0:00:05 > 0:00:08'To celebrate the beginning of the festive season,
0:00:08 > 0:00:12'I've come to the Isle of Man in the middle of the northern Irish Sea.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19'I'm in Peel, on the west coast of island, where the Christian
0:00:19 > 0:00:22'message is said to have been brought by St Patrick.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26'Irish monks who followed in the sixth century
0:00:26 > 0:00:28'established a monastery here.'
0:00:28 > 0:00:33In fact, this place is crammed with thousands of years of Manx history,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36including the ruins of Peel's first cathedral.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42'But for this Advent Sunday, as the winter darkness draws in,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46'our congregation has gathered in the warmth and candlelit intimacy
0:00:46 > 0:00:51'of their present-day cathedral of St German in the centre of Peel.'
0:00:55 > 0:00:59'As festive preparations begin across the UK, I find out about some
0:00:59 > 0:01:02'distinctively Manx seasonal traditions,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05'meet a concert pianist who remembers her childhood in Soviet Russia
0:01:05 > 0:01:09'and a student looking forward to coming home for Christmas.'
0:01:16 > 0:01:20TINKLING
0:01:20 > 0:01:24'All sorts of emotions are stirred in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29'The warmth of nostalgia, excitement and anticipation, perhaps sometimes
0:01:29 > 0:01:33'sadness at the thought of those no longer around to celebrate with us.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37'But whatever your own private feelings this Advent Sunday,
0:01:37 > 0:01:41'let's remember the joy to come in celebrating
0:01:41 > 0:01:44'the birth of Jesus as saviour of the world.'
0:01:46 > 0:01:49We begin with a favourite Advent Carol
0:01:49 > 0:01:53and also one of the oldest, written by an unknown hand in medieval times.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Its haunting melody evokes a yearning for the light
0:01:56 > 0:02:00of Christ to break into a darkened world.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19MUSIC
0:04:25 > 0:04:28'The Isle of Man has its own distinctive culture,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31'its own government and also its own language.'
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Manx is a form of Gaelic which, for centuries, was spoken
0:04:36 > 0:04:42throughout the island, but the first writing in Manx was religious text.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46In the 18th century, a Manx Bible was published.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50At around that time, people began writing down verses that were
0:04:50 > 0:04:53traditionally sung in church on Christmas Eve.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57These were called carvals.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02'The word carval clearly comes from the English word carol.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04'But they aren't jolly hymns'
0:05:04 > 0:05:08primarily about the birth of Jesus and the Nativity.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13Carvals are more in the tradition of the Advent period
0:05:13 > 0:05:17and they look towards death and judgment. Some of the carvals
0:05:17 > 0:05:22'dwell quite heavily on the sufferings in hell that await
0:05:22 > 0:05:24'the unrepentant sinner'
0:05:24 > 0:05:28and they urge the listener to consider their life throughout
0:05:28 > 0:05:32the year, how they've behaved and how they can repair their life
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and repent for their sins.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42'They were intended to be chanted or sung without music initially.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45'None of the books contain any music, although some of the carvals
0:05:45 > 0:05:50'have become associated with particular traditional tunes.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54'All the carval books in the archive and in the collection
0:05:54 > 0:05:58'were written down by people who were actually collecting them
0:05:58 > 0:05:59'rather than writing them.'
0:06:00 > 0:06:04They commonly sign their name at the bottom of each carval.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09You have "John Bridson of Portabella, his book 1793"
0:06:09 > 0:06:13and a bit of a motto there, "When this you see, remember me."
0:06:14 > 0:06:18The carvals were traditionally performed on Christmas Eve,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22often after an earlier Christmas Eve service
0:06:22 > 0:06:26when in some churches, the clergy left the church.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28MAN SINGING
0:06:28 > 0:06:31'There was no electricity at the time so the church would be candlelit
0:06:31 > 0:06:36'and carval singers, mostly older men, would have their carvals prepared
0:06:36 > 0:06:39'and begin to recite them at the back of the church.'
0:06:39 > 0:06:41CHOIR JOINS SINGING
0:06:41 > 0:06:45'They represent such an outpouring of religious fervour.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51'If they're telling you about hell, they're really telling you about it.'
0:06:51 > 0:06:55A carval known as She Sho Yn Laa, which means This Is The Day,
0:06:55 > 0:07:02is atypical of the carvals because for one reason it's quite short,
0:07:02 > 0:07:09it has 12 verses and most of them have at least 30, sometimes 60.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14'And although it does bring in its usual warnings to repent
0:07:14 > 0:07:18'and to think of things, it is mostly concerned with Christ's birth
0:07:18 > 0:07:21'and that we should rejoice at this time of year.'
0:07:22 > 0:07:26She Sho Yn Laa - "This is the day, why should we not rejoice?"
0:07:26 > 0:07:28It goes on to say.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Every year, the Isle of Man's Ronaldsway airport
0:10:13 > 0:10:16hosts a festival of trees in aid of Save The Children.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23Local companies, schools,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26organisations, businesses, shops...
