Program 777: History of the Snowman; Visiting the Vatican; Champagne; Edinburgh New Year's

People have been making snowmen for centuries. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll hear how they've long been one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.

Guides from Rome help us prepare to visit Vatican City during the busy 2025 "Jubilee Year" observance.

Guides from France offer tips on how to properly open a bottle of champagne without spilling a drop.

And we'll be reminded of the time-honored traditions for ushering in the new year, the way they do it in the Scottish home of Auld Lang Syne.

• Bob Eckstein, author of "The Illustrated History of the Snowman" (Globe Pequot)
• Rome-based tour guides Nina Bernardo and Susanna Perrucchini
• France-based tour guides Virginie Moré and Julie Sonveau
• Edinburgh-based tour guides Anne Doig and Ken Hanley

• Bob Eckstein has been called the world's leading snowman expert, and wrote "The Illustrated History of the Snowman." He hosted a snowman blog from 2007–2018. Bob is also an illustrator/cartoonist for the New Yorker magazine, and his latest book is "Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums."
• Nina Bernardo offers private guiding in Rome. She can be reached at [email protected].
• The Rick Steves online guide to Rome includes sites in Vatican City.
• Rick writes about Reims in the Champagne region as a possible day trip from Paris.
• Tour guide Virginie Moré can be contacted through her website.
• Julie Sonveau talks about moving from Kansas to France.
• Edinburgh's three-day Hogmanay New Year's street festival is said to be one of the largest street parties in the world.

• Los Inmortales, "Cinco Pa' Las Doce," El Mejor Disco de Diciembre 1 (collection) / Discos Fuentes
• Les Violins du Roy, Bernard Labadie, cond., "Christmas Concerto Grosso in G minor, op. 6 no. 8-Allegro Pastorale ad libitum (Corelli)," Simphonies des noels / Dorian Recordings
• Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, cond., "The Music Box (Liadov)," Russian Nights / Telarc
• Philadelphia Orchestra, "'March of the Toys' from 'Babes in Toyland,'" Greatest Hits: Marches / Sony Classical
• SCOR_SCORE_0265_02801_Happy_Snowman_c_APM
• MYMA_SCOP_0098_00501_Dancing_In_The_Snow_APM
• KPM_FTV_0017_02001_Sparkling_Snow_APM
• The Roches, "Frosty the Snowman," A Child's Celebration of Christmas (collection) / Music for Little People
• Tomita, "'Snowflakes Are Dancing' from 'Children's Corner No. 4' (Debussy)," Snowflakes are Dancing / RCA Red Seal
• * Philip Rushforth, organ, "Sleigh Ride," Chester Cathedral Choir: Glory to the New-Born King (Anderson, arr. Trotter) / Priory
• Kocani Orkestar, Modern Quartet, "Fantasia for Clarinet," Electric Gypsyland (collection) / Six Degrees
• Aria, "Un Bel Di," Aria, vol. 1 / Cafe del Mar Music
• CEZ_ULY_3009_00801_Canon_de_Pachelbel_APM
• Leonardo de Amicis, "Attende Domine," Abba Pater / Sony Classical
• CEZ_CEO_2069_00101_Les_Cercles_du_Pouvoir_APM
• Orchestre de l'Assoc. des Concerts Colonne, Georges Tzipine, cond., "La petite Venise (from the soundtrack to 'Si Versailles m'etait conte')," Le Film Français: Honegger, Françaix, Sauguet, Thiriet / EMI Classics
• Cantus, "Introit - Benedictus Sit Sancta Trinitas," Cantus / (self-released)
• Ennio Morricone, "Gabriel's Oboe," The Mission (soundtrack) / Virgin
• Massimo Farao Trio, "Ode to Joy," The Classic Jazz Lounge / Azzurra Music
• * Paul Winter, "The Cherry Tree," Wintersong / Living Music
• The Newstead Trio, "Cornwall Trio-Allegro Quasi Rondo (Julia Smith)," Romanza / Prince
• MYMA_JUST_0118_00701_Augury_APM
• Kiyoshi Hirakawa, "Tiny Bubbles," Ukulele Paradise / JP International (Japan)
• Tannahill Weavers, "Auld Lang Syne," A Thistle and Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh (collection) / Green Linnet
• Jim Malcolm, "Auld Lang Syne," Acquaintance / Beltane Records (Scotland)

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• The "new year" is mentioned in this week's billboard, in the open to segment A, end of segment B, and is the focus of the feature at the end of segment C. In the segment A open, Rick also mentions the "Jubilee Year festivities" in the Vatican.
• In the reset at 17:14, Rick talks about "brightening up our holiday season."
• Rick closes segment A at 18:48, noting that "it's a big year ahead" in Vatican City.
• Segment B opens with a "New Year blessing" in Bulgarian from Stefan Bozadzhiev.
• At 27:22, Rick mentions the "busy Jubilee Year of 2025" in a reset, and at 33:09 in segment B. The guides then offer strategies for dealing with thr anticipated crowds.
• The Edinburgh New Year's feature starts at 54:48.