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Encyclopedia of Christmas: Nearly 200 Alphabetically Arranged Entries Covering All Aspects of Christmas, Including Folk Customs, Religious Obsrevances, History, Legends, symbols
"Like sparkling lights and colorful ornaments on a holiday tree, Encyclopedia of Christmas offers myriad facts all in one place. The subtitle says it 'Nearly 200 alphabetically arranged entries covering all aspects of Christmas, including folk customs, religious observances, history, legends, symbols, and related days from Europe, America, and around the world.' The Encyclopedia's strong point is its international coverage reflected in the 20 or so entries devoted to Christmas in specific countries or regions all over the world, and the multicultural flavor of its articles. Web sites are offered for countries, Christmas trees, customs, and Christmas movies. Fact- and fun-filled, this is a resource for everyone."--"Outstanding reference sources 2000", American Libraries, May 2000. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, RUSA, ALA.Entries range from Advent to mincemeat pies to Yule logs
350 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 26, 2022
So yes, Tanya Gulevich (who is the chief editor and compiler) does with Encyclopedia of Christmas pretty much exactly the same as she has done with her Encyclopedia of Easter, Carnival & Lent, and just like with the latter, I have textually adored pretty much everything about Tanya Gulevich's Encyclopedia of Christmas and with my only true caveat being that at over seven-hundred pages, Encyclopedia of Christmas is not really (at least in my opinion) something to be read straight through and from cover to cover. For Encyclopedia of Christmas is an alphabetical reference guide giving hugely extensive but also not overly intensive short introductions to all things Christmas related (from Advent to Zagmut, and with an emphasis on culture, history, religion and how Christmas is and sometimes was celebrated in a number of different countries and areas around the world), where one basically can pick and choose relevant Christmas, Yuletide topics at will and according to one's reading interests and requirements, and yes, that due to the dictionary format of Encyclopedia of Christmas, Tanya Gulevich's writing style and word choices do sometimes tend to become a bit repetitive, but that for me, this is simply the nature of the beast so to speak (and as such also pretty much totally insignificant).
Furthermore, that Gulevich provides in Encyclopedia of Christmas (and yes, rather unlike her similar but not nearly as good and as detailed Christmas from A to Z, where the select bibliography at the back of the book is adequate but in my opinion not really in any way sufficiently extensive) listings of books, articles and also websites for further reading and study not only as an amazing and all encompassing English language general bibliography in the appendix area of the book but that there are also more specific and thematic inventories after each and every section in the A to Z, in the alphabetical main body of Encyclopedia of Christmas, this is in my humble opinion both delightfully reader and research friendly and as such also majorly personally appreciated by me. Because indeed, I can therefore look up a specific Christmas season related topic (subject) in the index of Encyclopedia of Christmas and read not only what Tanya Gulevich has penned regarding the featured topic (as a general introduction) but also find suggestions for further reading that are specifically topic related, and which for and to me totally makes Encyclopedia of Christmas the perfect starting off point for doing any kind of additional Yuletide related research (at least with regard to books published prior to 1998).
And finally, although Tanya Gulevich in Encyclopedia of Christmas of course and naturally shows a to be expected focus and concentration on Christmas being a Christian holiday and celebration, yes and happily, that merely the relevant, the essential factual details on Christmas in its many guises are provided in the A to Z main textual body, that there equally is never even remotely any religious proselytizing and that Gulevich also makes no value judgments in Encyclopedia of Christmas regarding Western and Eastern Christianity, to say that I do really appreciate this, well, this is not only the happy truth but also rather an understatement. For I am most definitely majorly textually impressed that Tanya Gulevicch in Encyclopedia of Christmas basically simply and respectfully provides facts and information without analysis and musings about meanings and regarding "which Christmas tradition is better and more based on scripture" (and that any religious controversies about Christmas are depicted and described in Encyclopedia of Christmas without any kind of author or editorial bias), and not to mention my appreciation of encountering much interesting and information demonstrating how Christmas celebrations are often combinations of both liturgical (Biblical) and pagan traditions and are thus probably also related to many other winter solstice celebrations and festivals such as the Roman Kalends, Hanukkah and the Mesopotamian Zagmut, yes for me, this has totally clinched a glowing five star rating for Encyclopedia of Christmas (and to also give my warmest recommendations for Encyclopedia of Christmas, as more often than not, such Christian holidays themed dictionaries do kind of tend to feel a bit preachy, and which thankfully, Tanya Gulevich absolutely and totally manages to avoid).
