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Welcome to
Bill Egan's
CHRISTMAS WORLD
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In a thousand different ways, the peoples of the earth join their hearts in the great communion of mankind that only this season can bring. Learning about the Christmas customs of various nations helps us to understand the wide variety of traditions that families have practiced for many centuries around the globe. It's interesting to note how many aspects of Christmas have been adopted and adapted as they move across borders. When you click on the names of countries below, you will read about their holiday traditions, see pictures of celebrations, and hear some of their Christmas music. Additional information about other countries will be added throughout the year. |
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 2006 saw the publication of two Christmas workbooks for teachers in Australia, three newly-translated verses of "Stille Nacht" in Ausria, and an English translation of the Austrian Advent carol "Jetzt fangen wir zum Singen an" as "The Road to Bethlehem" for the Salzburg Chorale. Mark Roth of the Pittlburgh Post-Gazette sought information for a major feature article on the history of "Silent Night" and Ben Smith sought information for his article "The World of Christmas" in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Nancy Stohs, food editor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wanted to know the history of gingerbread. In 2005 Bill Egan provided Christmas information for publications ranging from the "International Herald Tribune" to a Japanese-language magazine in New Zealand. He was heard on radio stations in the U.S. and Canada and wrote a "Silent Night" feature for publication in Austria. Newspapers and TV stations in Jacksonville, Florida used him as a resource for stories on John Freeman Young who translated "Stille Nacht" into "Silent Night." Young was the Episcopal Bishop of Florida and is buried in Jacksonville. In 2004 Bill was invited to lecture on the Mississippi Queen steamboat for a 7-day river cruise. A radio station in Sydney, Australia phoned to get his opinion on the Lord Mayor's stinginess with Christmas decorations around the city. "Life" magazine asked for assistance with their new "Christmas Around the World" book and ABC called for ideas for "Good Morning America." The biography of John Freeman Young (by Bill Egan) was published in Salzburg, Austria. Young wrote the English translation of "Stille Nacht." Bill Egan is the recipient of the Gold Medal of Honor of the
Republic of Austria for his "Silent Night" research and dissemination of
Austrian Christmas culture.
Christmas World is the creation of Christmas historian, Bill Egan.
His articles have appeared in Year Round Christmas Magazine, The
Daytona Beach News-Journal, Halifax Magazine, Seniors Today, The
Florida Catholic, The Washington Post, The Sydney (Australia)
Morning Herald, Aker Saa (Egypt) Magazine, The Fort Lauderdale
News, The Sun-Sentinel, and Florida Living. He provides Christmas
information to Charles Osgood and can often be heard during Christmas
week on "The Osgood File" on the CBS Radio Network. According to Charles Osgood, "Bill Egan is the number one Christmas expert in the world." Christmas 2002: Bill discussed the history of "Silent Night" on WMFE 90.7-FM Orlando during Christmas week. In early December, on the same station, he told about the tours of Nativity scenes in homes in Austria's Ziller Valley. He provided background and research for various newspapers including the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Oshkosh Northwestern, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. A new book on the history of "Stille Nacht" was published in Austria and Bill was cited for the accuracy and thoroughness of his research on the world's best-loved Christmas carol. During the 1998 Christmas season, Bill was heard on WNDB (Daytona Beach), WUSC (Los Angeles), WCBS (New York), and Colorado Public Radio (Denver, Vail, Pueblo, Fort Collins, Grand Junction). In 1999 he was heard across the U.S. on the CBS Radio Network and, locally, on WNDB in Daytona Beach. In 2000, Bill provided hundreds of pages of Christmas content for the Christmas.com website, provided research for numerious publications including "The New York Times" and lectured on Christmas topics at numerous museums and auditoriums. For Christmas 2001, he is designed "Christmas in the Alps" a museum exhibit for an historic Florida museum. In 2001, Bill provided Christmas advice for TV ranging from Martha Stewart's show to the Food Network and House and Garden Network. Full-page interview in "Christmas Crafts," a "Women's Day" special publication. Interviewed by journalists in five nations. "Carols by Candlelight" in St. Augustine, Florida, "Holiday in the Gardens" in Palm Coast, Florida, and "Advent Singing" in Daytona Beach, Florida are events created by Bill Egan that are attended by thousands on an annual basis. Bill Egan is available for concerts, lectures, and interviews.  |
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