0:10:26 > 0:10:32are invited to create exhibits that are loosely trees.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38They can use as much imagination as they choose.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41The Isle of Man airport is busy at Christmas,
0:10:41 > 0:10:45loads of family and friends having reunions.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Something like 80,000 people walk through the airport
0:10:48 > 0:10:51during that six-week period.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Every year, we think, "It can't be as good as last year."
0:10:55 > 0:11:00And every year, they come up with the most wonderful ideas.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05When Jesus was talking about the Good Samaritan,
0:11:05 > 0:11:09he was giving help to someone he didn't know.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12And that's what Save The Children's doing.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14We're helping people we don't know.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19This year, pupils at Fairfield Primary School in Douglas
0:11:19 > 0:11:22have been working hard at creating their tree.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27I think when children participate in this,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29they become very aware
0:11:29 > 0:11:34that although they may have problems in their lives, as all children do,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37other children have worse problems.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40It makes them think beyond themselves,
0:11:40 > 0:11:44beyond their "I Want" Christmas list
0:11:44 > 0:11:47and actually think, "Gosh, I'm quite lucky really."
0:11:49 > 0:11:52We have had so much variety of material
0:11:52 > 0:11:57which is transformed into these beautiful exhibits.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01And I quite often think that is what we're trying to do -
0:12:01 > 0:12:05transform the opportunities for children
0:12:05 > 0:12:08in some of the most impoverished areas of the world.
0:13:48 > 0:13:53ORGAN MUSIC
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Olga Stone came to the Isle of Man 15 years ago.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00She was the first person from the former Soviet Union
0:14:00 > 0:14:02to settle on the island.
0:14:04 > 0:14:10I was a bit concerned that having not seen anybody from Ukraine before,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12actually in the community,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17the local people might be a bit aware of my being different.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20However, I couldn't have wished for a more friendly welcome
0:14:20 > 0:14:24than I received. Trying to do something for the community,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28I started playing organ straightaway, which helped me to integrate a lot.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Music obviously means a lot to you.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I've wanted to be a concert pianist since I was five.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40And I went to music school in the Soviet Union,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43then I went to musical college in the Crimea, where I grew up.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46And then I went to the conservatory in Odessa.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49So, up to my coming to the Isle of Man, 15 years ago,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53it was the major part, I'd say, of my working life.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56How did you view Christmas?
0:14:57 > 0:15:02I didn't, because I was brought up as an atheist, in a way.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Our religion was not very much celebrated
0:15:06 > 0:15:09and it wasn't openly allowed.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14We were celebrating Soviet holidays, things like Victory Day, for example.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18But then, when collapse of the Soviet Union came about,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21this huge revival of churches
0:15:21 > 0:15:25and the resurrection of this faith - that suddenly became acceptable.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29And you started understanding more what it's about
0:15:29 > 0:15:34and what important part it can play in people's lives
0:15:34 > 0:15:37and I came to it myself.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Tell us a little bit about the music, the culture
0:15:41 > 0:15:45and the traditions of the Orthodox Church.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49The Orthodox Church has very strong singing tradition and, of course,
0:15:49 > 0:15:54there is no instrumental part to it, it's a cappella singing,
0:15:54 > 0:16:01which means you have this heavenly sound of well-balanced choir.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08A congregation seldom joins,
0:16:08 > 0:16:12and it has been like this throughout centuries.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Congregation didn't join like it does in Britain,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18singing hymns and singing carols.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24We don't have Advent, in the same way.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28We have two Christmases at home because your Christmas comes first,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32but Orthodox Christmas comes later, on the 7th January.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36That means we have our Christmas tree probably longest on the island,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39as we keep it up until the 19th January.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Orthodox religion is built on help.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52I do go to our churches when I am in Ukraine.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57I feel I need to put a candle for good hope,
0:16:57 > 0:17:02and need to see that I ask certain saints certain things.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05And that's what it means to me.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10I ask that there will be some good in the world.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Not just in a sense that the whole world will become wonderful,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16but that good will prevail generally.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19That people will have good in their souls.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Living on the Isle of Man,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30you're never more than six miles away from the lapping of the waves.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31Isn't that wonderful?
0:19:31 > 0:19:34It's a close-knit community with a unique way of life.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Becky Bannister had to leave all this behind when, earlier this year,
0:19:40 > 0:19:45she headed off to the mainland to study Law at York University.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50This is probably one of the biggest years I've had in my life.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54I've flown the nest and I've moved on into an independent life.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56It's been great,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58but very daunting at the same time.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02This is the first time I've lived away from home.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Just the pace of life here is so much faster.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08It's such a busy place here,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12so it's fun to get into the hustle and bustle of things.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14It's actually quite hard to reflect and feel homesick,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16looking back at the Isle of Man,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19because I'm so caught up in university life.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20But when I do think about it,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24there are certain aspects of the Isle of Man that I miss.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Like the countryside and surroundings on the Isle of Man.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29One minute you can be at the beach
0:20:29 > 0:20:31and five minutes later, you can be in the middle of nowhere.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36Just that different variety of landscape, I miss that.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Growing up there was such a privilege.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Moving to university has been quite hard
0:20:44 > 0:20:48and my friends often asked me, "Why are you always calm?
