About this title: A social history of Christmas, including an exploration of the source of traditions like the Christmas tree, a history of the celebration through the ages, and subversive readings of such seasonal classics as "A Visit From St. Nicholas".
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: su 26
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 1997-10-28
Description: Fair. Paperbacks are previously owned. They are all in readable condition. They may have previous owners stamps, labels or names written or on them. The covers and spine may have creasing from previously being read. The corners may be bumped and there may be a small number of bent pages. Older books may have fading/discoloration due to light exposure. read more
Description: Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Edition: 3rd Printing, Ex-Library
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred a Knopf Inc, Westminister, Maryland, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780679412236ISBN:0679412239
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. 7 x 9.5 hard cover book. White and yellow lettering on the brown dust jacket spine with a brown and green cover. A social and cultural history of Christmas that shows how it was transformed from an unruly carnival season into the quintessential American family holiday. 381 pages. 3rd Printing, ex-library. Tight binding. Fine/Fine condition. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage Books, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780679740384ISBN:0679740384
Description: Very Good- No Jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. 381 pp., Has minor wear, sticker on front cover, spine reinforced with clear plastic, Internally Clean, read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover; First Printing
ISBN-13:9780679412236ISBN:0679412239
Description: Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. Hardcover. Knopf, 1996. 1st Edition/1st Printing. Near Fine Book in Near Fine Dust Jacket. Price Intact. Light shelf wear to Book and Jacket. Light scratches on DJ. Overall, a clean and tight copy to add to a collection or read and enjoy. Dust Jacket protected with a new archival cover. Bubble wrapped and shipped promptly in a box. read more
Edition: Stated First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf, NY
Date Published: 1996
Description: Spine ends slightly bumped, near fine; dust jacket tiny puncture, very good. 8 vo. (xiii) 3 83 pp. Notes, index, b/w illustrations in text, green boards/red cloth. read more
Description: New. 0679412239 NEW * FIRST EDITION /FIRST PRINTING * Hardcover w/ beautiful Dust Jacket ~ all books carefully examined & well packaged. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Vintage Books USA
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780679740384ISBN:0679740384
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. clean and tight. Fast shipping. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 400 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Inc
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780679740384ISBN:0679740384
Description: "Fascinating. "--The New York Times Book Review Anyone who laments the excesses of Christmas might consider the Puritans of colonial Massachusetts: they simply outlawed the holiday. The Puritans had their reasons, since Christmas was once an occasion... read more
"I have to confess that I read different chunks of this book. I did not read it straight through. Some parts were more detailed than what I was interested in. This book provided a good look into how Christmas developed in America and how it started as a rather wild and dangerous celebration to how we know it today. Aspects such as gift-giving, the focus on children, Santa Claus, and such were discussed. It was really quite interesting."
"A lot of good information, but perhaps it would have been better if it were condensed. I began to lose interest about half-way through and just skimmed the rest. If you are a Christmas history buff, this is definitely the book for you!"
"Got to page 50 and ran out of gas, skimmed the rest of the book and threw it back.
The book itself probably would have been a good read for someone truly interested in the history of Christmas traditions, but what I had been looking for was something that explained the history of Christmas as the date of Dec. 25 -- who decided it should be on December 25, what went into that decision, and what sorts of warring factions there were, as there must have been some.
I hate to mark the book down as a two-star -- it currently has a global rating higher than four -- but it does say My rating up there, and that's my personal rating. Others with different expectations would undoubtedly get more out of this."
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