The Xmas Files: Facts Behind the Myths and Magic of Christmas [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Patrick Harding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

This is a treasure chest full of fascinating facts surrounding the myths and magic of Christmas. The traditional nativity story we all know and love conjures up images of the inn, the stable, shepherds and the three wise men. But there is more to the history of Christmas than most people are aware. Here, Patrick Harding delves deep into the background of the Christmas rituals we now take for granted: sending cards, singing carols, eating turkey - and of course the arrival of Santa Claus. This is a festive read for those who want to know more about our traditions and those intrigued by folklore and history.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patrick Harding, a university lecturer for 25 years, now enlightens adults about herbal medicine, wild and garden flowers, mushrooms, trees and, of course, Christmas. He regularly appears on TV and radio to talk about Christmas customs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Metro Books; illustrated edition edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843580764
• ISBN-13: 978-1843580768
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,137,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Word for the wise, October 13, 2005

By 

J Irvin "author of The Holy Mushroom" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magic of Christmas: Facts Behind the Myths and Magic of Christmas (Hardcover)

Dr. Harding's book, The Magic of Christmas/Christmas Unwrapped/X-mas Files is a fantastic and well researched book. Word to the wise. The Magic of Christmas is identical to Christmas Unwrapped and the X-mas Files by the same author. The publisher, for some unknown and absurd reason, republished this book under three different titles with three different publication dates.

The overall theme of the book is excellent for showing the Amanita muscaria mushroom/shamanic origins of the Christmas story and even goes into some archaeoastronomy.

Much of this same information has been revealed by James Arthur in Mushrooms and Mankind and by James Bursenos in The Resurrection of Santa Claus - (republished) Shaman's Drum Issue 68, 2005. Dr. Harding was probably the first to discover the information, and probably the last to go to print with it. James Arthur (2000) uses many of the same associations in his book (with no references - plagiarism?) and radio shows that he very likely took "some" material from Harding. Harding's book(s) are far better and more readable than James Highfield - The Physics of Christmas (1998), etc., which bases much of the work on Harding, though strays off numerous times into unrelated material.

However, save your money and only buy one of the 3 different versions of the book. I'm glad I needed extra Christmas presents, but I was actually looking forward to reading "further" research by Dr. Harding, not the same book under three different titles. I'm very disappointed in the deceptive tactics of his publisher not informing the public that they're all the same damn book. They don't even appear to be different editions. Same material, same page numbers, same everything page for page.

Buy it, but only buy one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Word to the wise, October 13, 2005

By 

J Irvin "author of The Holy Mushroom" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Xmas Files: Facts Behind the Myths and Magic of Christmas (Paperback)

Dr. Harding's book, The Magic of Christmas/Christmas Unwrapped/X-mas Files is a fantastic and well researched book. Word to the wise. The Magic of Christmas is identical to Christmas Unwrapped and the X-mas Files by the same author. The publisher, for some unknown and absurd reason, republished this book under three different titles with three different publication dates.

The overall theme of the book is excellent for showing the Amanita muscaria mushroom/shamanic origins of the Christmas story and even goes into some archaeoastronomy.

Much of this same information has been revealed by James Arthur in Mushrooms and Mankind and by James Bursenos in The Resurrection of Santa Claus - (republished) Shaman's Drum Issue 68, 2005. Dr. Harding was probably the first to discover the information, and probably the last to go to print with it. James Arthur (2000) uses many of the same associations in his book (with no references - plagiarism?) and radio shows that he very likely took "some" material from Harding. Harding's book(s) are far better and more readable than James Highfield - The Physics of Christmas (1998), etc., which bases much of the work on Harding, though strays off numerous times into unrelated material.

However, save your money and only buy one of the 3 different versions of the book. I'm glad I needed extra Christmas presents, but I was actually looking forward to reading "further" research by Dr. Harding, not the same book under three different titles. I'm very disappointed in the deceptive tactics of his publisher not informing the public that they're all the same damn book. They don't even appear to be different editions. Same material, same page numbers, same everything page for page.

Buy it, but only buy one.