Encyclopedia of Christmas [Paperback]

Tanya Gulevich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

Christmas is a holiday with a tremendously rich tradition. But you'd have to be a Santa Claus brainiac to be familiar with all the history, myths, legends, customs and religious observances of the season. It's nice to see someone has gotten around to compiling a handy guide to Christmastime arcana. The book dutifully and reverently addresses all the religious and ethnic variations attached to the year-end holiday. One thing is for certain: After reading this hefty Christmas dissertation, you'll be one smart elf. – Arizona Republic. Ho Ho Ho. Officially, the phenomenon of Christmas now begins shortly after Labor Day. Apart from shop till you drop and credit cards on the max, Christmas is a holiday with a long history of twists and turns. The Encyclopedia of Christmas provides readers of all ages with a convenient, easy-to-use source of information on virtually every aspect of this sprawling celebration. From Advent to Zagmug, an ancient Sumerian festival of annual renewal, and with entries on related days and celebrations (such as the Annunciation, Candlemas, and Ephiphany), the Encyclopedia has Christmas covered.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...readable, well documented, and frequently illustrated with black-and-white line drawings. Highly recommended; welcome and useful in academic libraries." -- Choice, Association of College & Research Libraries, June 2000 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Tanya Gulevich grew up in the culturally diverse San Francisco Bay area listening to the stories of her immigrant grandparents. At Oberlin College she pursued interests in European history, sociology, and Asian Studies. Later she obtained an M.A. and Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 752 pages
• Publisher: Visible Ink Press (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0780804554
• ISBN-13: 978-0780804555
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,163,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Christmas Reference, March 28, 2006

By 

L. M Young (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Christmas (Paperback)

I have three different books that are "encyclopedias of Christmas" and each of them emphasizes a different thing. This volume is heavy on historical, traditional and ethnic customs and is quite easy to read. If you are looking for more references to "pop" Christmas traditions, perhaps you should check out Mr. Crump's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTMAS, since he seems to be pushing it in his review. :-)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining and reliable resource!, February 6, 2007

By 

M. Crowley (Morristown, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Christmas (Paperback)

I thought I knew just about everything there is to know on this subject, but this highly readable and engaging volume actually contained a great deal of information that was completely new to me. I found particularly valuable the author's judicious evaluation of certain information that is questionable despite being repeatedly passed on as fact in book after book. This is just an excellent volume for folks who are curious about Christmas customs and lore from around the globe. Lovers of Christmas will spend many enjoyable hours flipping through the various entries, only to return with pleasure to these fascinating pages again and again.

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough Historical Review; Omits "Pop" Side of Christmas, March 10, 2000

By 

William Crump (Madison, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Christmas: Nearly 200 Alphabetically Arranged Entries Covering All Aspects of Christmas, Including Folk Customs, Religious Observ (Hardcover)

This encyclopedia emphasizes ancient customs and the traditional aspects of Christmas observed for centuries throughout the world. These are thoroughly covered in 186 entries which include holiday symbols, legends, and mythical spirits that bring gifts. A number of entries focus on archaic customs and superstitions no longer in practice. These played roles in shaping the modern Christmas, however, and therefore are of historical interest. Also discussed are the customs and cuisine of selected, individual countries around the world. An extensive index and bibliography are helpful, and several appendices list Christmas web sites and "Christmas Associations" (organizations). Illustrations consist primarily of 50 full-page black-and-white line drawings of contemporary style.

Despite being named an Outstanding Reference Source, the book suffers from several deficiencies, one of which is the inconsistent format used to describe foreign traditions. Whereas some entries provide comprehensive coverage of national traditions, others present only a few isolated customs. For example, the entry about Germany is quite comprehensive, yet for a country like Sweden, no similar comprehensive entry exists. Instead, readers must look up three different entries titled "St. Lucia Day," "Julklapp," or "Jultomten" to find anything about Sweden. Also lacking are foreign phrases for "Merry Christmas."

Furthermore, a number of related entries creates needless repetition. For example, virtually the same basic information about the Nativity is spread out over six entries: "Gospel Accounts of Christmas," "Gospel Account of Matthew," "Gospel Account of Luke," "Jesus, Birth of," "Magi," and "Star of Bethlehem." Similarly, note "Advent," "Advent Calendar, "Advent Candle," "Advent Wreath," etc. References and web sites not only terminate each entry but are also duplicated in the bibliography and appendices at the back of the book. These repetitions and duplications, at least in part, must account for the book's 729 pages.

Entries regarding literature, music, or other aspects of popular culture are limited to Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Handel's "Messiah," and Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" ballet. It would be difficult to imagine Christmas today without the beloved carols of past centuries or the classic movies, animated cartoons, and television specials of the twentieth century. Where are "Silent Night," "White Christmas," "Miracle on 34th Street," "Jingle Bells," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Rudolph," and many others? Yet this encyclopedia omits these immortal holiday favorites and their like.

In summary, this encyclopedia would interest those seeking only the foundations and principal historical events of Christmas but not the Christmas as found in the popular media.