The Christmas Encyclopedia

Download or read book The Christmas Encyclopedia written by William D. Crump and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christmas is special for many people around the world, and over the many centuries that people have been celebrating the holiday, it has changed with the times. This reference work presents a tremendous amount of information about the Christmas holiday from its inception around A.D. 350 to the present day. Covering not only Christmas day but the entire season from Advent through Epiphany, over 340 entries provide details on historical events that have shaped Christmas; St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, and other mythical beings that spread gifts around the world; symbols such as the Yule log, Christmas tree, holly, and mistletoe; sacred and popular carols and other music; and customs in the United States and around the world. Unique to this work is its emphasis on Christmas as depicted in the popular media, with entries on literary works, motion pictures, and television specials expressing holiday themes.