Christmas in Colonial and Early America (Christmas Around the World) [Hardcover]

Book Description

Each 80-page Christmas Around the World book includes full narratives explaining the customs of the region covered, photography and illustrations, special sections of native songs, recipes, and fun-to-do crafts.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. The title of this book is a bit misleading--the Christmas traditions covered go all the way through the late nineteenth century. But it is doubtful that patrons will protest, because this is just the kind of book that flies off the holiday shelves. It begins with an interesting overview of colonial Christmases and their roots in Europe, and it continues across the land and through the years as it details how the holiday evolved in America. There are brief notes on how various ethnic groups celebrated, and a chapter on Christmas in the White House. The clearly written text is extended by photographs, paintings, and other historical artwork. Appended are directions for making several Christmas gifts and a holiday dinner that will be too difficult for most readers (e.g., baked stuffed fillets with creole sauce). Considering the appealing art on the inside, the cover photo is particularly bland. For report writers as well as browsers. Ilene Cooper

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: World Book Inc (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716608758
• ISBN-13: 978-0716608752
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,548,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars GLARING ERROR MARS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK, October 18, 2006

By 

Bill Egan "Christmas Historian" (Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas in Colonial and Early America (Christmas Around the World) (Hardcover)

I always expect that information intended for any World Book publication will be checked and double-checked before anything goes into print. For that reason, it's a great disappointment to discover a glaring error in the first chapter past the introduction of this book.

"Jamestown Colony in Virginia is thought to have been the site of the first Christmas in North America, in 1607," according to the chapter on Christmas in the Colonies.

Saint Augustine, in present day Florida, was founded on August 28, 1565. December 25, 1565 would have been the first Christmas celebration in a permanent settlement. Still, there was an earlier Christmas observance in the New World in 1539 when the army of Hernando de Soto wintered in Florida's Panhandle.

The book describes how settlers from various parts of Europe brought along their Christmas traditions and adapted them for use in the colonies. There are beautiful photographs and delicious-sounding Christmas recipes.