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| books on the history of christmas: Christmas Bruce David Forbes, 2007-10-10 Written for everyone who loves and is simultaneously driven crazy by the holiday season, Christmas: A Candid History provides an enlightening, entertaining perspective on how the annual Yuletide celebration got to be what it is today. In a fascinating, concise tour through history, the book tells the story of Christmas—from its pre-Christian roots, through the birth of Jesus, to the holiday's spread across Europe into the Americas and beyond, and to its mind-boggling transformation through modern consumerism. Packed with intriguing stories, based on research into myriad sources, full of insights, the book explores the historical origins of traditions including Santa, the reindeer, gift giving, the Christmas tree, Christmas songs and movies, and more. The book also offers some provocative ideas for reclaiming the joy and meaning of this beloved, yet often frustrating, season amid the pressures of our fast-paced consumer culture. DID YOU KNOW For three centuries Christians did not celebrate Christmas? Puritans in England and New England made Christmas observances illegal? St. Nicholas is an elf in the famous poem The Night Before Christmas? President Franklin Roosevelt changed the dateof Thanksgiving in order to lengthen the Christmas shopping season? Coca-Cola helped fashion Santa Claus's look in an advertising campaign? |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas in America Penne L. Restad, 1996-12-05 The manger or Macy's? Americans might well wonder which is the real shrine of Christmas, as they take part each year in a mix of churchgoing, shopping, and family togetherness. But the history of Christmas cannot be summed up so easily as the commercialization of a sacred day. As Penne Restad reveals in this marvelous new book, it has always been an ambiguous meld of sacred thoughts and worldly actions-- as well as a fascinating reflection of our changing society. In Christmas in America, Restad brilliantly captures the rise and transformation of our most universal national holiday. In colonial times, it was celebrated either as an utterly solemn or a wildly social event--if it was celebrated at all. Virginians hunted, danced, and feasted. City dwellers flooded the streets in raucous demonstrations. Puritan New Englanders denounced the whole affair. Restad shows that as times changed, Christmas changed--and grew in popularity. In the early 1800s, New York served as an epicenter of the newly emerging holiday, drawing on its roots as a Dutch colony (St. Nicholas was particularly popular in the Netherlands, even after the Reformation), and aided by such men as Washington Irving. In 1822, another New Yorker named Clement Clarke Moore penned a poem now known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, virtually inventing the modern Santa Claus. Well-to-do townspeople displayed a German novelty, the decorated fir tree, in their parlors; an enterprising printer discovered the money to be made from Christmas cards; and a hodgepodge of year-end celebrations began to coalesce around December 25 and the figure of Santa. The homecoming significance of the holiday increased with the Civil War, and by the end of the nineteenth century a full- fledged national holiday had materialized, forged out of borrowed and invented custom alike, and driven by a passion for gift-giving. In the twentieth century, Christmas seeped into every niche of our conscious and unconscious lives to become a festival of epic proportions. Indeed, Restad carries the story through to our own time, unwrapping the messages hidden inside countless movies, books, and television shows, revealing the inescapable presence--and ambiguous meaning--of Christmas in contemporary culture. Filled with colorful detail and shining insight, Christmas in America reveals not only much about the emergence of the holiday, but also what our celebrations tell us about ourselves. From drunken revelry along colonial curbstones to family rituals around the tree, from Thomas Nast drawing the semiofficial portrait of St. Nick to the making of the film Home Alone, Restad's sparkling account offers much to amuse and ponder. |
| books on the history of christmas: The World Encyclopedia of Christmas Gerry Bowler, 2012-10-23 At last, a truly comprehensive look at Christmas and all of its customs with its long history around the world. The World Encyclopedia of Christmas contains articles on the history of Christmas baking, drinking, and merrymaking, and Christmas dramas, music, literature, art, and films. It includes entries on the evolution of the Christmas tree and the Christmas card, gift-giving, and decoration of church and home. There are profiles of the many gift-bringers, from Santa Claus to Babouschka, and miraculous tales of the numerous saints associated with the season. And there are histories of seasonal celebrations and folk customs around the world, from the United States to Japan, from Egypt to Iceland. Who, for example, knew the links between the Punch and Judy show and Christmas? That the medieval Paradise tree hung with tempting apples was the forerunner of the Christmas tree? About the Peerie Guizers, who terrorized the Shetland Islands, going door-to-door for Christmas charity? Or what Freudians make of our interest in Christmas stockings and Santa’s entrance through the chimney? There are detailed accounts of Wren Boys and Star Boys, mumming and wassailing, the Feast of Fools and the origins of eggnog. And of course stories of the Nativity and legends of the Magi. With beautifully illustrated accounts ranging from the pagan roots of Yuletide, through the birth of Christ, and the long and fascinating history of the festival ever since, The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, is a rich and continually surprising array of religious and secular history, trivia, literature, and art. This wonderful book deserves to find a home with every family that celebrates Christmas. |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas in the Crosshairs G. Q. Bowler, Gerry Bowler, 2017 Is there a War on Christmas? This book surveys the history of the world's most popular festival and the never-ending battles it has engendered ever since its hotly-contested invention in the Roman Empire. |
