Have you ever wondered how our familiar Christmas traditions came to be? Why do we decorate Christmas trees, sing carols, exchange gifts, or hang stockings for Saint Nicholas?
In The Christmas Book, Father Francis X. Weiser, S.J., takes readers on a fascinating journey through the history of Christmas, from the Gospel accounts of Our Lord's Nativity and the earliest Christian celebrations to the rich customs of medieval Europe and their survival and revival in modern times.
Along the way, he explores the origins and significance of beloved traditions: the Christmas crib, carols and hymns, evergreen trees, candles and lights, festive foods, Saint Nicholas, and Santa Claus. He even ventures into such curious territory as the history of the Christmas mince pie!
But this is much more than a collection of interesting facts. Father Weiser reveals how the joy of Christ's birth has found expression in the customs of countless peoples and generations, helping us rediscover the Christian meaning behind traditions we might otherwise take for granted.
Father Weiser was an Austrian Jesuit priest closely associated with the famous von Trapp family, and is considered by many to have been the ghostwriter of their beloved book Around the Year with the Trapp Family. Readers familiar with that classic will find much to enjoy in Father Weiser's own exploration of the history and meaning of Christmas traditions.
Originally published in 1952 and illustrated by Robert Frankenberg, this delightful volume is the first in Father Weiser's trilogy on the feasts and customs of the liturgical year.
5.5" x 8.5" softcover 188 pages
NOTE ON BULK ORDERS: Orders for multiple copies may be shipped directly from our supplier and can require 14–20 days of lead time during the busy holiday season. Please allow extra time when ordering for Christmas gifts, parish groups, or schools. Thank you for understanding.
