The Christmas Encyclopedia
Synopsis
This reference book contains information about the Christmas holiday, from its inception in the fourth century to today. Covering the entire season from Advent to Epiphany, approximately 340 entries discuss Santa Claus (and similar figures), the yule log, the Christmas tree, holly, mistletoe, music, holiday customs, and historical events that have shaped Christmas. Portrayals of Christmas in the popular media are given particular attention.
Annotation © Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Library Journal
Crump, a retired physician with a longtime interest in Christmas, presents more than 340 entries on subjects "which have remained Christmas treasures through popular association and usage over decades...and which place strong emphasis on Christmas as depicted in the popular media." The brief entries include television specials, holiday episodes of television series, movies, cartoons, literary subjects, biblical events, secular events, and various holiday observances around the world. Despite the title, the book includes Hanukkah and Kwanzaa along with other worldwide holiday celebrations and covers the Christmas season from Advent through the Epiphany. Plentiful cross references are found throughout. The article on Mexico, for example, includes cross references to "Las Posadas," "Central America," "South America," "Candlemas," "Epiphany," "Feast of Fools," "Holy Innocents Day," "Mass of the Rooster," "Nativity Scene," and "Poinsettia." The detailed index makes the material even more accessible by referencing the performers, producers, writers, and actors of the songs, movies, and television shows cited as well as some historical figures. Six pages of references include books, periodicals, and web sites. There is very little duplication with Tanya Gulevich's Encyclopedia of Christmas, which focuses on history and tradition rather than popular culture. And while the smaller if more highly illustrated World Encyclopedia of Christmas (McClelland & Stewart, 2000) does focus on popular culture, the subject is so vast that there is little duplication here, either. All three books work well together.
This reference book contains information about the Christmas holiday, from its inception in the fourth century to today. Covering the entire season from Advent to Epiphany, approximately 340 entries discuss Santa Claus (and similar figures), the yule log, the Christmas tree, holly, mistletoe, music, holiday customs, and historical events that have shaped Christmas. Portrayals of Christmas in the popular media are given particular attention.
Annotation © Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Library Journal
Crump, a retired physician with a longtime interest in Christmas, presents more than 340 entries on subjects "which have remained Christmas treasures through popular association and usage over decades...and which place strong emphasis on Christmas as depicted in the popular media." The brief entries include television specials, holiday episodes of television series, movies, cartoons, literary subjects, biblical events, secular events, and various holiday observances around the world. Despite the title, the book includes Hanukkah and Kwanzaa along with other worldwide holiday celebrations and covers the Christmas season from Advent through the Epiphany. Plentiful cross references are found throughout. The article on Mexico, for example, includes cross references to "Las Posadas," "Central America," "South America," "Candlemas," "Epiphany," "Feast of Fools," "Holy Innocents Day," "Mass of the Rooster," "Nativity Scene," and "Poinsettia." The detailed index makes the material even more accessible by referencing the performers, producers, writers, and actors of the songs, movies, and television shows cited as well as some historical figures. Six pages of references include books, periodicals, and web sites. There is very little duplication with Tanya Gulevich's Encyclopedia of Christmas, which focuses on history and tradition rather than popular culture. And while the smaller if more highly illustrated World Encyclopedia of Christmas (McClelland & Stewart, 2000) does focus on popular culture, the subject is so vast that there is little duplication here, either. All three books work well together.
McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
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Review
A Celebration of Christmas Around the World & Through The Ages
From the Publisher
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.
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.