| books on the history of christmas: The Man Who Invented Christmas Les Standiford, 2008-11-04 As uplifting as the tale of Scrooge itself, this is the story of how Charles Dickens revived the signal holiday of the Western world—now a major motion picture. Just before Christmas in 1843, a debt-ridden and dispirited Charles Dickens wrote a small book he hoped would keep his creditors at bay. His publisher turned it down, so Dickens used what little money he had to put out A Christmas Carol himself. He worried it might be the end of his career as a novelist. The book immediately caused a sensation. And it breathed new life into a holiday that had fallen into disfavor, undermined by lingering Puritanism and the cold modernity of the Industrial Revolution. It was a harsh and dreary age, in desperate need of spiritual renewal, ready to embrace a book that ended with blessings for one and all. With warmth, wit, and an infusion of Christmas cheer, Les Standiford whisks us back to Victorian England, its most beloved storyteller, and the birth of the Christmas we know best. The Man Who Invented Christmas is a rich and satisfying read for Scrooges and sentimentalists alike. |
| books on the history of christmas: Toward the Origins of Christmas Susan K. Roll, 1995 Christmas exerts an enormous attraction today even apart from its Christian character as a celebration of the incarnation of God in the Person of Jesus. Even marginal or indifferent Christians crowd the churches on Christmas Eve and in highly commercialized and technologized Western societies the Christmas season is celebrated with enthousiasm. Yet Christmas entered the calendar of feasts relatively late, by 336 C.E., and the reason for its introduction and quick spread remain speculative and based on fragmentary evidence. Towards the Origins of Christmas addresses both the contemporary Western celebration of Christmas, and its deep historical roots in the church of the fourth century. The book presents a thorough investigation of the patristic texts and evidence cited by liturgical scholars in the late 19th and 20th centuries to support two main theories: the Calculation theory and the History of Religions theory. This historical research is set in the framework of the contemporary experience of Christmas; the dynamics of time and the liturgical year; the inculturation of liturgy; and underlying elements of dualism and patriarchal power paradigms which linger beneath the often commercial and sentimental character of Christmas today. Suzan K. Roll was born in Clarence Center, New York (USA) in 1952. She holds degrees in classical languages and pastoral theology, and in 1993 received a Ph. D. from the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Louvain (Leuven), Belgium, summa cum laude with the gratulations of the jury. She has thaught and published in the field of liturgy, sacraments, pastoral theology, and presently teaches at Christ the King Seminary, Buffalo, New York (USA). |
| books on the history of christmas: The History of Christmas Heather Lefebvre, 2019 History of Christmas from Bethlehem to today Bible readings, questions, recipes and activities Beautiful colour illustrations |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas Past Kissinger, Barbara Hallman, 2005 |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas Judith Flanders, 2017-10-24 First published: Great Britain: Picador, 2017. |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas Miscellany Jonathan Green, 2017-10-03 Discover the meaning of the season’s traditions! Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Christmas the way we do? In this whimsical book, Jonathan Green tells you all about the fascinating stories behind our most beloved holiday traditions. Make yourself cozy by the fireplace, open up this fully illustrated treasure trove, and learn: Why we sing carols Why we burn Yule logs Why we hang stockings Why we kiss under the mistletoe Why we send greeting cards Why there are twelve days of Christmas And what is figgy pudding? Each chapter explores a different custom and its history: when and where it started, how it has changed over the centuries, and why we still love to recreate it today. You’ll learn why holly and ivy are important symbols, who Good King Wenceslas was, and why we eat turkey for Christmas dinner. Additional fun facts and trivia are sprinkled throughout, accompanied by classic illustrations. This is the perfect gift or stocking stuffer for curious-minded friends and family this holiday season! |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas in America Penne L. Restad, 1996-12-05 The manger or Macy's? Americans might well wonder which is the real shrine of Christmas, as they take part each year in a mix of churchgoing, shopping, and family togetherness. But the history of Christmas cannot be summed up so easily as the commercialization of a sacred day. As Penne Restad reveals in this marvelous new book, it has always been an ambiguous meld of sacred thoughts and worldly actions-- as well as a fascinating reflection of our changing society. In Christmas in America, Restad brilliantly captures the rise and transformation of our most universal national holiday. In colonial times, it was celebrated either as an utterly solemn or a wildly social event--if it was celebrated at all. Virginians hunted, danced, and