Christmas countdown day 13: the hidden messages in carols

Beyond the festive there's a hint of rebellion and even revolution.

Ian Bradley

Ian Bradley is Emeritus Professor of Cultural and Spiritual History at the University of St Andrews.

Coventry Cathedral.

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The Christmas Countdown

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Christmas culture

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12 November 2025

1 min read

Advent Special, from Seen & Unseen Aloud

Our audio box set serves up some choice picks from Christmases past and present.

Natalie Garrett

Natalie produces and narrates The Seen & Unseen Aloud podcast. She's an Anglican minister and a trained actor.

Seen & Unseen Aloud: Advent Special audio boxset

Reflect this Advent with your Thinking Aloud audiobox

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However you choose to spend the festive period, we hope these reflections spark meaningful conversations and moments of stillness this Advent.

Listen now to the Seen & Unseen Advent Special series

Episode 1: Learning to find joy on Team Christmas, by psychologist Roger Bretherton

The clinical and coaching psychologist investigates the bone-deep satisfaction in the hard work of hosting Christmas at home and why the act has now become a spiritual discipline for him.

Episode 2: This is love, actually by Cameron Wiltshire Plant

The Leicestershire vicar explains that while the meet-cutes are abundant in the Christmas movie staple, it’s the sibling storyline that strikes at the truest meaning of love: God’s sacrifice.

Episode 3: My Boxing Day anti-climax, by Jonny Torrance

The priest and theologian ponders whether, once the most wonderful time of year has come and gone, anything really has changed and why the Christian faith also contends with this reality.