The Christmas Book

This book is a unique and innovative visual celebration of Christmas, a joyous religious and cultural occasion observed by billions of people around the world. The origins of Christmas lie in the Christian observance of the birth of Christ on December 25, and since the early 20th century, it has become a secular holiday with myriad decorations, rituals, and themes.

Key themes covered include Advent and the Nativity; the Christmas tree and Christmas decorations; give gifts and sing Christmas carols; classic Christmas movies; and festive music. This extraordinary book features a broad spectrum of global holiday traditions from many different cultures, such as fried chicken eaten for Christmas dinner, surfing Santa Clauses, and shoes filled with carrots.

A collection of over 200 rich and evocative images, paintings, books, prints, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and photographs, expertly paired to highlight similarities and contrasts between each other, the works included feature a wide range of objects both lesser-known and iconic.

These significant works deal with holiday topics such as Advent; the Christmas tree and Christmas decorations; give gifts and sing Christmas carols; and classic Christmas movies and music. Essays by Sam Bilton, Dolph Gotelli, and David Trigg explore traditional holiday foods and drinks, Santa Claus throughout history, and the religious origins of Christmas.