Were They Wise Men or Kings?: The Book of Christmas Questions

by Joseph J. Walsh

Overview

Christmas is a time of celebration, rich with ritual and detail. But more than just a season for angels and wrapping paper, Christmas has its own heritage which intersects in fascinating ways with human history and human beliefs, behaviors, and experiences. In this book of fifty Christmas questions, Joseph Walsh gives us the details behind Christmas traditions, such as Santa's origin and appearance, the story of Rudolph, holiday decorations and greenery, the nativity, Christmas tales, celebrations and rituals, gift-giving, and card-sending. He links contemporary practices and historical tradition, explaining why, for instance, we kiss under the mistletoe, and describing the time when Christmas was responsible for a truce in World War I. In this illustrated book, readers will find answers to questions they've often asked and some they've never thought about.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664237219
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	01/01/1981
Series:	Daily Study Bible
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Peter C. Craigie was Professor of Religious Studies, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, and Academic Vice-President at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Editorial Reviews

The approach of this book, and its rather conventional illustrations, give every evidence that we are meant to understand it as a children's book, an easy guide to Christmas. Don't be fooled: Walsh writes with great clarity and verve, and he thinks well enough of children, not to mention the rest of us, not to tell any flat lies. For example, he answers the question of the authorship of Visit from St. Nicholas with a clear exposition of the very recent and very heated debate over the merits of Henry Livingstons Livingston Jr. vs. Clement Moore. This brief but smart and memorable book, more than worth its weight in Christmas candy, is highly recommended. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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