The Oxford Handbook of Christmas provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary account of all aspects of Christmas across the globe, from the specifically religious to the purely cultural. The contributions are drawn from a distinguished group of international experts from across numerous disciplines, including literary scholars, theologians, historians, biblical scholars, sociologists, anthropologists, art historians, and legal experts. The volume provides authoritative treatments of a range of topics, from the origins of Christmas to the present; decorating trees to eating plum pudding; from the Bible to contemporary worship; from carols to cinema; from the Nativity Story to Santa Claus; from Bethlehem to Japan; from Catholics to Baptists; from secularism to consumerism. Christmas is the biggest celebration on the planet. Every year, a significant percentage of the world's population is draw to this holiday—from Cape Cod to Cape Town, from South America to South Korea, and on and on across the globe. The Christmas season takes up a significant part of the entire year. For many countries, the holiday is a major force in their national economy. Moreover, Christmas is not just a modern holiday, but has been an important feast for most Christians since the fourth century and a dominant event in many cultures and countries for over a millennium. The Oxford Handbook of Christmas provides an invaluable reference point for anyone interested in this global phenomenon.

Have you ever thought what the world would be like if I didn't carry that sack and make that sleigh ride each year? I know one thing; there wouldn't be a need for a Naughty and Nice list anymore. Can you imagine all those children and their sad little faces? I could never give up this cause because the children are so angelic with those bright and cheery smiles when they look at you or the presents you leave on Christmas morning. -- Santa Claus

Fresh, fun ideas for children's storytime fill this book. The author, a long-time storytime facilitator, has put together 52 weekly themes plus additional plans for holidays, all with detailed instructions for talking about the theme and choosing the books, crafts, songs, poems, games and snacks. Each storytime idea is illustrated with photographs of a suggested craft and snack for easy reference. Libraries, bookstores, preschools and parents alike can use this book to offer themed storytimes that include discussion, literature, art, music, movement and food. Options are provided for each storytime, so the ideas can be used year after year.

This holiday, we are offering to you our own Christmas box – filled up to the top with the greatest Christmas novels, magical Christmas tales, legends, most famous carols and the poems dedicated to this one and only holiday: _x000D_ Mr. Pickwick's Christmas (Charles Dickens) _x000D_ The Gift of the Magi (O. Henry)_x000D_ Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (L. Frank Baum)_x000D_ Christmas At Sea (Robert Louis Stevenson)_x000D_ The Savior Must Have Been A Docile Gentleman (Emily Dickinson)_x000D_ The Holy Night (Selma Lagerlöf)_x000D_ A Merry Christmas (Louisa May Alcott)_x000D_ A Letter from Santa Claus (Mark Twain)_x000D_ Shakespeare's Christmas _x000D_ Silent Night_x000D_ The Night After Christmas_x000D_ The Child Born at Bethlehem_x000D_ The Adoration of the Shepherds_x000D_ The Visit of the Wise Men_x000D_ As Joseph Was A-Walking_x000D_ The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter)_x000D_ Where Love Is, God Is (Leo Tolstoy) _x000D_ The Three Kings (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) _x000D_ A Christmas Carol (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) _x000D_ The Heavenly Christmas Tree (Fyodor Dostoevsky)_x000D_ The Little City of Hope (F. Marion Crawford)_x000D_ The First Christmas Of New England (Harriet Beecher Stowe)_x000D_ Christmas in the Olden Time (Walter Scott)_x000D_ Christmas In India (Rudyard Kipling)_x000D_ A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) _x000D_ The Twelve Days of Christmas_x000D_ The Wonderful Wizard of OZ (L. Frank Baum)_x000D_ Ring Out, Wild Bells (Alfred Lord Tennyson)_x000D_ Little Lord Fauntleroy (Frances Hodgson Burnett)_x000D_ Black Beauty (Anna Sewell)_x000D_ The Christmas Child (Hesba Stretton)_x000D_ Granny's Wonderful Chair (Frances Browne)_x000D_ The Romance of a Christmas Card (Kate Douglas Wiggin)_x000D_ Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)_x000D_ The Wonderful Life - Story of the life and death of our Lord (Hesba Stretton)_x000D_ The Christmas Angel (A. Brown)_x000D_ Christmas at Thompson Hall (Anthony Trollope)_x000D_ Christmas Every Day (William Dean Howells)_x000D_ The Lost Word (Henry van Dyke)_x000D_ The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (E. T. A. Hoffmann)_x000D_ The Little Match Girl_x000D_ The Elves and the Shoemaker_x000D_ Mother Holle _x000D_ The Star Talers_x000D_ Snow-White_x000D_ The Christmas Hirelings_x000D_ The Blue Carbuncle_x000D_ An Exciting Christmas Eve_x000D_ The Spirit of Christmas…

Stuffed full of festive fun, this is an amusing and informative guide to surviving and making the most of the holiday season.

You don't have to be a child to appreciate the magic within The Book of Santa Claus. As author Vicky Howard notes, "We can never outgrow the anticipation of a visit from Santa Claus. He is a magical figure, drawn from the legends, history, and folklore of many countries."The legend of Santa Claus began in America in 1822 with Clement C. Moore's poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." This enduring poem, which begins with the now-classic line "'Twas the night before Christmas," paints a vivid picture of St. Nick and his miniature sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer. Illustrated for the first time by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly in 1863, this famous depiction became an inspiration for much of the detailed Victorian art captured in The Book of Santa Claus. The rich compilation celebrates Santa Claus through the beautiful illustrations from century-old postcards from that era's preeminent commercial artists, such as Frances Brundage and Ellen Clapsaddle. Vicky Howard's personal collection of art from the "Golden Age of Postcards" is coupled with poems on the Christmas joy of Kris Kringle. This joyful miniature edition is perfect for a finishing touch to any gift basket, as a hostess gift, or for your own treasured keepsake.

During the long, cold December weeks leading up to Christmas, as we spend our time frantically panicking about the financial side of the festive season, it's all too easy to forget the traditional nativity story. The real meaning of Christmas and the traditions that have existed for generations are shunted aside as we worry about how many shopping days we have left and how we're going to fit that monster turkey into the oven. In this charming book, Patrick Harding breathes new life into the traditions of Christmas, unravelling myths and mysteries surrounding our favourite time of year. The Christmas Book is a treasure chest of fascinating facts and tasty morsels, all in one delightful and handy volume. From setting the record straight about Jesus' birth, to explaining what a genuine Yule log is, to tracking the evolution of the Christmas card, there's something in here to entertain everyone, young and old alike. The fascinating read is guaranteed to add some much-needed spice to the festive season and will shake the Scrooge out of even the most cynical reader...