Furthermore, that Gulevich provides in Encyclopedia of Christmas (and yes, rather unlike her similar but not nearly as good and as detailed Christmas from A to Z, where the select bibliography at the back of the book is adequate but in my opinion not really in any way sufficiently extensive) listings of books, articles and also websites for further reading and study not only as an amazing and all encompassing English language general bibliography in the appendix area of the book but that there are also more specific and thematic inventories after each and every section in the A to Z, in the alphabetical main body of Encyclopedia of Christmas, this is in my humble opinion both delightfully reader and research friendly and as such also majorly personally appreciated by me. Because indeed, I can therefore look up a specific Christmas season related topic (subject) in the index of Encyclopedia of Christmas and read not only what Tanya Gulevich has penned regarding the featured topic (as a general introduction) but also find suggestions for further reading that are specifically topic related, and which for and to me totally makes Encyclopedia of Christmas the perfect starting off point for doing any kind of additional Yuletide related research (at least with regard to books published prior to 1998).
And finally, although Tanya Gulevich in Encyclopedia of Christmas of course and naturally shows a to be expected focus and concentration on Christmas being a Christian holiday and celebration, yes and happily, that merely the relevant, the essential factual details on Christmas in its many guises are provided in the A to Z main textual body, that there equally is never even remotely any religious proselytizing and that Gulevich also makes no value judgments in Encyclopedia of Christmas regarding Western and Eastern Christianity, to say that I do really appreciate this, well, this is not only the happy truth but also rather an understatement. For I am most definitely majorly textually impressed that Tanya Gulevicch in Encyclopedia of Christmas basically simply and respectfully provides facts and information without analysis and musings about meanings and regarding "which Christmas tradition is better and more based on scripture" (and that any religious controversies about Christmas are depicted and described in Encyclopedia of Christmas without any kind of author or editorial bias), and not to mention my appreciation of encountering much interesting and information demonstrating how Christmas celebrations are often combinations of both liturgical (Biblical) and pagan traditions and are thus probably also related to many other winter solstice celebrations and festivals such as the Roman Kalends, Hanukkah and the Mesopotamian Zagmut, yes for me, this has totally clinched a glowing five star rating for Encyclopedia of Christmas (and to also give my warmest recommendations for Encyclopedia of Christmas, as more often than not, such Christian holidays themed dictionaries do kind of tend to feel a bit preachy, and which thankfully, Tanya Gulevich absolutely and totally manages to avoid).
December 29, 2013
A great Christmas reference book. Its 200 reference cover a wide variety of topics, including Biblical references to Christmas, commercialism, and Christmas in different countries. A great book to keep on hand to learn about Christmas.
December 15, 2020
This is a great reference book that I picked up at the library to learn about Christmas in other countries and cultures. I wish there were more pictures in it for children, but it is very helpful for adults to find great information, and we have done a large variety of countries.
December 14, 2015
What fun it must have been to research and write!This is the best collection of Christmas information I've found so far. I took it from the library and had to go buy a copy! It covers everything from the sources of old customs to modern movies.
December 26, 2018
It is always fun to see what a rich tradition there is in the world.
