Description
From archbishop to atheist, we all embrace Christmas. It means so many different things to each of us. For some it’s Midnight Mass and mulled wine, for others it’s about the biggest tree, the biggest turkey and the biggest credit card bill. Others embrace snow, Santa, Scrooge or Slade. Even squinting our focus onto the birth of Jesus, Christmas craziness refuses to be shut out.This book tells the story of how Christmas became Christmas, through twelve key dates that became turning-points. Ancient traditions rub shoulders with industrial advancements, from Scandinavian midwinter food storage to the Victorian Christmas revival, via Ancient Roman role-swapping and Germanic legends. Christmas’s history is a truly international tale.