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 New Year's Holidays Worldwide

Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide PDF Author: William D. Crump
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476607486
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Get Book Here

Book Description
Among the world's myriad cultures and their associated calendars, the idea of a "New Year" is relative and hardly specifies a universal celebration or even a universal point in time. Ways of celebrating the New Year range from the observances of religious rituals and superstitions to social gatherings featuring particular foods, music, dancing, noisemaking, fireworks and drinking. This first encyclopedia devoted exclusively to the New Year includes 320 entries that give a global perspective on the New Year, beyond its traditional Western associations with Christmas. National or regional entries detail the principal traditions and customs of 130 countries, while 27 entries discuss major calendar systems in current use or of significant historical interest. The remaining entries cover a wide variety of subjects including literary works, movies, and television specials; the customs of specific ethnic groups; universal customs such as toasting and drinking; football bowl games and parades; and the New Year celebrations at the White House and the Vatican.

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

Get Book Here

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.

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

Get Book Here

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.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Encyclopaedia Britannica PDF Author: Hugh Chisholm
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Languages : en
Pages : 1016

Get Book Here

Book Description


Religious Celebrations [2 volumes]

Religious Celebrations [2 volumes] PDF Author: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1598842064
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 1077

Get Book Here

Book Description
This two-volume work presents a comprehensive survey of all the ways people celebrate religious life around the globe. Religious Celebrations is an alphabetically organized encyclopedia that covers more than 800 celebratory occasions from all of the world's major religious communities as well as many of the minor faith traditions. The encyclopedia provides a complete reference tool for examining the myriad ways people worldwide celebrate their religious lives across religious boundaries, providing information on numerous celebratory activities never before covered in a reference work. Offering the most comprehensive coverage of religious holidays ever assembled, this two-volume book covers festivals, commemorations, holidays, and annual religious gatherings all over the world, with special attention paid to the celebrations in larger countries. Entries written by distinguished researchers and specialists on different religious communities capture the unique intensity of each event, be it fasting or feasting, frenzied activity or the universal cessation of work, a huge gathering of the faithful en masse or a small family-centered event. The work spotlights celebrations that currently exist without overlooking now-abandoned celebrations that still impact the modern world.

How Christmas Became Christmas

How Christmas Became Christmas PDF Author: Nathaniel Parry
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476688281
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 261

Get Book Here

Book Description
In some respects, the contrasts of Christmas are what make it the most delightful time of the year. It is a time of generosity, kindness and peace on earth, with broad permission to indulge in food, drink and gifts. On the other hand, Christmas has become a battleground for raging culture wars, marred by debates about how it should be celebrated and acknowledged as a uniquely Christian holiday. This text argues that much of the animosity is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the holiday's core character. By tracing Christmas's origins as a pagan celebration of the winter solstice and its development in Europe's Christianization, this history explains that the true "reason for the season" has as much to do with the earth's movement around the sun as with the birth of Christ. Chapters chronicle how Christmas's magic and misrule link to the nativity, and why the carnival side of the holiday appears so separated from traditional Christian beliefs.

Encyclopedia of Easter, Carnival, and Lent

Encyclopedia of Easter, Carnival, and Lent PDF Author: Tanya Gulevich
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 760

Get Book Here

Book Description
A guide to this season's joyous celebration and solemn worship, including folk customs, religious observances, history, legends, folklore, symbols, and related days from europe, the americas, and around the world.

The World Book Encyclopedia

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

Get Book Here

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

Christmas in the Crosshairs

Christmas in the Crosshairs PDF Author: G. Q. Bowler
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190499001
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 310

Get Book Here

Book Description
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.