Holly, Reindeer, and Colored Lights: The Story of the Christmas SymbolsTraces the origins of our favorite holiday customs and symbols, many of which antedate the first Christmas. Each of our holidays has its own familiar traditions: Trick-or-treating on Halloween, eating turkey on Thanksgiving, waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas, exchanging cards on Valentine’s Day. But where do these customs come from, when did they begin, and why do we continue to observe them? In the engaging blend of careful research and lively prose that has earned her books a lasting place on the holiday bookshelf, Edna Barth explores the multicultural origins and evolution of the familiar and not-so-familiar symbols and legends associated with our favorite holidays. Full of fascinating historical details and little-known stories, these books are both informative and engaging. Festively illustrated by Ursula Arndt, they are now available again in hardcover as well as paperback editions, featuring new, eye-catching jacket designs, and fun holiday activities inside the paperback covers. Each book includes an annotated list of holiday stories and poems and an index. |
Contents
The Christmas Star | 12 |
Candles and Colored Lights | 33 |
Christmas Gifts | 52 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Holly, Reindeer, and Colored Lights: The Story of the Christmas Symbols Edna Barth Limited preview - 2000 |
Holly, Reindeer, and Colored Lights: The Story of the Christmas Symbols Edna Barth No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
American ancient ancient Rome angels animals appeared apples Balder Befana believed Bethlehem Bible birth of Jesus brought burning camels carillon carols celebrated century Christ Child Christmas cards Christmas custom Christmas Day Christmas Eve Christmas feast Christmas gift Christmas Stories Christmas tree church colored lights December decorated door Druids EDNA BARTH England English Europe evergreens Father Christmas fir tree fire flowers frankincense Frigga gave German gift bringers goddess gold hand bells Hanukkah holiday holly Holy homes honor hundred hung Italian January Jewish La Befana legend lighted candles luck manger scene Mexicans mistletoe nativity scene Nicholas Norsemen peace peacock poem presepe priest Puerto reindeer religion religious roast Romans sacred Santa Claus Saturn Saturnalia Saturnalia festival season shepherds singing sometimes Spain Spanish spirits stars straw symbol of Christmas Three Kings Today Twelfth Night winter solstice wise worshiped Yule log Yuletide