0:20:48 > 0:20:51"Why you always happy? How do you cope with university life so well?"
0:20:51 > 0:20:53And I just say, "Well, it's my faith, to be honest."
0:20:53 > 0:20:55It's just carried me through.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00I don't how I would live without being a Christian now.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03It's embedded in my whole character and personality.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09As term comes to an end here at York,
0:21:09 > 0:21:11the Christmas cards are rolling in from all my housemates,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14so it's great to have some Christmas atmosphere
0:21:14 > 0:21:18with people that I've not experienced Christmas with before.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22So, I'm going to miss them over the three weeks I'm back at home.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26But, I'm certainly looking forward to going home and seeing my family.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Writing Christmas cards to my family has been a big reflection for me
0:21:30 > 0:21:32and I have felt quite homesick while writing them,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34because I just want to get there now
0:21:34 > 0:21:37and talk to them about my whole university experience.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Throughout Advent, I get this spiritual warmth,
0:21:42 > 0:21:44something to look forward to.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48It's a big birthday bash on Christmas Day, if you put it in simple terms,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51to celebrate this one, miraculous event.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56The weeks leading up to Christmas emphasise the fact
0:24:56 > 0:24:58that Christ's birthday isn't just about one day,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00it's about a whole season.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04And throughout that season, we're told that a star shone out
0:25:04 > 0:25:07to guide wise men on their long journey towards Bethlehem.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Howard, can you tell me about the Star of Bethlehem?
0:25:14 > 0:25:16What was it and when did it appear?
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Well, that's a great question,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21because there are so many theories about what it could've been,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and it's been researched by hundreds of thousands of people over history.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Did it really happen?
0:25:26 > 0:25:28I say, yes, it was real.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Would you think it was?
0:25:30 > 0:25:32In my belief, the Star of Bethlehem
0:25:32 > 0:25:35was what astronomers call a "grand conjunction"
0:25:35 > 0:25:37in the constellation of Pisces.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40A grand conjunction is when two planets come close together,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43three times in succession.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Over, in this case, a period of six months in the year 7 BC.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52The wise men, I believe, saw this conjunction -
0:25:52 > 0:25:55the first conjunction - from far away in the East.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57They then travelled to Jerusalem.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59It took about three or four months to get there.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Then the second conjunction occurred,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05then they journeyed from Jerusalem to Bethlehem
0:26:05 > 0:26:07to see the baby Jesus in the manger.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10And that takes us into the period of Advent
0:26:10 > 0:26:14and that's when the third and most spectacular conjunction took place.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, in a manger and the kings arrived.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23How far away would that event have been seen?
0:26:23 > 0:26:26It would have been seen from all over the world.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29It would have been seen, for instance, from the Isle of Man.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32We do have fantastically clear skies in the Isle of Man,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35so, they would have seen this conjunction, I am certain.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39In ancient times, astronomy would've been really important.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Why is it still important today?
0:26:42 > 0:26:46The simple answer to that question, it tells us where we're coming from.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48It tells us where we're going,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51it tells us everything about the universe in which we live.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53When the 27 people went to the moon
0:26:53 > 0:26:55on the Apollo missions all those years ago,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58and they first looked back at the planet Earth from space,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00they were absolutely amazed.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03We all were amazed, those pictures of Earth from space
0:27:03 > 0:27:05made us full of awe about the majesty of the Earth,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08and how it sits there in the inky blackness of space.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09That's what astronomy is about.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12It's about us, a species on the planet,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15who have got the amazing ability to explore,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18wonder and ask questions, and want to learn more.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24When you look at the universe and you look at the things within it,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and we look at the planet, and you look at a tiny baby,
0:27:26 > 0:27:31or you look a flower, there's no way that has just come about by chance.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Somebody...somewhere...something has created it.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36And, to me, that was God.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27Christ, the Sun Of Righteousness, shine upon you.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Scatter the darkness from before your path
0:29:31 > 0:29:35and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39HE SPEAKS IN MANX
0:29:48 > 0:29:50ALL: Amen.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Over the next four weeks, many of us will be preparing
0:30:02 > 0:30:06for present-giving and parties, or perhaps a family reunion.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09But that doesn't mean we can't remember the real meaning
0:30:09 > 0:30:12of the Christmas season, which is to celebrate
0:30:12 > 0:30:16not just the birth of Jesus, but to look forward to his returning.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20That's the subject of our final hymn, by Charles Wesley.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26More carols for Advent next week
0:33:26 > 0:33:30as Aled talks to singer and Radio 2 presenter, Paul Jones,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34about his remarkable career in music, his devout faith
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and why Christmas is so important to him.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39There are questions from his fans
0:33:39 > 0:33:42as well as some festive songs and favourite carols.
0:33:54 > 0:33:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd