Holiday Traditions

Anyone who laments the excesses of Christmas might consider the Puritans of colonial Massachusetts: they simply outlawed the holiday. The Puritans had their reasons, since Christmas was once an occasion for drunkenness and riot, when poor "wassailers" extorted food and drink from the well-to-do. In this intriguing and innovative work of social history, Stephen Nissenbaum rediscovers Christmas's carnival origins and shows how it was transformed, during the nineteenth century, into a festival of domesticity and consumerism.

Discover a magical way to count down to Christmas. This enchanting Advent storybook brings together 24 Christmas tales—a blend of timeless classics, world legends, and gentle retellings crafted especially for young readers and families who love reading together. From snowy adventures and kind-hearted heroes to ancient traditions from around the globe, each story is designed to light up December nights with wonder. Whether your children read on their own or still love bedtime read-alouds, these stories turn every evening into a cherished family ritual. Inside you’ll find: • Adapted ...

Not so very long ago, Yuletide was as much a chilling season of ghosts and witches as it was a festival of goodwill. In The Old Magic of Christmas, you'll rub elbows with veiled spirits, learn the true perils of elves, and discover a bestiary of enchanted creatures. Rife with the more frightful characters from folklore and the season's most petulant ghosts, this book takes you on a spooky sleigh ride from the silvered firs of a winter forest to the mirrored halls of the Snow Queen.

Have you ever wondered if your favorite Christmas traditions are more pagan than Christian? Do you question what a decorated tree, Santa Claus, and gift-giving have to do with the birth of Jesus? Every year, as lights go up and carols play, questions arise about the true meaning of Christmas. We’re told our traditions were borrowed from pagans, that Santa was created by Coca-Cola, and that the entire celebration is more about shopping than salvation. But what is the real story? The Holy Night: The Sacred History of Christmas Through the Ages is a captivating journey that debunks the myths...

"Deck the Halls: The Ultimate Guide to Christmas" Get ready to make this holiday season your most magical yet with Deck the Halls: The Ultimate Guide to Christmas! This all-in-one festive companion takes you on a journey through the history and heart of Christmas, exploring the origins of cherished traditions and the fascinating ways it’s celebrated around the globe. Discover delicious recipes for holiday sweet treats and drinks and find inspiration for thoughtful gift-giving with creative ideas that will delight everyone on your list. Learn how to transform your home into a winter ...

Kwanzaa is about celebrating! It honors African American heritage. Some people mark the holiday by lighting the kinara. Families and friends gather to eat a big feast. Listeners will discover how a shared holiday can have multiple traditions and be celebrated in all sorts of ways.

An empty nest. A house full of memories. A husband with his own dreams. And one Christmas that could change everything. For Judith Winters, the holidays have always meant family—laughter, traditions, and a tree covered with ornaments that hold treasured memories. But this year, for the first time, not one of her children or grandchildren will be home. With only her husband, Stan, for company, Judith finds herself unable to rekindle any of the holiday joy that once flowed so easily. Then, while unpacking what Stan nicknamed the “ugly ornaments,” Judith is reminded of the past in ways ...

Five years ago, Butch Harten broke my heart, and I left our small town without looking back. Until my grandmother’s death drags me back, suckering me into running the annual Christmas parade. With him as my co-chair. Butch is a firefighter now. Steady. Quiet. Stupidly attractive. Nothing like the reckless boy who landed in jail our last night together and let me walk away. We try to be professional. We fail immediately. Every meeting turns into tension. Every argument hits like foreplay we’re too stubborn to recognize. Then the blizzard hits, the roads close, and I end up snowed in with...

The countdown to Christmas has never been scarier than in this internationally bestselling holiday horror novel from Per Jacobsen. Hoping to bring his family closer together, Adam Gray arranges a vacation in a remote cabin on a snowy mountain. Things take a dark turn, however, when someone...

The night she came back to Winter Haven, I should’ve killed her. But instead, I made her my prisoner. Vera was mine before she betrayed me. Now she claims our child is alive—the child she said was stillborn. I’m torn between the man I must be and the monster I’ve become. I want to make her suffer. I want to tear her apart. But in the cold, the heat between us won’t die. Every kiss drags me deeper, every glance sets me on fire. The line between revenge and desire blurs with every minute we’re together. She’s hiding something, and I’ll use her body to get the truth. I’ll ...

