step back in time
0:09:22 > 0:09:26into the carefully-restored medieval Barley Hall
0:09:26 > 0:09:32to meet conductor, choral director and Christmas carol expert Jeremy Summerly.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36I was surprised that God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was so old.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Well, it's old in that it's medieval, but it's Mediterranean.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41That you may not know.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44And it's a Mediterranean folk tune.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47It's the angel talking to the shepherds on the Palestinian hills,
0:09:47 > 0:09:52and the angel is going, "God rest ye merry, gentlemen."
0:09:52 > 0:09:56In other words, rest - stay - merry - happy. Don't panic. It's all right.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Christ has been born. That's what it means.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02But what happens is the Victorians misplaced the comma.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04God rest you - comma - merry gentlemen.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- And, actually, this is what Dickens picks up.- Yeah.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09And he changes it even more than that because he goes,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11"God bless you, merry gentleMAN."
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Aimed at Scrooge, the singular gentleman.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Completely changing the meaning
0:10:15 > 0:10:17because it's got nothing to do with the shepherds,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19the birth of Christ any more.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23HE PLAYS THE TUNE
0:10:23 > 0:10:26It's a catchy melody and it's a catchy tune,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29but it's not... It doesn't sound like a folk tune to me.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33The version you know is quite foursquare
0:10:33 > 0:10:36but originally when it was a medieval, Mediterranean tune,
0:10:36 > 0:10:41I imagine it would have had very little resemblance to the tune you know now.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45But it's become popular because we've kind of Englished it up.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Do you know what I mean? It's the same way we do with our food.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50We don't take any nonsense, the English, though, do we?
0:10:50 > 0:10:53We think we are the best and that's the way it should be.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56You could put it like that. I couldn't possibly comment!
0:10:56 > 0:10:58# God rest ye merry gentlemen
0:10:58 > 0:11:00# Let nothing you dismay
0:11:00 > 0:11:02# Remember Christ our saviour
0:11:02 > 0:11:05# Was born on Christmas day... #
0:11:05 > 0:11:07During the Reformation, Christmas celebrations
0:11:07 > 0:11:10and Christmas carols were banned.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13It was due in part to the waits bands of Yorkshire
0:11:13 > 0:11:16that these traditions were kept alive.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19'Waits bands were led by important locals or council leaders
0:11:19 > 0:11:25'and would sing outside churches, pubs and even homes.'
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Yeah, you guys sound great.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31Fantastic. What happened to waits bands?
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Why don't we see them around any more?
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Well, they were professional players
0:11:35 > 0:11:37and they were a show of pomp and wealth for the city.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40As time went on and music became more popular and more common
0:11:40 > 0:11:42and more people played instruments,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46so the cities dispensed with paying for music and, lo and behold,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48the waits disappeared, really.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52How important is it for you to keep on the tradition of waits bands?
0:11:52 > 0:11:57Well, we have a fascination with the music of the 14th, 15th, 16th centuries
0:11:57 > 0:12:00and we really like to broadcast and carry on tradition.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02I find that although I love the traditional carol services
0:12:02 > 0:12:05with the organ and the traditional Christmas carols,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08to sing with these guys on these original instruments...
0:12:08 > 0:12:12And it's such a spirited sound that for me, that's the true spirit of Christmas.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Well, I'd love to hear a few more bars. Go for it.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18# Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
0:12:18 > 0:12:20# Comfort and joy
0:12:20 > 0:12:24# Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. #
0:14:15 > 0:14:18St Nicholas, who we are celebrating today,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20really believed so strongly in giving,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23especially to those most in need.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26And in the spirit of St Nick, there's a charity right here in York
0:14:26 > 0:14:30that connects those who want to give to those who need their help.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35Rob Ainsworth is the coordinator of the charity named The Besom,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38a reference to an old-fashioned broom
0:14:38 > 0:14:40with the aim of sweeping away suffering.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- Oh, that looks gorgeous. - Something to warm you up.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46- I'm so happy. That's why you got me coming over.- Yeah.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48So just tell me, what exactly is the Besom project?
