Examines the origin and development of present-day Christmas practices and describes the religious and festive Christmas holiday customs of sixty-six countries

Why do we decorate Christmas trees? Do all children receive gifts on the same day? Come find out as Monika Utnik-Strugala captures the smells, tastes, and unforgettable traditions about the most popular, exciting, contemplative, and unique Christmas customs and legends from around the world. Find out why celebrate Christmas on December 25th, who invented the first glass ornament, why people build nativity scenes, and more! A truly international collection of legends and traditions are included in the volume such as - Glögg, Kutia, Lutefisk, Jansson's Temptation, Julskinka, Bûche de Noël, Hallaca, Kourabiedes, Christmas Pudding, Panettone, Christmas carols, talking animals, and The Nutcracker!

Ethiopian fringed umbrellas; star-shaped Filipino parol lanterns;candlelit Swedish St. Lucia crowns-Mary Lankford bringstogether Christmas traditions from twelve different lands,like decorations on a splendid tree.

Christmas customs, festive food, present-giving, songs and traditional stories from around the world with easy-reading text for children who have just started reading alone. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton. "Irresistible for children learning to read'" - Child Education Plus

This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style.

More than two millennia ago, a child was born in the village of Bethlehem, and from this event grew, first, a devoted cult, then a dedicated following, then a religion that is today the worlds largest: Christianity. The celebration of Christs birth is a glorious holiday. It is beautiful, warm, festive, joyous, sweet and steeped in tradition. Life captures in words and vibrant pictures the customs of Christmas everywhere, from Sinterklass in Holland to the observance of the winter solstice at Englands Stonehenge to the origins of this great day in the Holy Land. On Christmas, the world rejoices and reflects. Here, Life does too, in this special commemorative edition Christmas Around The World.

Celebrate the birth of Christ with children from around the world! Learn about the customs and festivals that honor Christ's birth in the lands where they live.