The "world's leading snowman expert" joins Rick to explore the somewhat dark — and certainly cold — origins of the tradition of building snowmen, and what Frosty and his ilk have come to mean across different societies. Then two Rome-based tour guides unpack some of the cultural treasures crammed into the world's tiniest country, while sharing tips and secrets for a successful visit to Vatican City amid the Jubilee-year pilgrimage that's sure to keep the city packed throughout 2025. And to welcome the new year, two France experts raise a glass to Champagne — both the bubbly and its region of origin — before Scottish tour guides revel in describing the lively New Year's Eve traditions they observe in Edinburgh as "Hogmanay."

• 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.