A Contemporary Christmas


Book Description

A Contemporary Christmas contains nine early advanced piano arrangements of popular contemporary Christian and classic Christmas favorites that are perfect for worship services. The arrangements can be used effectively as prelude music at the beginning of services, or whenever reflective music is required. Helpful fingering and approximate performance times are included with each arrangement. Titles: * Bethlehem Morning (Morris Chapman) * Breath of Heaven (Amy Grant) * Gesu Bambino (Traditional) * Immanuel (Michael Card) * JosephÍs Lullaby (Brown Bannister) * Mary, Did You Know? (Mark Lowry) * O Holy Night (Traditional) * Sweet Little Jesus Boy (Spiritual) * Welcome to Our World (Chris Rice). 48 pages.




For My Own: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology


Book Description

Snowy days and steamy nights This year, a modern-day Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas with the help of a suddenly sexy old friend. A down-on-his-luck baseball star finds a beautiful new beginning with a hometown girl. And a prim-and-proper teacher is determined to bring out the holiday spirit in a grumpy tree farmer. Settle in for the season with this collection of very merry short fiction. Edited by Angela James, this anthology includes: A Christmas for Carrie by Alison Packard Christmas Curveball by Shari Mikels Kissing Her Scrooge by Kinley Cade Stories also available for purchase separately. 107,000 words




The Modern Christmas in America


Book Description

In days of old, Christmas was defined by the custom of exchanging simple handmade gifts. Today, it has become a multi-billion industry, synonymous with commercialism and consumption. How did this transformation occur? In this incisive and engaging examination of how Christmas has evolved since 1880, Waits chronicles the history of the holiday, from its origin to its current form. The book is illustrated with dozens of historical photographs and will be of interest to cultural and social historians alike. Christmas was a relatively modest occasion in the English- speaking world, celebrated by the exchange of modest handmade gifts, until the Victorians invested the holiday with immense significance as part of a larger effort to celebrate home, family, and a mythic past of well-ordered communities. By the late 19th century, Christmas had become a major American festival. Today, it is a multi-billion dollar industry and easily the most important seasonal event of the year. In this survey of the modern American Christmas, William Waits shows us how this holiday emerged, tracing its evolution from the days prior to 1880 when people presented one another with simple crafted presents to the turn of the century when industrialization brought with it waves of inexpensive, tawdry gimcracks. In the early twentieth century, reform-minded Americans reflecting on the new Christmas prompted a backlash against this cheapening of the Yule tradition, and the Christmas card was born. Henceforth, family members and close friends exchanged useful, costly items, while cards were sent to acquaintances and distant relatives. These reformers also persuaded retail stores to keep their regular hours of business during the holiday, rather than lengthening them, to give trade workers the opportunity to join in the celebration. They also rationalized the collection and distribution of holiday charity, resulting in the Christmas celebration we have today. Waits's book clearly illustrates that the notion that Christmas is uncontrollable is simply untrue. An incisive and engaging history of giftgiving, The Modern Christmas in Americaalso examines the differing traditions of giftgiving to friends, employees, the poor, and among entire communities. Handsomely illustrated with dozens of historical photographs, this book is not only the perfect holiday gift but will also be of interest to any student of American history and culture.




Christmas and the British: A Modern History


Book Description

The modern Christmas was made by the Victorians and rooted in their belief in commerce, family and religion. Their rituals and traditions persist to the present day but the festival has also been changed by growing affluence, shifting family structures, greater expectations of happiness and material comfort, technological developments and falling religious belief. Christmas became a battleground for arguments over consumerism, holiday entitlements, social obligations, communal behaviour and the influence of church, state and media. Even in private, it encouraged reflection on social change and the march of time. Amongst those unhappy at the state of the world or their own lives, Christmas could induce much cynicism and even loathing but for a quieter majority it was a happy time, a moment of a joy in a sometimes difficult world that made the festival more than just an integral feature of the calendar: Christmas was one of British culture's emotional high points. Moreover, it was also a testimony to the enduring importance of family, shared values and a common culture in the UK. Martin Johnes shows how Christmas and its traditions have been lived, adapted and thought about in Britain since 1914. Christmas and the British is about the festival's social, cultural and economic functions, and its often forgotten status as both the most unusual and important day of the year




What Can I Play for Christmas?, Book 2


Book Description

This special collection contains spirituals, uplifting tunes, haunting melodies, and traditional carols, useful throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons. Titles: * Angels We Have Heard on High * Good Christian Men, Rejoice * I Wonder As I Wander * It Came Upon the Midnight Clear * Mary Had a Baby * Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child * Sing We Now of Christmas * Ukrainian Bell Carol * We Three Kings of Orient Are * What Star Is This? * While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks




