Christmas in America

Christmas in America PDF Author: David Cohen
Publisher: Harper San Francisco
ISBN: 9780002179683
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description
Captioned photographs depict Christmas time throughout the United States.

Christmas in America

Christmas in America PDF Author: David Cohen
Publisher: Harper San Francisco
ISBN: 9780002179683
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 216

Get Book Here

Book Description
Captioned photographs depict Christmas time throughout the United States.

Christmas in America

Christmas in America PDF Author: Penne L. Restad
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199923582
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
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.

Christmas in America

Christmas in America PDF Author: Peter Guttman
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1510778551
Category : Photography
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
A New Edition of Peter Guttman's Dazzling Photographic Treasury of Holiday Lights and Celebrations Nothing reminds us of the good things in life—family, friendship, food, and good cheer—more than Christmas. With stunning images and illuminating text, award-winning photographer Peter Guttman offers a dazzling overview of the wintry landscapes, traditions, ceremonies, spectacles, and pastimes of the holiday season throughout the United States. Delve into the landscapes and streetscapes of Christmas in America and you can almost smell the frosted scent of snow-covered pines, of chestnuts roasting, and of family meals being shared. In the East, we find the spirit of the season in a cozy Vermont country inn, or an “army of elves” in a Philadelphia parade, or the sweeping grace of the sugar plum fairies in the Nutcracker Suite. In the heartland, we dogsled through a crystal wilderness in Minnesota and discover blazing bonfires in Louisiana. The snowy cliffs of the Grand Canyon, steam trains weaving high amongst the Rockies, the textured pueblos of New Mexico, the almost heavenly night sky of Utah’s Monument Valley, and the indescribable glazed beauty of Yosemite reflect the West. Like the holiday season itself, Christmas in America is a treasure.

Christmas in America

Christmas in America PDF Author: Callista Gingrich
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1621574490
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
A book to challenge the status quo, spark a debate, and get people talking about the issues and questions we face as a country!

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Louisiana

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Louisiana PDF Author: Jean Cassels
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company
ISBN: 9781402738142
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
Paul writes a letter home each of the twelve days he spends exploring Louisiana at Christmastime, as his cousin Rosalie shows him everything from a pelican in a cypress tree to twelve sparkly strands of Mardi Gras beads. Includes facts about Louisiana.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in North Carolina

The Twelve Days of Christmas in North Carolina PDF Author:
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 9781402744679
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
On each of the twelve days of her Christmas visit with her cousin Mike, Abby sends her parents a letter describing the history, geography, animals, and interesting sights of North Carolina. Uses the cumulative pattern of the traditional carol to present amusing state trivia at the end of each letter.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Florida

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Florida PDF Author:
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 9781402738173
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
Through letters and a funny story based on the classic Christmas song, popular illustrator Remkiewicz takes youngsters on a holiday trip to Florida while presenting fun facts about the Sunshine State. Full color.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in New York City

The Twelve Days of Christmas in New York City PDF Author:
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 9781402764400
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
Emily writes a letter home each of the twelve days she spends exploring the five boroughs of New York City at Christmastime, as her cousin Daniel shows her everything from a pigeon in a Central Park tree to twelve streamers twirling on New Year's Eve. Includes facts about New York City.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Arizona

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Arizona PDF Author: Jennifer J. Stewart
Publisher: Union Square Kids
ISBN: 9781402770364
Category : Arizona
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Isabella writes a letter home each of the twelve days she spends exploring Arizona at Christmastime, as her cousin Carlos shows her everything from a cactus wren in a palo verde tree to twelve Grand Canyon mules. Includes facts about Arizona.

Native American Night Before Christmas

Native American Night Before Christmas PDF Author: Gary Robinson
Publisher: 7th Generation
ISBN: 1939053722
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 41

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Book Description
This innovative retelling of the classic Christmas tale takes a whimsical look at what Christmas Eve might be like for an American Indian family when Old Red Shirt (the Indian Santa Claus) comes a-calling. He brings with him his team of flying white buffalo to deliver fry bread, commodities, and other goodies. Renowned Cherokee artist Jesse Hummingbird’s inspired illustrations transform the author’s playful adaptation into a fresh, modern work of art. A delight for people of all ages and cultures. The title was the winner of the 2010 Moonbeam Award for Holiday Books. A glossary is included to explain terms commonly used in Native communities such as fry bread, commodities, and medicine bundles.