Christmas: Its Origin and Associations

Christmas: Its Origin and Associations
Author: William Francis Dawson
Publisher: e-artnow
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2019-06-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

"In looking at the celebrations of Christmas, at different periods and in different places, I have observed that, whatever views men hold respecting Christ, they all agree that His Advent is to be hailed with joy, and the nearer the forms of festivity have approximated to the teaching of Him who is celebrated the more real has been the joy of those who have taken part in the celebrations. My aim is neither critical nor apologetic, but historical and pictorial: it is not to say what might or ought to have been, but to set forth from extant records what has actually taken place: to give an account of the origin and hallowed associations of Christmas, and to depict, by pen and pencil, the important historical events and interesting festivities of Christmastide. With materials collected from different parts of the world, and from writings both ancient and modern, I have endeavored to give in the present work a chronological account of the celebrations and observances of Christmas. "

Pagan Christmas

Pagan Christmas
Author: Christian Rätsch
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 559
Release: 2006-10-24
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1594776601

An examination of the sacred botany and the pagan origins and rituals of Christmas • Analyzes the symbolism of the many plants associated with Christmas • Reveals the shamanic rituals that are at the heart of the Christmas celebration The day on which many commemorate the birth of Christ has its origins in pagan rituals that center on tree worship, agriculture, magic, and social exchange. But Christmas is no ordinary folk observance. It is an evolving feast that over the centuries has absorbed elements from cultures all over the world--practices that give plants and plant spirits pride of place. In fact, the symbolic use of plants at Christmas effectively transforms the modern-day living room into a place of shamanic ritual. Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling show how the ancient meaning of the botanical elements of Christmas provides a unique view of the religion that existed in Europe before the introduction of Christianity. The fir tree was originally revered as the sacred World Tree in northern Europe. When the church was unable to drive the tree cult out of people’s consciousness, it incorporated the fir tree by dedicating it to the Christ child. Father Christmas in his red-and-white suit, who flies through the sky in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, has his mythological roots in the shamanic reindeer-herding tribes of arctic Europe and Siberia. These northern shamans used the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom, which is red and white, to make their soul flights to the other world. Apples, which figure heavily in Christmas baking, are symbols of the sun god Apollo, so they find a natural place at winter solstice celebrations of the return of the sun. In fact, the authors contend that the emphasis of Christmas on green plants and the promise of the return of life in the dead of winter is just an adaptation of the pagan winter solstice celebration.

Winter US Edition

Winter US Edition
Author: Adam Gopnik
Publisher: House of Anansi
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2011-08-24
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1770890459

The 2011 CBC Massey Lectures celebrates fifty years with bestselling author, essayist, cultural observer, and famed New Yorker contributor Adam Gopnik, whose subject is winter -- the season, the space, the cycle. Gopnik takes us on an intimate tour of the artists, poets, composers, writers, explorers, scientists, and thinkers, who helped shape a new and modern idea of winter. Here we learn how a poem by William Cowper heralds the arrival of the middle class; how snow science leads to existential questions of God and our place in the world; how the race to the poles marks the human drive to imprint meaning on a blank space. Gopnik’s kaleidoscopic work ends in the present day, when he traverses the underground city in Montreal, pondering the future of Northern culture. A stunningly beautiful meditation buoyed by Gopnik’s trademark gentle wit, Winter is at once an enchanting homage to an idea of a season and a captivating journey through the modern imagination. This deluxe 50th anniversary edition includes full-colour images printed on two 8-page inserts.

The Santa's Great Treasure Chest: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends

The Santa's Great Treasure Chest: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Publisher: e-artnow
Total Pages: 8311
Release: 2019-11-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

This winter, we are offering to you our own Christmas box – filled up to the top with the best Christmas novels, classics to read during holidays, magical Christmas tales, legends, most famous carols and the unique poetry of the giants of literature dedicated to this one and only holiday: The Gift of the Magi (O. Henry) The Holy Night (Selma Lagerlöf) A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories (Louisa May Alcott) A Letter from Santa Claus (Mark Twain) Silent Night The Night After Christmas The Child Born at Bethlehem The Adoration of the Shepherds The Visit of the Wise Men As Joseph Was A-Walking The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter) Where Love Is, God Is (Leo Tolstoy) The Three Kings (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) A Christmas Carol (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (L. Frank Baum) Christmas At Sea (Robert Louis Stevenson) The Savior Must Have Been A Docile Gentleman (Emily Dickinson) The Heavenly Christmas Tree (Fyodor Dostoevsky) The Little City of Hope (F. Marion Crawford) The First Christmas Of New England (Harriet Beecher Stowe) Christmas in the Olden Time (Walter Scott) Christmas In India (Rudyard Kipling) A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) The Twelve Days of Christmas The Wonderful Wizard of OZ (L. Frank Baum) Ring Out, Wild Bells (Alfred Lord Tennyson) Little Lord Fauntleroy (Frances Hodgson Burnett) Black Beauty (Anna Sewell) The Christmas Child (Hesba Stretton) Granny's Wonderful Chair (Frances Browne) The Romance of a Christmas Card (Kate Douglas Wiggin) Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame) The Wonderful Life - Story of the life and death of our Lord (Hesba Stretton) The Christmas Angel (A. Brown) Christmas at Thompson Hall (Anthony Trollope) Christmas Every Day (William Dean Howells) The Lost Word (Henry van Dyke) The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (E. T. A. Hoffmann) The Little Match Girl The Elves and the Shoemaker Mother Holle The Star Talers Snow-White The Christmas Hirelings The Blue Carbuncle An Exciting Christmas Eve The Spirit of Christmas…

