Christmas Customs around the World

by Herbert H. Wernecke

Divided geographically by continent and by country, this book discusses the ways in which people from a variety of different cultures and countries celebrate Christmas.

Genres: Christmas

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Capn]

The celebration of Christmas has spread to every corner of the world in the wake of Christian settlers and missionaries, and religious observances and secular festivities go hand in hand. This book takes the reader to sixty-six countries, and reveals an astonishing variety of Christmas customs. Many of these are the result of the physical environment, while others have their roots in long-forgotten pagan customs. For instance, December 25th is the day of the year's greatest bull fight in Lima, Peru, while Ukrainian women prepare a twelve-course meatless dinner in memory of the Apostles. In Serbia the yule-log plays an important part in the celebrations, and is linked with superstitious customs to ensure good crops. In New Zealand Christmas marks the beginning of the summer holidays. Special foods are eaten in many parts of the world, and a collection of recipes for some of these dishes makes an interesting chapter.
SBN 561 00225 8

[Tchipakkan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Customs Around the World is a 1975 book collecting bits from all over the world- more than most books, including South America, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and the Antipodes, which most books of this sort generally stick to Europe. It mentions a cookie of which I hadn't heard before the Tirggel- another stamped lebkuchen it looks like, from Zurich. I found it on the internet, and the first reference to it was in a 1461 witch trial court document. Got to try that one. But Mostly I was impressed by how many different regions it covered.

[Melea]

I have read as much of "Christmas Customs" as I am able. It was originally published in the '50s, and it shows. The book was definitely written from a WASP perspective, and speaks very condescendingly of the "natives", particularly if those natives are dark skinned. Europeans are never called natives, and yet, Africans are. blech
I think I need to read some good old-fashioned trash.

[Kammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

ehh.. too much stuff didnt really like the layout