feasted. City dwellers flooded the streets in raucous demonstrations. Puritan New Englanders denounced the whole affair. Restad shows that as times changed, Christmas changed--and grew in popularity. In the early 1800s, New York served as an epicenter of the newly emerging holiday, drawing on its roots as a Dutch colony (St. Nicholas was particularly popular in the Netherlands, even after the Reformation), and aided by such men as Washington Irving. In 1822, another New Yorker named Clement Clarke Moore penned a poem now known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, virtually inventing the modern Santa Claus. Well-to-do townspeople displayed a German novelty, the decorated fir tree, in their parlors; an enterprising printer discovered the money to be made from Christmas cards; and a hodgepodge of year-end celebrations began to coalesce around December 25 and the figure of Santa. The homecoming significance of the holiday increased with the Civil War, and by the end of the nineteenth century a full- fledged national holiday had materialized, forged out of borrowed and invented custom alike, and driven by a passion for gift-giving. In the twentieth century, Christmas seeped into every niche of our conscious and unconscious lives to become a festival of epic proportions. Indeed, Restad carries the story through to our own time, unwrapping the messages hidden inside countless movies, books, and television shows, revealing the inescapable presence--and ambiguous meaning--of Christmas in contemporary culture. Filled with colorful detail and shining insight, Christmas in America reveals not only much about the emergence of the holiday, but also what our celebrations tell us about ourselves. From drunken revelry along colonial curbstones to family rituals around the tree, from Thomas Nast drawing the semiofficial portrait of St. Nick to the making of the film Home Alone, Restad's sparkling account offers much to amuse and ponder. |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas Bruce David Forbes, 2007-10-10 In a fascinating, concise tour through history, the book tells the story of Christmas-from its pre-Christian roots, through the birth of Jesus, to the holiday's spread across Europe into the Americas and beyond, and to its mind-boggling transformation through modern consumer culture.--Page 2 of cover. |
| books on the history of christmas: The History of Christmas: Reading with a Purpose Jake Henderson, Robert Marshall, 2014-08-16 The History of Christmas is a resource manual for teachers and parents. This guide includes many tools to help teachers and parents facilitate their children's learning experience. It features historical lessons on topics related to Christmas, including the origins of the Christmas holiday (both pagan & Christian), traditional foods, pageants, decorations, and Christmas songs. There are also units of instruction focusing on the popular characters of the holiday such as Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Frosty. The guide also highlights literary influences on Christmas, such as Twas the Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Carol. The History of Christmas provides a thorough examination of the cultural and historical origins of Christmas, which help students to gain a broader understanding of the holiday. Exercises in guided reading help to reinforce each lesson, while free response questions encourage students to consider each topic in different ways. Reading comprehension questions challenge readers to gain a deeper understanding of the material presented. Each unit also includes lessons which utilize maps, charts, graphs, and timelines. The guide also suggests fun activities, recipes, movies, and music to help create the ultimate Christmas experience of for young readers. The History of Christmas can be used independently, or as a companion piece with the novel A Radio Road Christmas by Jake Henderson. |
| books on the history of christmas: The Battle for Christmas Stephen Nissenbaum, 2010-12-01 PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • Drawing on a wealth of research, this fascinating book (The New York Times Book Review) charts the invention of our current Yuletide traditions, from St. Nicholas to the Christmas tree and, perhaps most radically, the practice of giving gifts to children. Anyone who laments the excesses of Christmas might consider the Puritans of colonial Massachusetts: they simply outlawed the holiday. The Puritans had their reasons, since Christmas was once an occasion for drunkenness and riot, when poor wassailers extorted food and drink from the well-to-do. In this intriguing and innovative work of social history, Stephen Nissenbaum rediscovers Christmas's carnival origins and shows how it was transformed, during the nineteenth century, into a festival of domesticity and consumerism. Bursting with detail, filled with subversive readings of such seasonal classics as A Visit from St. Nicholas” and A Christmas Carol, The Battle for Christmas captures the glorious strangeness of the past even as it helps us better understand our present. |
| books on the history of christmas: The History of Christmas Helen Cox Cannons, 2019-10-03 This book answers all the questions that you want to know about Christmas and the traditions that we have in Britain: why we sing carols, why we send cards, why we eat turkey or goose, why we have crackers, why Father Christmas comes and so much more. Read this and jingle your friends' bells with all your Christmas knowledge! |
| books on the history of christmas: Illustrated Catalogue of Books, Standard and Holiday McClurg, Firm, Booksellers, Chicago, 1897 |
| books on the history of christmas: The English Catalogue of Books: v. [1]. 1835-1863 Sampson Low, James Douglas Stewart, 1872 |
