The Solstice Evergreen: The History Folklore and Origins of the Christmas Tree [Paperback]

Sheryl Ann Karas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1998

Why do over 40 million Americans decorate Christmas Trees? Few of us know the origins and spiritual significance of the annual ritual they perform. With depth and detail this revised and expanded second edition of reveals even more hidden meanings of evergreen trees throughout human history - for over 5000 years! Throughout the centuries the evergreen has been a potent cultural symbol of rebirth. Contemporary Christmas Trees are a vestige of the pagan practice during the winter solstice of bringing greenery into the home to symbolize life in the dead of winter. Living trees have special significance to nearly every culture from Siberia to Palestine to Greece to Medieval Germany to Aztec (Mexico) to Native American (USA) to pre-historic Japan and many more. Illustrated with dozens of period line drawings educates entertains and enlightens the understanding of the Christmas Tree - for both adults and children. Karas has ga thered nearly 40 myths legends and folktales from diverse cultures around the globe. Evergreen the tree represents the ideals that connect all human beings making it a true symbol of peace on earth regardless of nationality or religion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An important resource... that enlightens a part of our heritage which for most has always been obscure." Ashley Ramsden, Internationally known storyteller, Emerson College, England." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Sheryl Karas is a freelance writer and artist. She holds a B.A. in Communications, and has published numerous magazine articles on human rights, women's issues, and children and communication. She has had a lifelong curiosity about the Christmas Tree despite her Jewish family background; this has prompted her to consider the significance of the tree from a multi-cultural perspective. She spent three years intensively researching primary sources for this book. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Aslan Publishing; Rev Exp Su edition (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944031757
• ISBN-13: 978-0944031759
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,212,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for Pagan History, June 12, 2005

By 

A. Baymoon - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Solstice Evergreen: The History Folklore and Origins of the Christmas Tree (Paperback)

If you want to know about the history of the Christmas Tree as a Christian entity there are hundreds of resources regurgitating the same information all over the internet and in almost every other book ever published on the subject. If you want to know what the significance of the tree was before it was adopted as a symbol of Christmas -- if you care about the meaning of this very beloved and almost universal symbol -- this is the book you need. Accessibly written and filled with wonderful stories and customs from around the world, Sheryl Karas has done a wonderful job of shedding light on a subject few other authors bother to touch. Highly recommended

32 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In-depth research with unique and profound insights, September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Solstice Evergreen: History, Folklore, and Origins of the Christmas Tree (Paperback)

It is so very hard to find out about Winter Solstice without being inundated by Christian information, even though the symbolism OF Christmas predate Christianity be hundreds or thousands of years. The author is Jewish and she celebrates the Solstice Evergreen without the 'Nativity', just like I do. I find great inspiration and courage in her. Christmas as the birthday of Jesus is a human invention, the Winter Solstice and the Evergreen is the real thing.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extensively researched and well written., December 21, 2007

By 

Paul M. Hood "Paul Hood dot org" (Santa Cruz, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Solstice Evergreen: The History Folklore and Origins of the Christmas Tree (Paperback)

Indeed the Christmas tree has pre-Christian, pagan roots. Bit of a shocker for the average reader probably, and might explain why this excellent historical account of the PAGAN origins of the Christmas tree gets inexplicably harsh reviewing once in while. The book contains entertaining folk stories from all over the world, myths and legends about evergreen trees and how they evolved into the Christmas tree. It's hard to fault this book on it's own merits-- but it busts a few belief bubbles if you come at it with preconceived notions.