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Essentially, the Besom is a bridge
0:14:51 > 0:14:53between people in the church who have
0:14:53 > 0:14:57and want to give and people who are in need.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00We hold relationships with social workers and health visitors
0:15:00 > 0:15:04and we match up people who have things and time and money to give.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07They realise that as Christians we should be giving to people,
0:15:07 > 0:15:09but they just don't know how to.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12They don't know where people live, they don't know how they can help,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15they are concerned that their gifts might be abused, things like that.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18So our vision, really, is to equip the church to serve the poor,
0:15:18 > 0:15:20as Jesus did.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22One group that is helping is York's Vineyard Church,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25whose volunteers are busy preparing Christmas hampers.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28This one is Diane's and that one is Tracy's.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31So this one is an 18 month-old and also a few little boys.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36- Hi, Joanna.- Hi, Diane.- I love the look of all of this.- I know.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37It's completely luxurious.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41I've seen some really good quality product and lots of chocolate.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Well, we like to be really generous.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47We really feel like God has been really generous with his love to us
0:15:47 > 0:15:51and we just want to be generous with people in the community.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53This has got to be over-brimming.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55'The essence of the project is to build relationships
0:15:55 > 0:16:00'so that specific needs could be met through gifts or practical help.'
0:16:00 > 0:16:04A few weeks ago I was introduced to someone with Rob from Besom
0:16:04 > 0:16:07because we thought she wanted help with decorating,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10but actually what she really needed was someone
0:16:10 > 0:16:13who would look after her children whilst she decorated.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15So that's what I've been doing.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17I've been looking after the children
0:16:17 > 0:16:19while she gets on and we've become good friends.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23And it's just nice to be able to meet people's actual needs
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and not try and force something on them.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28What do you personally get out of this?
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I have really experienced a great blessing from God.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35- You know, he healed me in an amazing way.- What was wrong with you?
0:16:35 > 0:16:40I suffered from all kinds of symptoms as a result of quite
0:16:40 > 0:16:44a lot of an abusive childhood and stuff like that,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46so quite a lot of post-traumatic stress symptoms.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49How different are you now to what you were before?
0:16:49 > 0:16:52On the outside I probably look the same,
0:16:52 > 0:16:56but inside it's just a phenomenal difference that Jesus has made.
0:16:56 > 0:16:57I'm happy.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Having been through a lot of dark times myself,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04some of this is like taking some light into people's lives
0:17:04 > 0:17:08where it might be quite dark for them. And that's what we want to do,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11to shine a light into people's lives.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32The one gift that's always welcome at Christmas,
0:20:32 > 0:20:34particularly in my household, is chocolate.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38And York is renowned for its chocolatiers.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Now, the Rowntree's and the Terry's,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43they were famous families from the city and, as Quakers,
0:20:43 > 0:20:48they were really against the evils of alcohol, so instead they turned
0:20:48 > 0:20:52to making chocolate, which was great because that's a gift for everybody.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56And I'm so glad they did because look at this gorgeous array of chocolates.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- My mouth is watering. - Would you like to try one?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I think I actually would, thank you. That one's got my name on it.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04And talking about wonderful gifts,
0:21:04 > 0:21:08our next piece of music is about an incredible gift, the gift of life.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11The news given to Mary by the angel Gabriel.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13"Eat me," it says.
0:21:15 > 0:21:21# Gloria, gloria, gloria, gloria
0:21:21 > 0:21:25# Gloria
0:21:25 > 0:21:31# The angel Gabriel from heaven came
0:21:31 > 0:21:37# His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame
0:21:37 > 0:21:44# "All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary
0:21:44 > 0:21:47# "Most highly favoured lady"
0:21:47 > 0:21:51# Gloria
0:21:51 > 0:21:56# Gloria, gloria, gloria
0:21:56 > 0:22:00# Gloria, gloria
0:22:00 > 0:22:06# "For know the blessed mother thou shalt be
0:22:06 > 0:22:12# "All generations laud and honour thee
0:22:12 > 0:22:18# "Thy son shall be Emmanuel by seers foretold
0:22:18 > 0:22:22# "Most highly favoured lady"
0:22:22 > 0:22:26# Gloria
0:22:28 > 0:22:35# Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
0:22:35 > 0:22:42# "To me, be as it pleaseth God" she said
0:22:42 > 0:22:48# "My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name"
0:22:48 > 0:22:52# Most highly favoured lady
0:22:52 > 0:22:55# Gloria
0:22:57 > 0:23:03# Of her Emmanuel, the Christ was born
0:23:03 > 0:23:08# In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn
0:23:08 > 0:23:14# And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say
0:23:14 > 0:23:17# Most highly favoured lady
0:23:17 > 0:23:21# Gloria
0:23:21 > 0:23:25# Gloria, gloria
0:23:25 > 0:23:30# Gloria, gloria, gloria
0:23:30 > 0:23:34# Gloria
0:23:34 > 0:23:37# Gloria
0:23:37 > 0:23:42# Gloria. #
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Would it surprise you to know
0:23:53 > 0:23:56that a third of children in this country didn't realise that Christmas
0:23:56 > 0:23:59was about the birth of Christ?