| books on the history of christmas: The History of Christmas Annie Reiner, 1996 The anticipation of Christmas prompts Grandpa to relate the story of Christmas to Charlotte, a little girl full of questions. |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas and the British: A Modern History Martin Johnes, 2016-10-06 The modern Christmas was made by the Victorians and rooted in their belief in commerce, family and religion. Their rituals and traditions persist to the present day but the festival has also been changed by growing affluence, shifting family structures, greater expectations of happiness and material comfort, technological developments and falling religious belief. Christmas became a battleground for arguments over consumerism, holiday entitlements, social obligations, communal behaviour and the influence of church, state and media. Even in private, it encouraged reflection on social change and the march of time. Amongst those unhappy at the state of the world or their own lives, Christmas could induce much cynicism and even loathing but for a quieter majority it was a happy time, a moment of a joy in a sometimes difficult world that made the festival more than just an integral feature of the calendar: Christmas was one of British culture's emotional high points. Moreover, it was also a testimony to the enduring importance of family, shared values and a common culture in the UK. Martin Johnes shows how Christmas and its traditions have been lived, adapted and thought about in Britain since 1914. Christmas and the British is about the festival's social, cultural and economic functions, and its often forgotten status as both the most unusual and important day of the year |
| books on the history of christmas: Merry Christmas! Patricia Bunning Stevens, 1979-01-01 Traces the history and development of the Christmas holiday from ancient pagan festivals to contemporary American celebrations. |
| books on the history of christmas: The History of the Christmas Card György Buday, 1964 |
| books on the history of christmas: A Catalogue of Books for the Library , 1877 |
| books on the history of christmas: Ebony , 1987-12 EBONY is the flagship magazine of Johnson Publishing. Founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, it still maintains the highest global circulation of any African American-focused magazine. |
| books on the history of christmas: The Athenaeum , 1836 |
| books on the history of christmas: The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art , 1861 |
| books on the history of christmas: A Catalogue of Valuable New and Second-hand Books Willis and Sotheran, 1877 |
| books on the history of christmas: The Rotarian , 1944-12 Established in 1911, The Rotarian is the official magazine of Rotary International and is circulated worldwide. Each issue contains feature articles, columns, and departments about, or of interest to, Rotarians. Seventeen Nobel Prize winners and 19 Pulitzer Prize winners – from Mahatma Ghandi to Kurt Vonnegut Jr. – have written for the magazine. |
| books on the history of christmas: There Really is a Santa Claus - History of Saint Nicholas & Christmas Holiday Traditions William J. Federer, 2002 Includes U.S. president's Christmas addresses. |
| books on the history of christmas: Illustrated Catalogue of Books A.C. McClurg & Co, 1900 |
| books on the history of christmas: Catalogue of the Library of Troy Young Men's Assoc Troy Public Library (N.Y.), 1859 |
| books on the history of christmas: Publisher and Bookseller , 1863 Vols. for 1871-76, 1913-14 include an extra number, The Christmas bookseller, separately paged and not included in the consecutive numbering of the regular series. |
| books on the history of christmas: The Englishman's Christmas John Alfred Ralph Pimlott, 1978 |
| books on the history of christmas: The American Booksellers Guide , 1868 |
| books on the history of christmas: Christmas, A Very Peculiar History Fiona Macdonald, 2012-02-03 Just when you thought it was safe to take a sneak peek into your stocking, it's 'Christmas: A Very Peculiar History'. Taking an unbiased view of the myth and mystery surrounding the origins of the yuletide season, this book introduces mindbending facts about the holiday season and shatters the myths surrounding some of Christmas' most treasured and well-known facets: When exactly was Jesus born? Why is Santa's outfit red and white? Where do we get Christmas trees from? What's the snow in a snowglobe made of? What's Boxing Day all about? 'Christmas: A Very Peculiar History' takes a sideways look at bizarre yuletide customs and stories from around the world, such as Santa's evil sidekick, the terrifying Krampus, and the Scandinavian celebration of Saint Lucy. So leave the mince pies on the mantlepiece if you've been good and block up your chimneys if you've been bad, because 'Christmas: A Very Peculiar History' is here. |
| books on the history of christmas: Supplement to the London Catalogue of Books Published in Great Britain, with Their Sizes, Prices, and Publishers' Names, from 1846 to 1849 Including a Classified Index to the New Works Published During 1846-1849. Uniform with the "Bibliotheca Londinensis" Thomas Hodgson, 1849 |
| books on the history of christmas: Catalogues of Second-hand Books Henry Sotheran Ltd, 1877 |
| books on the history of christmas: Year-book of Facts in Science and the Arts , 1858 |
| books on the history of christmas: World of Dragons Coloring Book Arkady Roytman, 2014-06-18 Thirty full-page illustrations to color depict an international array of dragons, including a Balinese spirit king, Greek temple guardian, English wyvern, and creatures from Norse, Polish, Egyptian, and other cultures. Captions. |
| books on the history of christmas: The Publisher's Weekly American Book-Trade Journal , 1884 |
| books on the history of christmas: Subject Catalog Library of Congress, 1970 |
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