Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas


Book Description

Ever wonder where some of our unique and meaningful Christmas traditions come from? Why are red and green popular colors of the season? Why is exchanging gifts a family tradition? Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas reveals the people, places, and events that shaped the best-loved customs of this merriest of holidays and how they all point to Christ. Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas includes insights about: Gift giving Christmas trees Caroling Nativity scenes Yule logs Stockings Advent wreaths Mistletoe Holly, and more! This is the perfect gift to infuse your celebration with spiritual insights, true-life tales, and captivating legends to intrigue you and your family. Bring new luster and depth to your modern traditions while you celebrate Jesus' birth. The traditions of Christmas lend beauty, awe, and hope to the holiday, causing people all over the world to anticipate it with joy. Warm your heart as you rediscover the true and eternal significance of Christmas.




Christmas Is Coming


Book Description

Why do we decorate Christmas trees? Do all children receive gifts on the same day? Come find out as Monika Utnik-Strugala captures the smells, tastes, and unforgettable traditions about the most popular, exciting, contemplative, and unique Christmas customs and legends from around the world. Find out why celebrate Christmas on December 25th, who invented the first glass ornament, why people build nativity scenes, and more! A truly international collection of legends and traditions are included in the volume such as - Glögg, Kutia, Lutefisk, Jansson's Temptation, Julskinka, Bûche de Noël, Hallaca, Kourabiedes, Christmas Pudding, Panettone, Christmas carols, talking animals, and The Nutcracker!




Encyclopaedia Britannica


Book Description

This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style.




Elf on the Shelf Official Annual 2020


Book Description

Have you been naughty or nice? Get set for Christmas with our brand new magical Annual! Enjoy Elf-themed activities, stories and makes in this charming new Annual and help make it the best Christmas holiday ever! Includes recipes, craft ideas, quizes, puzzles, jokes, fun facts, etc.




Always Together at Christmas


Book Description

Help children discover the joy of Christmas 2020 with this timely picture book that affirms the special magic of the holidays even if we're physically separated from our loved ones! Christmas will always mean love. Even if love looks a little different this year. As families and communities come together--and stay apart--in creative ways this holiday season, bring comfort and joy to children with this story about a Christmas like no other. Always Together at Christmas highlights different family traditions and the ways they're changing in 2020: from Santa's elves practicing social distancing to opening presents via Zoom on Christmas morning. And it even includes ideas for new quarantine-appropriate Christmas traditions! The sweet and cozy illustrations add classic touches, making this book the perfect gift to share with family and friends from across the miles.




Christmas: Tradition, Truth and Total Baubles


Book Description

Why is Christmas the way it is? How did we get from the birth of Jesus to everyone pushing their credit card and their belts to their maximum extent? Starting with the events surrounding Jesus' birth, this book takes us through centuries of commemoration, celebration and over-consumption. Along the way we'll find out why we eat turkey, how an obscure Turkish saint turned into a man flying a sleigh, and why that tree in your house should really contain an apple and a snake. Combining in-depth historical research, cheerfully irreverent humour and cutting-edge guesswork, Nick Page explores what this festival really means, and how we can get back to something real and true beneath all that wrapping.




The Sparkle Box


Book Description

ECPA Christian Book Award Winner Discover a faith-centered Christmas tradition for your whole family with The Sparkle Box: a heartwarming story about the power of kindness to transform Christmas. Free Sparkle Box included with every book! Sam is so excited about Christmas! He's thinking about his Christmas list and puzzling over a mysterious gift-a sparkly box sitting on the mantel. As Sam and his family participate in holiday activities, they bless others with gifts from the heart: they give mittens to a homeless man, support a clean water charity, and donate blankets. When Sam finally opens the Sparkle Box on Christmas morning, he finds slips of paper that say things like "mittens for those in need." His smiling parents explain that the papers in the box represent the family's gifts to Jesus that year. Now in paperback, this heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes, using the included Sparkle Box.




Jammie Claus


Book Description

While history is often incomplete, Mrs. Claus is not at the margin as most may have guessed. The true story is that many years ago before Santa was known, it was Jammie Claus who began the Christmas tradition of unconditional giving. Each Christmas Eve, she climbs into her magical gingerbread sleigh and spreads peace, love, and joy as she delivers Christmas pajamas to all. You will know the pajamas are from her when you find your Jammie Claus Bag filled and tied with a bow! Enjoy this box set with your own Jammie Claus bag and book to bring the tradition to your family.




Keeping Christmas


Book Description

This book brings home the stories and origins of the treasured customs which Norwegians use to celebrate the Christmas season. Norwegian immigrants carried with them centuries-old folk tradition, which they held especially dear at Christmas time, remembering family members left behind. But the US, the immigrants and their descendants met the newly evolving traditions of the commercial American Christmas, a powerful homogenising force in a nation of immigrants. Stokker describes and traces the development of folkways on both side of the ocean, from their origins to their practice today. With fascinating details, with scores of accounts of ancient and modern Christmases, with recipes and photographs, this book reminds Norwegians and Norwegian Americans of their connections to each other and explains how their celebrations differ on this joyous family holiday.




The Christmas Poop Log


Book Description

Traditional StorybookThe included storybook features 30 pages of fun, child-friendly, and engaging visuals to get you in the spirit of Christmas. This book stems from an over 400-year-old story that emerged in the Catalonia region of Spain, helping families across the world embrace this unique age-old tradition. The Poop Log's HistoryThis unique practice was an original roughed up log found outside and altered for children to feed and beat. In fact, the strange name comes from the command sung during beating the log, urging it to "Poop, log!" After Christmas, Catalans would burn and recycle the log's ashes to help crops grow. While walking with my mother, one day, we happened upon a fallen log. I was surprised when my mother explained, "There is a poop log." Her words triggered unpleasant thoughts; I was thinking what does she mean. Mother related a family tradition of how poop logs appear at Christmas. They are placed in the home and attended to with comfort and love. She explained Santa's magic dust made them. As Christmas day approaches, will I find that I have received treats from our poop log? Or is the legend a figment of my mother's imagination?Parents and children will receive a fascinating educational experience that revolves around a Catalan Christmas Tradition. Its origins date back to the 18th century and are enjoyed to this day by many families. This story will be one that will delight both young and old.