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Well, Pam's been to Gloucester Cathedral to find out
0:24:02 > 0:24:05about an art initiative aimed at raising awareness,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08both about disability and the true message of Christmas.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18OK, I admit it, I'm terrible at drawing.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23But can you imagine how difficult it would be to create anything
0:24:23 > 0:24:27artistically if you were paralysed from the neck down?
0:24:27 > 0:24:32That disability didn't stop John Clayton from learning to paint,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35and now his pictures are made into cards
0:24:35 > 0:24:38which are sold by the Mouth And Foot Painting Artists,
0:24:38 > 0:24:42a partnership which helps people like John sell their work.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45And this year they have come up with a unique idea for raising
0:24:45 > 0:24:47awareness of the Christmas story.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53They are unveiling a new work of art at Gloucester Cathedral -
0:24:53 > 0:24:56a nativity scene based on one of John's designs
0:24:56 > 0:24:59and created by members of a local youth group.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06John has been paralysed from the neck down
0:25:06 > 0:25:11since a motorbike accident 37 years ago, when he was just 17.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Because of the severity of my accident,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16I couldn't do a lot in the gymnasium
0:25:16 > 0:25:21so I was acquainted to a canvas and a paintbrush, basically.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25I was asked to just paint an image and I just painted a car,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27or what I thought was a car.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30A two-year-old could have done a better job, but anyway.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34I threw the brush down in disgust and that was that.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38But a few months later, John picked up a paint brush again and
0:25:38 > 0:25:42this time he persevered and discovered he had a natural talent.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47So was it a turning point to find that you could still do something so well?
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It was tremendous.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52The ability and self-worth that you got from actually producing
0:25:52 > 0:25:55something in front of you was... it was life-changing.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57There's no doubt about it.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00John's designs are sold all over the world.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04It's one of his best-selling cards
0:26:04 > 0:26:07that's been chosen for display in the cathedral.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11But it's not John doing the painting.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Young people from the Stonehouse Youth Club have picked up their brushes.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19Leave that like that and go back with more. How are you getting on?
0:26:19 > 0:26:21- All right?- Yes.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25'After the initial shock of seeing me, basically, in a wheelchair -
0:26:25 > 0:26:27'because let's face it, youngsters,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30'they don't see many wheelchair people,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32'never mind those that paint with their mouth as well.'
0:26:32 > 0:26:36I think we need to sort the lips out because they are a bit red.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39'I'd like to think that from meeting me, the experience...
0:26:39 > 0:26:44'It's bringing down the barriers of disability as well, which is important.'
0:26:44 > 0:26:47- You see, they've got the yellow coming through as well.- Yeah.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56With my paintings, I wanted to just be a little prompt and reminder
0:26:56 > 0:26:58to the many that actually do
0:26:58 > 0:27:03look at Christmas as the birth of Christ and hope that it will be
0:27:03 > 0:27:06a gentle reminder of what, really, it's all about.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Nice big smiles.
0:27:09 > 0:27:10That's perfect.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12What did you think of their artwork?
0:27:12 > 0:27:18To sit down and reconstruct on such a large scale was a huge feat of art.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22I think it's a good symbol because it reminds people our age why
0:27:22 > 0:27:25the true meaning of Christmas is not about just receiving presents.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29I think this has brought our youth club together and it's kind of
0:27:29 > 0:27:33taught us the real meaning of Christmas rather than what the media presents.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40With the ceremony over, John is off to work on designs for next year.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45- So, for you it's Christmas all year round, then?- It is at my home.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48- You should be very proud of yourself. It's great.- I am proud.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32THEY PLAY "SILENT NIGHT"
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Well, that's just about it for this week.
0:30:35 > 0:30:40Next time, the lovely Josie will be at home with Bake Off's very own Mary Berry
0:30:40 > 0:30:44to talk about festive family memories and to bake a Christmas cake.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47But for now, we end with a favourite carol
0:30:47 > 0:30:49we can all join in with.