The Oxford Handbook of Christmas (Oxford Handbooks)

I’m a Christmas nut; born just around that time, mid-westerner too – always plenty of snow and IL Central rides to Marshall Fields. My mother, a depression era survivor loved it too – and with my parents double incomes coinciding with my childhood, Lutheran kindergarten Christmas pageants; it indelibly stuck. Mouth still drops open like a yokel when I see displays glittering with vulgarity. Fast forward to this book – instead of peeling back those bandages, maybe dampen them a bit, warm em up, shoot, just RIP EM OFF. Hurts less, right? Just joshing. This amazing book, worthy of its grand and sentimental subject, is broken down in 8 parts: 1. history; 2. theology; 3. worshipping communities; 4. the nativity story; 5. traditions; 6. the arts; 7. around the world; and 8. the state and society. Indexed, scantily illustrated [13 [my only complaint]], with each section citing references and recommendations for further reading. It really is more for someone who writes or speaks about Christmas and needs to get the facts straight. I can see a progressive minister making good use of this; or a fact checker; or just you if you’ve always wanted to really understand where this thing we call Christmas came from. Part 2 is probably the only tough slog – a lot of tinkering went into making Christmas work because the synoptic gospels aren’t particularly synoptic on the subject. Then there’s the Old Testament, you know, um, like, written by Jews. Just this section was worth the price of the book – had to read it twice, but super enlightening. Really, the 1st 4 parts deal with biblical sources and the various early councils that began to deal with which material to keep in the Bible and what to codify as orthodoxy. The book gives us a wonderful look at how Christmas is observed/celebrated in Christian and non-christian countries. No, Christmas trees were not invented by Victoria’s German husband. The venerated St. Nicholas’ crypt was plundered twice [1087 and later in 1099] by relic seeking rival churches – maybe it’s a good thing because what’s left of the church is now under 9 meters of mud – and yes, he is Santa Claus. Nativity scenes? Covered. SCOTUS decision about religious displays? Covered. Christmas outlawed throughout history? Covered. Are the wise men in the Bible; are there 2,3, or 8 of them; think you know their names? Covered. Lovely and satisfying.Another plus is how the book is organized. it’s a complicated subject because of it’s dynamic nature. By discussing its origins more or less chronologically, we also come to understand how the symbols and traditions of Christmas build on existing traditions as Christianity spreads – incorporating, melding, blending. Compare this to Flanders’ Christmas; a Biography which is an organizational mess with the same subject being discussed multiple times throughout the book – making it impossible to find all of the references to say Christmas Trees in one chapter or on 1 page. So, in OB, while the tree is mentioned here and there in other sections, it also has a whole section devoted to it. To be fair, this book is way more ambitious and is a Major Reference Work. Lastly, these books have narrow appeal and sometimes are not reprinted – so, as time goes by, the prices can skyrocket. I passed on the OB of Egyptology because I balked at the price and have been kicking myself ever since – my librarian buddy explained the price thing. If you want the hardback, better get it. Great book.