Once fall hits and the chilly weather settles in, the holiday season has begun! And nothing embodies holiday spirit more than the continuing of family traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. May it be sharing stories at the dinner table, laughs on the porch, or just time spent alone - everyone has their own ritual. Join Dana Cowin, author and former editor-in-chief of Food & Wine, as she chats with some of today’s most popular chefs and food personalities.

🎄 THE TRADITIONS YOU LOVE…FINALLY EXPLAINED 🕯️ FROM MIDWINTER FIRES TO MODERN FAMILY MAGIC 🎁 SANTA, STOCKINGS, TREES, CAROLS, CANDLES, FEASTS—WHERE IT ALL CAME FROM 📚 SHORT CHAPTERS, BIG WOW-FACTS, ZERO TEXTBOOK BOREDOM ✨ THE PERFECT COZY READ (AND GIFT) FOR DECEMBER Welcome to the “behind the tinsel” story of the world’s most beloved celebration. This book is a fast, fascinating, easy-to-follow tour through centuries of faith, folklore, culture, & pure human creativity—showing how today’s favorite December moments were built, borrowed, remixed, & made ...

Step into the rhythm of the seasons and discover how ancient traditions can bring meaning, balance, and joy to modern life. Celebrating the Wheel of the Year: Modern Pagan Holidays, Traditions, and Rituals for Every Season is a complete guide to the eight Sabbats - Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon - and the practices that surround them. Written for both beginners and experienced seekers, this book shows you how to honor nature’s cycles with rituals, seasonal crafts, family-friendly activities, and mindful reflections that make every celebration your own. ...

**When books rain from the sky on Christmas Eve, three young adventurers must save the magic of the season!** Join Imani, Tommy, and Maya—the beloved heroes from the *What Shall We Do Today?* series—as they embark on a heartwarming Christmas adventure that teaches children the true meaning of holiday traditions. **A magical mission with four unforgettable challenges:** When the Spirit of Christmas Eve appears with an urgent plea, the three friends must restore four fading traditions before midnight strikes. From helping a forgetful chef remember the secret ingredient in his magical ...

This book highlights diverse Christmas traditions from various countries on every continent. Curl up by a cozy fire and go for a virtual sleigh ride around the world. You will delight in learning about our world's rich and varied holiday traditions.

The Star in the Window: A Christmas Tale of Wonder and Warmth ✨ One town. Many stars. A Christmas to remember. In Pineberry, it’s tradition to hang a star in your window at Christmas. But behind every light is a story waiting to be told. A soldier’s family keeps hope alive with a golden star. Newlyweds celebrate their first Christmas beneath a copper glow. A lonely orphan dares to wish for belonging. A widow lights a chipped glass star for the love she lost but still carries. A teacher learns her light shines brighter than her doubts. A newcomer discovers that even the humblest star ...

Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday’s Traditions reveals the surprising, quirky, mysterious, and sometimes horrifying stories behind the most wonderful time of the year.

For years Foreigners always tried to decode and understand Filipina habits and their actions. Most relay on hear say and end up divorcing or getting scammed. This book is written to give you information to understand Filipinas. From where it all began with a short history, Traits that were instilled by colonizers,changes of traditions and culture thru time,81 bare it all questions that might be running in your head asked by foreigners such as "why does a Filipina keep a Filipino boyfriend even if she has a foreign Boyfriend who supports her?"and many more that were answered by the author ...

This enchanting collection features 51 original bedtime stories that wrap little ones in warmth, wonder, and yuletide joy. From giggling snowflakes and whispering trees to magical mittens and reindeer footprints, each tale is lovingly crafted to inspire imagination, soothe busy minds, and bring families closer during the most magical season of all.

Holiday traditions are so deeply entrenched in our culture, but represent a deception so complete that they have become one of Satan’s greatest victories. You've grown up celebrating various holidays, yet you don't know where they originate. They come from the celebration of pagan gods. You owe it to yourself to learn the truth. Find out how the observance of these holidays may be robbing you of spiritual fulfillment.