From the manger of Jesus Christ to the 21st century, this encyclopedia explores more than 2,000 years of Christmas past and present through 966 entries packed with a wide variety of historical and pop-culture subjects. Entries detail customs and traditions from around the world as well as classic Christmas movies, TV series/specials and animated cartoons. Arranged alphabetically by entry name, the book includes the historical background of popular sacred and secular songs as well as accounts of beloved literary works with Christmas themes from such noted authors as Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Hans Christian Andersen, Pearl Buck, Henry Van Dyke and others. All things Christmas are available here in one comprehensive volume.

Get yourself a cup of eggnog, sit down in front of a warm fire (chestnut roasting is optional), and let Publishing Glad Tidings: Essays on Christmas Music thrill and inspire you as you learn about those who have dedicated their lives to preserving, collecting, and creating the traditional art form of the Christmas carol. This enlightening volume's personal and historical perspective will help you see why Christmas carols continue to fill our lives with simple, lasting joy and why they endure as cultural, religious, and artistic gifts to humanity. Publishing Glad Tidings will help you see how major, but once nearly forgotten, Christmas carols have stayed with us throughout the years. You'll get detailed information as to how these carols were written, compiled, collected, and ultimately wrapped up in eye- and ear-catching packages for us to enjoy every year when December rolls around. Inside this joyously decorated book, you'll find information about: carol pioneers Theodoric Petri, Davies Gilbert, and William Sandys carol historians Edmondstoune Duncan, Charles L. Hutchins, and Edward Bliss Reed carol compiling, collecting, translating, and editing how relative obscurity has made some carols classics So come all ye faithful who are interested in keeping this grand old tradition alive. Publishing Glad Tidings is just the invitation you need to come in from the cold and wassail your way through an intriguing, heartfelt part of yuletide history. If you're a church musician, musical historian, pastor, or just a general reader interested in Christmas and music, you'll find everything you need to know about the carol's history and future right here.