Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas (Books of Miscellany)

Wouldn’t it be great to understand all our Christmas traditions? Here, Jonathan Green offers the fascinating history behind our most beloved holiday traditions. For example, myrrh is incense made from the resin of a North African bush and was a special gift during biblical times. To the Romans, mistletoe was a symbol of fertility, so today we are encouraged to kiss when it is near. The Yule log was originally used to brighten homes during the dark, cold Scandinavian Christmas season. Packed with all manner of delightful surprises and delicious morsels, A Christmas Miscellany demystifies the origins of familiar festive customs such as caroling and Christmas cards, and entertains with fun, little-known facts. This is the perfect gift or stocking stuffer for the curious-minded during the holiday season. What is myrrh anyway? Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25? Why is turkey eaten at Christmas? Where does the Christmas tree come from? Why are cards sent at Christmas? Why are carols sung at Christmastime? Why do people open Advent calendars in the run-up to Christmas Why are stockings hung up on Christmas Eve? Why do people put up Christmas decorations? What is figgy pudding? Who were the three kings? Where does the Christmas wreath come from? Why are reindeer so associated with Christmas? What are the twelves days of Christmas? Why is fish eaten on Christmas Eve? When, and why, was Christmas canceled? What is a Yule log? What was the first Noël? What have holly and ivy got to do with Christmas? What is mulled wine? Why are sprouts eaten with Christmas dinner? Why do we display Nativity scenes at Christmas? What is wassailing? Who was Good King Wenceslas? Why do people kiss under the mistletoe? Why is Christmas so often shortened to Xmas? Reveals the origins of many Christmas traditions from why people go caroling to the practice of sending greeting cards, in a nostalgic tribute that includes coverage of historical and religious customs.