Christmas


Book Description

"Christmas: Global Journey" is a special book that takes you on an amazing trip around the world, exploring the rich and diverse ways people celebrate Christmas. It's like a treasure chest, full of exciting stories, secrets, and fun facts about Christmas, that will make you see this holiday in a whole new light. This book isn't just a list of what happens at Christmas. It's a deep dive into the heart of the holiday, showing how different countries and cultures add their unique sparkle to the season. From the story behind Christmas to how people in far-off lands celebrate with their own traditions, you'll travel the globe from your cozy reading spot. You'll discover the symbols of Christmas, those familiar things like stars, trees, and bells, and learn what they really mean. The book takes you to kitchens around the world, sharing the mouth-watering tastes of Christmas cuisine. Imagine the music, the carols, and songs that fill the air during this time, the book brings them to life, showing how they make Christmas more magical. But that's not all. You'll dive into the world of Christmas literature, seeing how stories and poems have shaped our view of the season. The book also shows how Christmas has inspired artists and filmmakers, creating unforgettable images and movies. It even looks at Christmas through the lens of science, revealing some surprising facts and insights. And in a world where taking care of our planet is more important than ever, the book explores how to celebrate Christmas in an eco-friendly way. Fashion and decoration play a big role in Christmas, and the book shows how they've evolved and what they say about us. It also highlights how people of different faiths, or no faith, engage with the holiday. You'll see how technology is changing Christmas, and discover the big business behind the season, with a look at the economics of Christmas. But it's not just about the bright and shiny parts of Christmas. The book also explores the lesser-known, quieter aspects of the season, like Christmas in solitude or the challenges and struggles some people face during this time. Most importantly, "Christmas: Global Journey" is about the spirit of the holiday. It's about giving, sharing, and community. It's about the myths, legends, and the joy that children bring to Christmas. It's about how Christmas can bring people together, and sometimes, how it can also bring out the more challenging parts of our lives. In short, this book is a celebration of Christmas in all its forms. It's a journey that shows how this one holiday can mean so many different things to so many different people. It's a book that will open your eyes, warm your heart, and maybe even change the way you think about Christmas.




The Christmas Candy Book


Book Description

Confection perfection is easy to achieve with the step-by-step help of dessert expert Pappas. Decked with winsome photography and more than 40 recipes, "The Christmas Candy Book" is the stuff holiday dreams are made of. Photos.




Colonial Williamsburg Christmas


Book Description

“Christmas is come, hang on the pot, Let spits turn round, and ovens be hot; Beef, pork, and poultry, now provide, To feast thy neighbours at this tide; Then wash all down with good wine and beer, And so with mirth conclude the YEAR.” So wrote an anonymous poet in the 1765 edition of the Virginia Almanack, published in Williamsburg. Drawing on eighteenth-century traditions, Colonial Williamsburg has become famous for its celebrations of the Christmas season. In Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area—and in the pages of this lavishly illustrated book—you’ll find wreaths and roping crafted from greenery, fruit, and other natural materials; boards groaning under the weight of holiday fare; cressets warming the streets and candles flickering in the windows of the town’s homes and taverns; fireworks lighting up such iconic buildings as the Capitol and the Governor’s Palace. In colonial times and today, Christmas in Williamsburg not a day but a season—and one this book lets you experience throughout the year.




Simply Modern Christmas


Book Description

You'll love these crisp, eye-catching quilts rooted in tradition but with a refreshingly updated style. In a departure from her much-admired floral patterns, Cindy Lammon demonstrates her range with pretty pieced quilts, stockings, a tree skirt, and much more--all composed of simple shapes. Select from 14 cheery projects that lend themselves to both modern and traditional fabrics Enjoy these quilt patterns year-round; patterns can be used to produce stunning quilts for any season Find easy, confidence-building designs for beginning and intermediate quilters and sewists




Findagroov™ Reviews The Songs Of... Donna Summer


Book Description

This one is for music lovers! This entry in the Findagroov™ Reviews The Songs Of... series examines the music of the late "Queen Of Disco", Donna Summer. Covering all of her recorded songs from the late sixties up until her passing in 2012, this book provides deep discussions on each song, looking at the lyrics, the song's meaning, and its significance both when originally recorded and how it applies to today's society. It also illustrates how Donna Summer was much more than just a disco queen as her music ran the gamut from soul, funk, off-Broadway, German rock, pop, country, new wave, reggae, rock, gospel, soundtrack and, of course, disco. The book also covers guest appearances on other artists' songs as well as live recordings, broadcast performances, and other rarities.