A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions

By: Mark Forsyth

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Synopsis: BY THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A SHORT HISTORY OF DRUNKENNESSDiscover the unpredictable origins and etymologies of our Christmas customs this festive season. For something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas, etymologically speaking, means "Go away, Christ". We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of crackers was merely a way of popularising sweet wrappers. Luckily, like a gift from Santa himself, Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities, making it all finally make sense - in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way.'Witty and revelatory. Blooming brilliant' Raymond Briggs 'Everything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuff' Matthew Parris

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
ISBN-13:: 9780241977552
Related ISBNs:: 9780241267738
Publisher:: Penguin Books Ltd
Date of Addition:: 04/12/24
Copyrighted By:: Mark Forsyth
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: History, Nonfiction, Reference, Religion and Spirituality, Social Studies, Language Arts
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.