August 1, 2024
A MARVELOUS COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOLIDAY:
Author Tanya Gulevich wrote in the Introduction to this 2000 book, "The Encyclopedia of Christmas contains 186 entries on all facets of Christmas arranged in alphabetical order. Topics covered include folk customs and beliefs, religious practices, symbols, legends, mythological and historical figures, foods, beverages, and major artistic works associated with the celebration of Christmas... The book is international in scope, offering 21 entries dealing wholly or mostly with the celebration of Christmas in other countries." (Pg. xiii-xiv)
She states, "early Christian leaders... denounced Mithraic ceremonies as misleading parodies of Christian rituals. In spite of their opposition to the cult, in the middle of the fourth century Christian authorities selected December 25 as the day on which to celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Scholars believe that they did so largely in order to divert people away from competing pagan celebrations held on or around that date, such as the Birth of the Invincible Sun." (Pg. 52)
She wrote, "According to one scholar, Church leaders tried to figure out the date of Jesus' birth from the date traditionally given for his death, March 25. Since they wanted to come up with a round number for Jesus' age at death, they assumed he was also conceived on March 25. Therefore, he must have been born nine months later on December 25." (Pg. 156)
She says, "Luke's account would seem to suggest that Jesus was born sometime in the spring. Nevertheless, the first celebrations of the Nativity took place in January. During the second and third centuries, a number of Christian communities began to commemorate Jesus' birth on January 6 as part of their Epiphany celebrations." (Pg. 299)
She documents, "When Pope Gregory XIII established the Gregorian calendar in 1582, he ushered in an era in which the people of Europe disagreed on what day it was. As a result they celebrated Christmas on different days... Some nations and churches refused to adopt the Gregorian reforms. In these lands people continued to celebrate Christmas on December 25, but did so according to the Julian calendar. Their celebrations fell on January 5 according to the new Gregorian calendar." (Pg. 435)
This is an excellent reference work, which will answer a host of questions about many different subjects related to the holiday.
Author Tanya Gulevich wrote in the Introduction to this 2000 book, "The Encyclopedia of Christmas contains 186 entries on all facets of Christmas arranged in alphabetical order. Topics covered include folk customs and beliefs, religious practices, symbols, legends, mythological and historical figures, foods, beverages, and major artistic works associated with the celebration of Christmas... The book is international in scope, offering 21 entries dealing wholly or mostly with the celebration of Christmas in other countries." (Pg. xiii-xiv)
She states, "early Christian leaders... denounced Mithraic ceremonies as misleading parodies of Christian rituals. In spite of their opposition to the cult, in the middle of the fourth century Christian authorities selected December 25 as the day on which to celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Scholars believe that they did so largely in order to divert people away from competing pagan celebrations held on or around that date, such as the Birth of the Invincible Sun." (Pg. 52)
She wrote, "According to one scholar, Church leaders tried to figure out the date of Jesus' birth from the date traditionally given for his death, March 25. Since they wanted to come up with a round number for Jesus' age at death, they assumed he was also conceived on March 25. Therefore, he must have been born nine months later on December 25." (Pg. 156)
She says, "Luke's account would seem to suggest that Jesus was born sometime in the spring. Nevertheless, the first celebrations of the Nativity took place in January. During the second and third centuries, a number of Christian communities began to commemorate Jesus' birth on January 6 as part of their Epiphany celebrations." (Pg. 299)
She documents, "When Pope Gregory XIII established the Gregorian calendar in 1582, he ushered in an era in which the people of Europe disagreed on what day it was. As a result they celebrated Christmas on different days... Some nations and churches refused to adopt the Gregorian reforms. In these lands people continued to celebrate Christmas on December 25, but did so according to the Julian calendar. Their celebrations fell on January 5 according to the new Gregorian calendar." (Pg. 435)
This is an excellent reference work, which will answer a host of questions about many different subjects related to the holiday.
September 7, 2016
Growing up near Philadelphia, I never knew what the Mummer's Parade was about. Thanks to this book, I now know that mumming was an old tradition "in which bands of masked and costumed merrymakers roam the streets signing, dancing, action out stories or simply engaging in horseplay" during the Christmas season. And in 1901 the old foggies of Philly, realizing they couldn't contain the populace, gave way and sanctioned the first parade.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews