The World Encyclopedia of Christmas

The World Encyclopedia of Christmas PDF Author: Gerry Bowler
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
ISBN: 1551996073
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 1075

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Book Description
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.

The World Encyclopedia of Christmas

The World Encyclopedia of Christmas PDF Author: Gerry Bowler
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
ISBN: 1551996073
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 1075

Get Book Here

Book Description
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.

Encyclopedia of Christmas

Encyclopedia of Christmas PDF Author: Tanya Gulevich
Publisher: Visible Ink Press
ISBN: 9780780804555
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 752

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Book Description
"Like sparkling lights and colorful ornaments on a holiday tree, Encyclopedia of Christmas offers myriad facts all in one place. The subtitle says it all: 'Nearly 200 alphabetically arranged entries covering all aspects of Christmas, including folk customs, religious observances, history, legends, symbols, and related days from Europe, America, and around the world.' The Encyclopedia's strong point is its international coverage reflected in the 20 or so entries devoted to Christmas in specific countries or regions all over the world, and the multicultural flavor of its articles. Web sites are offered for countries, Christmas trees, customs, and Christmas movies. Fact- and fun-filled, this is a resource for everyone."--"Outstanding reference sources 2000", American Libraries, May 2000. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, RUSA, ALA.

Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Year's Celebrations

Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Year's Celebrations PDF Author: Tanya Gulevich
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 1016

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Book Description
Over 240 alphabetically arranged entries covering Christmas, New Year's, and related days of observance, including folk and religious customs, history, legends, and symbols from around the world.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus PDF Author: Gerry Bowler
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
ISBN: 1551996081
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
An entertaining, often surprising look at the life of the world’s most influential fictional character. He is the embodiment of charity and generosity, a creation of mythology, a tool of clever capitalists. The very idea of him is enduring and powerful. Santa Claus was born in early-nineteenth-century America, but his family tree goes back seven hundred years to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Intervening generations were shaggy and strange — whip-wielding menaces to naughty boys and girls. Yet as the raucous, outdoor, alcohol-fuelled holiday gave way to a more domestic, sentimental model, a new kind of gift-bringer was called for — a loveable elf, still judgmental but far less threatening. In this engaging social and cultural history, Gerry Bowler examines the place of Santa Claus in history, literature, advertising, and art. He traces his metamorphosis from a beardless youth into a red-suited peddler. He reveals the lesser-known aspects of the gift-bringer’s life — Santa’s involvement with social and political causes of all stripes (he enlisted on the Union side in the American Civil War), his starring role in the movies and as adman for gun-makers and insurance companies. And he demolishes the myths surrounding Santa Claus and Coca-Cola. Santa Claus: A Biography will stand as the classic work on the long-lived and multifarious Mr. Claus.

The World Book Encyclopedia

The World Book Encyclopedia PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Languages : en
Pages : 554

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Book Description
An encyclopedia designed especially to meet the needs of elementary, junior high, and senior high school students.

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Encyclopaedia Britannica PDF Author: Hugh Chisholm
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Languages : en
Pages : 1090

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Book Description
This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style.

!Feliz Navidad¡

!Feliz Navidad¡ PDF Author:
Publisher: World Book
ISBN: 9780716608301
Category : Carols
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
"A study of the celebrations, customs, and practices of Mexico and of Mexican Americans. Also includes crafts, recipes, and carols"--Provided by publisher.

The Christmas Encyclopedia

The Christmas Encyclopedia PDF Author: William D. Crump
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN:
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 506

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Book Description
Did you know that Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas Eve with a bonfire of thorns? That farmers in the Netherlands practice Midwinter Horn Blowing throughout the Advent season? That people in Caracas, Venezuela, roller-skate to midnight mass on Christmas Eve? Find these fascinating facts and hundreds more in this new edition of William Crump's acclaimed Christmas Encyclopedia. From Charles Dickens to Robert Frost, from Mele Kalikimaka to Messiah, and from Charlie Brown to the Waltons, all our favorite Christmas traditions--modern and vintage--are covered here. Crump's second edition of this comprehensive reference work adds 120 new entries, bringing the total number of Christmas-related topics to more than 480. Subjects include individual carols and songs, Christmas episodes of television series, literary figures, and popular Christmas symbols, as well as the origins of some of our most celebrated Christmas traditions. Unique to this work is its emphasis on Christmas as depicted in the popular media, with entries covering literary works, motion pictures and television specials expressing holiday themes.

The Reference Librarian's Bible

The Reference Librarian's Bible PDF Author: Steven W. Sowards
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1440860629
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 472

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Book Description
Divided into dedicated categories about the subjects most meaningful to librarians, this valuable resource reviews 500 texts across all major fields. Drawing on their collective experience in reference services and sifting through nearly 30,000 reviews in ARBAonline, editors Steven Sowards, associate director for collection at Michigan State University Libraries, and Juneal Chenoweth, editor of American Reference Books Annual, curated this collection of titles, most of which have been published since 2000, to serve collections and reference librarians in academic and public libraries. From the Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Social Sciences and Encyclopedia of the Civil War to the Encyclopedia of Physics, Encyclopedia of Insects, and Taylor's Encyclopedia of Garden Plants to the formidable Oxford English Dictionary, The Reference Librarian's Bible encompasses every subject imaginable and will be your first stop for choosing and evaluating your library's collections as well as for answering patrons' questions.

Christmas's Most Wanted™

Christmas's Most Wanted™ PDF Author: Kevin Cuddihy
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
ISBN: 1612340369
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Book Description
It’s the rare bird that doesn’t like Christmas. Sure there are Scrooges and, here and there, cries of "Bah, humbug," but Christmas is a time for celebrating, for giving, and for trying to be just a little nicer to your fellow man. As the song goes, "If every day could be just like Christmas what a wonderful world it would be." Christmas's Most Wanted™ is a celebration of the fun side of Christmas - the songs, the movies, the television shows, the history, the people, the laughs, even the commercialism . . . all that and more. So you’ll see such top-ten lists as different versions of both "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "A Christmas Carol". You’ll read about traditions and the standard gift givers around the world. You’ll find out about how different song genres celebrate Christmas in music. You’ll relive the great-and not-so-great-cartoons of Christmas past. You’ll discover which television celebrities "graced" the world with their very own album of holiday tunes. And you’ll learn about births, deaths, and historical events that occurred on Christmas Day. With more than forty top-ten lists on all things merry, you’ll laugh, you’ll smile, and you’ll learn a lot of interesting stuff about Christmas that you didn’t know before. So curl up before the Yule log, pour yourself some eggnog, bite into a gingerbread cookie, and enjoy the book. Merry Christmas, Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad, and Erry-may Istmas-chray. However you say it, Christmas's Most Wanted™ will certainly bring a dose of merriment to your holidays.