Contains many facts about Christmas.

“John has deep insights and is able to link and draw meaning from events and dates like no one I’ve ever read. I love the fact that in this book he shows Jesus as a ruler, but not the kind of ruler from whom we must stay at arm’s length. A must-read for anyone who wants a fresh perspective on the greatest story ever told. Once you read this book, you will have no doubt who the greatest gift of all time is—Jesus.” - Anita Cordell, Film and Commercial Actress Christmas comes around every December, followed by the celebration of a New Year. We recycle the same songs. We cook and eat turkey. But what is Christmas? To answer that question, we would be wise to turn to the one who brought the event into being. The one who is the subject of this book actually walked the dusty roads of the Middle East. Since his birth, he has impacted lives like no other. He has had more followers than anyone in history. He has been hated by many, and misunderstood by countless more, yet his teaching powerfully influences even the lives of those who don’t know him. His name is Jesus.

From Christmas trees to Santa Claus, to carols, lights and decorations, have you ever wondered how all these much-loved customs came about? In this book we will explore all the traditions that we associate with and enjoy over the festive holiday period and uncover some fascinating facts about the history behind them from around the world. Deeply entrenched in Western culture, we often forget what this magical time was originally celebrated for – the birth of Jesus Christ. It represents a time of peace and goodwill to all, but in modern day life this often gets lost in the big commercial merry-go-round with parties and gifts galore that it has become. Interestingly, some of the traditions we know so well actually started over 2,000 years ago before Jesus was born. So, let’s walk through the mists of time and legends and explore all the captivating snippets of historical customs that have led us to where we are today.

Fascinating critique of the American Christmas from the perspectives of cultural studies, theology, & biblical studies.

Film plays a vital role in the celebration of Christmas. For decades, it has taught audiences about what the celebration of the season looks like – from the decorations to the costumes and to the expected snowy weather – as well as mirrors our own festivities back to us. Films like It’s a Wonderful Life and Home Alone have come to play key roles in real-life domestic celebrations: watching such titles has become, for many families, every bit as important as tree-trimming and leaving cookies out for Santa. These films have exported the American take on the holiday far and wide and helped us conjure an image of the perfect holiday. Rather than settling the ‘what is a Christmas film?’ debate – indeed, Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are discussed within – Analyzing Christmas in Film: Santa to the Supernatural focuses on the how Christmas is presented on the deluge of occasions when it appears. While most Christmas films are secular, religion makes many cameos, appearing through Nativity references, storylines involving spiritual rebirth, the framing of Santa as a Christ-like figure and the all-importance of family, be it the Holy family or just those gathered around the dining table. Also explored are popular narratives involving battles with stress and melancholy, single parents and Christmas martyrs, visits from ghosts and angels, big cities and small towns, break-ups and make-ups and the ticking clock of mortality. Nearly 1000 films are analyzed in this volume to determine what the portrayal of Christmas reveals about culture, society and faith as well as sex roles, consumerism, aesthetics and aspiration.