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.

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...

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...

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.

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. ...

It is one year after the triplets changed their lives and relocated to Asheville, each starting off in a new direction. Once again, the holidays bring challenges and change, happiness and heartbreak, and the power of unbreakable family bonds. Join these strong, funny, and loving women as the holiday spirit lifts them as high as the Blue Ridge Mountains as they celebrate old traditions and create a few new ones along the way.

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.

In this widely popular, exciting story for the advent season, listeners follow 10-year-old Jotham across Israel as he searches for his family. Though he faces thieves, robbers, and kidnappers, Jotham also encounters the wise men, shepherds, and innkeepers until at last he finds his way to the Savior born in Bethlehem.

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 ...

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.

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.

"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 ...

**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 ...

Young listeners learn about the early traditions which have led to our present-day celebration of Thanksgiving.

Though Halloween today is largely known for its commercialized customs of costumes, candy, and carved pumpkins, its origins trace back more than 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain. Celebrated by ancient Celts in the lands that are now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the colder, darker half of the year.

Five wishes...one special place...and a miracle to make it happen each Christmas. The Summers family always chose somewhere special to spend their Christmas holiday instead of at home. Every year their holiday vacation destination was different and carefully determined their Christmas wishes. Hannah and her children loved their Christmas holiday tradition even though it was never easy for everyone to be completely satisfied and this year was no different...or was it? Daniel Summers quickly offered to handle the arrangements for their upcoming Christmas holiday vacation. He knew his mother ...

🎄 Travel the world in 24 days of Christmas joy! 🎄 Christmas Around the World: 24 Festive Trivia Journeys from Every Corner of the Globe invites you to unwrap the magic of Christmas traditions from across continents — one day, one country, one story at a time. From the snowy streets of Germany and the lantern-lit nights of Colombia to Australia’s sunny beaches and Japan’s famous Christmas feast, this book is your passport to a season filled with holiday joy, laughter, and discovery. Each of the 24 chapters brings together: ❓ Trivia Questions that spark curiosity and fun ...

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 ...

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.

The folklore roots of Christmas under its many other guises (Yule, the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia) is examined in a different, darker light. The Winter Solstice is a time to be afraid. It’s the shortest day of the year, the longest night. In some parts of the world, the sun doesn’t rise at all. It’s dark, and we have to wonder if the sun will ever come back at all. Christmas has always been creepy and with The Fright Before Christmas, you'll see that side. This is a book for everyone who loves a little darkness around the holidays.