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Editorial Reviews
Every December 25 Christians throughout the world join together in celebration of Christ's birth. But where do these various Christmas traditions come from? Why for instance is the holiday marked by the giving and receiving of gifts? And who came up with the idea of a Christmas tree? In this special presentation from THE HISTORY CHANNEL-® take an enchanting journey through the past of one of the world's most recognized holidays. Trace the emergence of the modern-day Christmas celebration from pagan festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia and learn how British settlers in the New World transformed the patron saint of children into the enduring figure of Santa Claus. These fascinating mysteries-and many more-are revealed in CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED: THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS. DVD Features: Interactive Menus; Scene Selection
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This documentary originally appeared on the history channel back in 1997 and has been repeated every year. It has become a holiday favorite of mine even though I've seen it numerous times. It's narrated by "Early Show" host Harry Smith and traces the roots of Christmas back to its earliest beginnings as a pagan Roman holiday of feasting. We then see Christmas virtually outlawed by the Puritans but never forgotten. TRhe holiday would enjoy a rebirth in the mid 1800's thanks to several people including Clement Moore's poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas", and cartoonist Thomas Nast who helped define the look of Santa Claus.
From there we see the holiday further defined by popular culture in movies and TV and also by consumerism, as the holiday shopping season is invented and begins to really flourish at the turn of the 20th century. Nast gives way to Haddon Sundblom's Santa paintings that he did for Coca Cola, finally giving us the jolly, fat santa we know today. Throughout he documentary we get comments from historians such as Stephen Nissenbaum and Penne L. Restad who've written their own books about the origins of Christmas. And comments from Humorist jean Shepherd, whose works the famous holiday film "A Christmas Story" was based on.
It's a wonderful documentary. As a Christmas fanatic I only wish it would have been longer but I never tire of seeing this each year. One viewing and you're guaranteed to be filled with holiday cheer!
From there we see the holiday further defined by popular culture in movies and TV and also by consumerism, as the holiday shopping season is invented and begins to really flourish at the turn of the 20th century. Nast gives way to Haddon Sundblom's Santa paintings that he did for Coca Cola, finally giving us the jolly, fat santa we know today. Throughout he documentary we get comments from historians such as Stephen Nissenbaum and Penne L. Restad who've written their own books about the origins of Christmas. And comments from Humorist jean Shepherd, whose works the famous holiday film "A Christmas Story" was based on.
It's a wonderful documentary. As a Christmas fanatic I only wish it would have been longer but I never tire of seeing this each year. One viewing and you're guaranteed to be filled with holiday cheer!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Bill Egan
Format:DVD
Harry Smith does a nice job narrating this history of Christmas and is backed by a well-rounded and erudite group of experts on Christmas, religion, and folklore.
This documentary appeared on The History Channel ten years ago but it isn't outdated. It's nice to have for an annual Christmas season viewing.
Stephen Nissenbaum, Historian at the University of Massachusetts, reminds us that Christmas in old time England was really like a carnival similar to today's Mardi Gras in New Orleans. We also hear from Alan Dundes of the Folklore Department at U.C. Berkley, Leigh Eric Schmidt and Elaine Pagels, both of the Religion Department at Princeton University and A. W. Purdue, Historian at Open University in England.
For those who see a modern day conflict between the religious and secular aspects of the season, Penne L. Restad, Historian at the University of Texas, says that there has always been other ceremonies associated with the Christmas season in addition to Christ. This conflict goes back to the very first celebration of the liturgical feast.
The story reveals the Pagan roots for many of today's traditions and shows that many traditions we think "ancient" are recent inventions. It studies the cultural material of Christmas - trees, shopping, and songs.
Rev. Forrest Church, Minister at All Souls Church in New York City points out that people have deep needs to connect with family and friends during the Christmas season. This illustrates how Christmas is more than just a time to attend a church service; it's a time for family gatherings.
This year, why not gather with your family to view "Christmas Unwrapped."
This documentary appeared on The History Channel ten years ago but it isn't outdated. It's nice to have for an annual Christmas season viewing.
Stephen Nissenbaum, Historian at the University of Massachusetts, reminds us that Christmas in old time England was really like a carnival similar to today's Mardi Gras in New Orleans. We also hear from Alan Dundes of the Folklore Department at U.C. Berkley, Leigh Eric Schmidt and Elaine Pagels, both of the Religion Department at Princeton University and A. W. Purdue, Historian at Open University in England.
For those who see a modern day conflict between the religious and secular aspects of the season, Penne L. Restad, Historian at the University of Texas, says that there has always been other ceremonies associated with the Christmas season in addition to Christ. This conflict goes back to the very first celebration of the liturgical feast.
The story reveals the Pagan roots for many of today's traditions and shows that many traditions we think "ancient" are recent inventions. It studies the cultural material of Christmas - trees, shopping, and songs.
Rev. Forrest Church, Minister at All Souls Church in New York City points out that people have deep needs to connect with family and friends during the Christmas season. This illustrates how Christmas is more than just a time to attend a church service; it's a time for family gatherings.
This year, why not gather with your family to view "Christmas Unwrapped."
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By J. J. Carew
Format:VHS Tape
Okay, I have to admit, I am a person who likes to know why things are the way they are. So watching the history of various traditions of Christmas was a great experience for me. I think it's also a good learning tool for children. I mean, I don't want to go through the motions of putting up a Christmas tree because "that's the way it's always been done." It hasn't, and now I can tell my kids where all these traditions came from.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not From A Christian Perspective...
1) Because there was a pagan celebration in Norway and Rome in December does not mean that it had anything to do with the Christian's celebration of Christ's birth! Read more
Published 3 months ago by R. Stane
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as deep as hoped, but informative at the beginning
While it did not examine the roots as closely and as thoroughly as I had hoped, I would still recommend it to any fan of Christmas. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Malchijah
4.0 out of 5 stars
From Jesus to Santa Claus: Making sense of the Christmas Universe
Christmas - when one begins to contemplate the full spectrum of world-wide cultural and social traditions associated with this time of the year, one can't help but start asking... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Red Xala
3.0 out of 5 stars
Did Congress meet on Christmas for most days for 67 years?
Daily Show with Jon Stewart was given "pants on fire" rating for quoting this show which says congress met on Christmas for 67 years during the late 1700s into the 1800s. Read more
Published 17 months ago by T. Ungvarsky
4.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas Unwrapped, History of Christmas
I applaud the History Channel for providing the true history behind this pagan holiday. The origins predate the birth of Christ, and the traditions of sun worship, festivals, and... Read more
Published on January 14, 2011 by CHeb73
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yule light up my life
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas (1997 TV documentary)
Everyone knows that December 25 was usurped by the Christians. Read more
Everyone knows that December 25 was usurped by the Christians. Read more
Published on January 2, 2011 by bernie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas Unwrapped
Enjoyed this,showed it to HIghschool studetns as part of a culture unit right befor winter break. They seemed to "get it"
Published on January 1, 2011 by Geralyn C Dries
5.0 out of 5 stars
The True Spirit of Christmas
The celebration is a mixture of pagan ritual and Christian assimilation. The Norse pagans called their winter celebration Yule. Read more
Published on December 25, 2010 by Edwin C. Pauzer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who said Jesus was born on december 25?
To the people who have this sort of Eureka moment about Jesus's Birth from this documentary. Christmas has always been disputed as to which day He was actually born. Read more
Published on December 11, 2010 by John Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finnally, the real truth about Christmas
This video tells the complete history behind Christmas. Jesus b-day is not on Dec. 25th, that was the day the pagans worshiped the sun god. Read more
Published on December 9, 2010 by D. Burge
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