The Santa's Library: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends

The Santa's Library: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends
Author: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 8319
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

The Santa's Library: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends is a monumental anthology that weaves together a tapestry of narratives from a wide spectrum of literary traditions, highlighting the universal themes of love, generosity, and the human spirit that are particularly reflective during the Christmas season. This collection spans the gamut from the timeless eloquence of William Shakespeare to the poignant simplicity of Hans Christian Andersen, offering readers a rich variety of literary styles including the gothic, the fantastical, the poetic, and the realist. It stands as a testament to the enduring allure of Christmas storytelling, with standout pieces that encapsulate the joy, sorrow, humor, and reflection that the holiday evokes, providing a comprehensive overview of Christmas literature's evolution and its cultural significance across different periods and societies. The contributing authors and editors, renowned figures in their own rights like Charles Dickens, known for his quintessential Christmas stories, and Emily Dickinson, with her introspective poetics, represent a convergence of historical, cultural, and literary movements from Romanticism to Victorian literature, and beyond. Together, they harmonize to capture the multifaceted essence of Christmas, each contributing their unique voice to the exploration of themes such as redemption, faith, and the social injustices of their times. This anthology situates itself within a rich literary and cultural context, offering insights into how Christmas has served as a canvas for authors to project their hopes, criticisms, and dreams, thus enriching the reader's understanding of the broader human experience through the prism of Christmas narratives. The Santa's Library: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends is an indispensable volume for anyone interested in the cultural history of Christmas, the evolution of holiday literature, and the remarkable breadth of insight such a multitude of perspectives brings to the festive season. It invites readers to delve into the depths of human emotion and societal values encapsulated in these stories, carols, and legends. This anthology is not just a celebration of Christmas but a journey through the myriad ways in which this holiday has been immortalized in print. It is an educational treasure trove that promises to enlighten, entertain, and inspire readers with the spirit of Christmas, making it a perfect addition to any literary collection.

The Santa's Great Treasure Chest: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends

The Santa's Great Treasure Chest: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends
Author: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 8230
Release: 2023-12-10
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

The Santa's Great Treasure Chest: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends represents an unparalleled assemblage of literary jewels, carefully curated to capture the essence and breadth of Christmas literature. Spanning centuries and encompassing a wide range of genres from poetry and carols to legends and novels this anthology celebrates the multifaceted nature of Christmas storytelling. The collection weaves together the traditional and the contemporary, the celebratory and the reflective, encapsulating the spirit of Christmas in its myriad forms. Standout pieces traverse the emotional landscape of the season, offering readers a panoramic view of Christmas through the ages and across cultures. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from diverse backgrounds and periods, bring a rich tapestry of voices to the anthology. From Dickens' quintessential Victorian Christmas to Andersen's poignant fairy tales, and from the reverent compositions of Isaac Watts to the pioneering realist narratives of Tolstoy and Chekhov, the collection underscores significant historical and cultural movements. It reflects the evolution of Christmas literature, showcasing how each era's social, political, and religious contexts have shaped storytelling traditions. This confluence of perspectives creates a unique narrative harmony, deepening our understanding of Christmas and its impact on the literary canon. For readers seeking to explore the depth and diversity of Christmas literature, The Santa's Great Treasure Chest offers an unrivaled opportunity. This anthology not only provides a compendium of festive stories but also serves as a lens through which the evolution of the holiday and its literature can be viewed. It invites readers to embark on a scholarly journey through the snow-draped landscapes of literary history, uncovering the myriad ways in which Christmas has inspired some of the greatest writers across time. Engrossing, enlightening, and profoundly moving, this collection is a must-have for anyone wishing to delve into the heart of Christmas storytelling.