Product Description

During the long, cold December weeks leading up to Christmas, as we spend our time frantically panicking about the financial side of the festive season, it's all to easy to forget the traditional nativity story. The real meaning of Christmas and the traditions that have existed for generations are shunted aside as we worry about how many shopping days we have left and how we're going to fit that monster turkey into the oven. In this charming book, Patrick Harding breathes new life into the traditions of Christmas, unravelling myths and mysteries surrounding our favourite time of year. The Christmas Book is a treasure chest of fascinating facts and tasty morsels, all in one delightful and handy volume. From setting the record straight about Jesus' birth, to explaining what a genuine Yule log is, to tracking the evolution of the Christmas card, there's something in here to entertain everyone, young and old alike. The fascinating read is guaranteed to add some much-needed spice to the festive season and will shake the Scrooge out of even the most cynical reader...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18323 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-31
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

About the Author
After gaining his doctorate by growing grass on coal tips, Patrick Harding enjoyed over 25 years as a university lecturer. He now enlightens adults about herbal medicine, wild and garden flowers, mushrooms, trees and Christmas! Author of popular books on trees, flowers and edible mushrooms, he has explored Christmas customs on television, radio and in the press. He is married to Jean Binney, a botanical artist, and they have two children, Martin and Bryony - who know that Patrick's beard is real! Patrick lives in Sheffield in a house with two chimneys.

Customer Reviews

'The Christmas Book' is packed full of fascinating facts about the magic of Christmas
`Do you know.....

The date of Jesus' birth and in which year he was born?
Where the inspiration for Christmas crackers came from?
Why Santa dresses in red?
Why we celebrate Christmas on 25th December?'

`These days, in the long, cold December weeks leading up to Christmas, we seem to forget the traditional nativity story we all know and love and spend more time frantically panicking about how to secure the latest and hippest toys.
We lose sight of the glorious Christmas rituals that have existed for generations and worry about the price of Brussels sprouts and how we're going to squeeze the turkey into the oven.

`The Christmas Book' is packed full of fascinating facts about the magic of Christmas, ....from ...... determining how much of our Christmas Story could have really taken place, from explaining what a real Yule Log is, to tracking the evolution of the Christmas card, there's something in here to interest and entertain everyone, young and old alike....guaranteed to enrich the festive experience of all who read it, whether a Christmas lover or cynical Scrooge.'
And from the first pages, where the word `Christmas' (Christ's Mass) is mentioned .....to the note that William the Conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.... to the often incorrectly quoted title of Professor Moore's famous poem:- `A Visit from St Nicholas' ...to `The Shape of Christmases to Come', I have to agree -
there is bound to be something new, albeit possible supposition, to the reader:-

`I am tempted to predict that, with the impact of climate change, Britain will continue to experience warmer winters, with less ice and snow to provide a white Christmas.
Alternatively, if the change results in the shutting off of the Gulf Stream, future Christmas weather may indeed be deep and crisp and even colder.'

272 matt pages, written in a variety of fonts and split over the following chapter titles:-

The Ones I Used to Know
1500 British Christmases
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Christmas Customs
The Goose is Getting Fat
Other Christmas Quirks and Queries

plus an index.

Interspersed with poems, black and white illustrations and an 8 page section of colour plates.
In places, there are notes of particular interest in bold, capital letters to draw the eye, e.g.:-

`DELIA SMITH USED CRANBERRIES IN NO FEWER HAN NINE RECIPES IN HER BEST-SELLING COOKERY BOOK, `WINTER COLLECTION'.
THE BOOK LED TO A 200% INCREASE IN SALES OF CRANBERRIES DURING THE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.'
or

`IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 17TH CENTURY, CROMWELL ROOTED OUT WHAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE PAGAN OR PAPAL IDOLATRY.
THE CUSTOM OF SENDING A SPRAY OF GLASTONBURY THORN TO THE MONARCHY ABRUPTLY STOPPED.'

Alongside such entries is more information on the subject, so it is easy to skim read to areas of particular interest, if required.

The development and history of Christmas
There have been many books written by people attempting to explain how Christmas became what it now is, but so much has been lost to history that a lot will never be satisfactorily explained. The first such book that I read and reviewed, Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas, takes a generally more light-hearted approach than this one, but both are well worth reading. I haven't tried comparing them to see if they contradict each other, but I sense that there are some contradictions between them. However, the two books sometimes highlight different things, so even if you read one of them, you'll learn more by reading the other.

Like Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas, this book starts by looking at the birth of Jesus, attempting to explain when he was born and why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Here, the author seems to suggest that the Catholic church's decision was friendly to the other winter festivities. Previously, I've always been under the impression that their choice was an attempt to sabotage those festivities and this book hasn`t changed my mind, although the author could be right.

One chapter is devoted to a history of 1,500 years of British Christmas. Here, it becomes clear that Christmas has had its ups and downs, the most notable being when Oliver Cromwell abolished Christmas festivities. The return of the monarchy meant a resumption of festivities, but some of the old customs didn't return. Maybe the break had allowed people to reflect on what they really missed and what they didn't.

Elsewhere, many of the features of a modern Christmas are investigated and explained to the best of the author's knowledge - Santa, reindeer, holly, ivy, mistletoe, cards, candles, crackers, Yule logs, trees, robins, gifts, food and drink. I particularly appreciated the information given about Christmas carols. Though not covered in great depth, there is more here on the topic than you'll find in Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas. However, the only book that will satisfy me is a book devoted exclusively to the history of Christmas music. The final chapter discusses British regional variations, particularly relating to Wales and Glastonbury.

If you're interested in the development and history of Christmas, this is a wonderful book, whether or not you've already read Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas, but if you're as interested in the subject as I am, you may decide to buy both of them.