Description
Book SynopsisThe Oxford Handbook of Christmas provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary account of all aspects of Christmas across the globe, from the specifically religious to the purely cultural. The contributions are drawn from a distinguished group of international experts from across numerous disciplines, including literary scholars, theologians, historians, biblical scholars, sociologists, anthropologists, art historians, and legal experts. The volume provides authoritative treatments of a range of topics, from the origins of Christmas to the present; decorating trees to eating plum pudding; from the Bible to contemporary worship; from carols to cinema; from the Nativity Story to Santa Claus; from Bethlehem to Japan; from Catholics to Baptists; from secularism to consumerism.Christmas is the biggest celebration on the planet. Every year, a significant percentage of the world''s population is drawn to this holidayfrom Cape Cod to Cape Town, from South America to South Korea, and on and on across the globe. The Christmas season takes up a significant part of the entire year. For many countries, the holiday is a major force in their national economy. Moreover, Christmas is not just a modern holiday, but has been an important feast for most Christians since the fourth century and a dominant event in many cultures and countries for over a millennium. The Oxford Handbook of Christmas provides an invaluable reference point for anyone interested in this global phenomenon.
Trade ReviewThe Handbook is scrupulous in covering the views of all the main Christian traditions and perspectives, and Orthodox perspectives receive admirably balanced coverage throughout the work ... So many are the impacts of Christmas, and so diverse, that we can scarcely imagine a single book that could do the topic justice. We must then laud the sheer ambition of Oxford University Press in proposing anything like The Oxford Handbook of Christmas, and the raw nerve of Timothy Larsen in undertaking the editorial guidance. The resulting book is a triumph. * Philip Jenkins, Baylor University, Fides et Historia *
Larsen has edited a volume that, with all its scholarly orientation and high quality, also offers inspiring reading for long evenings in winter, Advent and the Christmas days and provides fresh angles for celebrating Christmas, be it in a Christian congregation, at home or in wider society. * C. Stenschke, Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses *
Everyone who loves Christmas will want to have this work of reference on their bookshelf. * Salvador Ryan, St Patrick's College, Maynooth *
The Oxford Handbook of Christmas is a perfect treasure trove. * Chris Deacy, Theology *
[Timothy Larsen's] book, a highly readable collection of 45 essays by well-informed scholars, is a fascinating box of focusing lenses on Christmas—its history, theology, iconography, traditions, and, yes, its controversies, including those of the present moment. * Book Review Editor, Wall Street Journal *
[T]his vast collection, edited by Timothy Larsen —an expert in Victorian religious life—offers stimulating essays on what might be called Christmasness; thus it will be ever timely. * Alexandra Mullen, Wall Street Journal *
This beautiful, comprehensive handbook thoroughly covers the religious and cultural significance of the Christian festival of Christmas. Larsen (Christian thought, Wheaton College, Illinois) assembled an international team of contributors, and he divides their 45 essays into eight topical parts. "History" covers the history of Christmas in Christianity from the beginning to the present; "Theology" and "Worshipping Communities" deal with, respectively, the biblical and theological aspects of Christmas and how the holiday is observed within the various Christian communities; and "The Nativity Story" examines different aspects of the traditional Christmas narrative. ... Though the beauty of the book and its illustrations could lead one to think otherwise, this is a serious work of scholarship, as evidenced by the extensive bibliographies at the end of each essay. * M. A. Granquist, CHOICE *
The Oxford Handbook of Christmas is impressively comprehensive. * Daniel N. Gullotta, The Current *
Timothy Larsen has put together a very readable collection, ideal for dipping into, full of fascination. * Rowan Williams, Times Literary Supplement *
Table of ContentsPart I: History 1: Paul F. Bradshaw: The Dating of Christmas: The Early Church 2: Kati Ihnat: The Middle Ages 3: Katrina Jennie-Lou Wheeler: The Reformation and Early Modern Periods 4: Timothy Larsen: The Nineteenth Century 5: Christopher Ferguson: The Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries Part II: Theology 6: John Barton: The Old Testament 7: Markus Bockmuehl and Evangeline Kozitza: The New Testament 8: Katherine Sonderegger: Jesus Christ and the Incarnation 9: Katherine G. Schmidt: The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Virgin Birth Part III: Worshipping Communities 10: Anne McGowan: Roman Catholicism 11: Mary B. Cunningham: Eastern Orthodoxy 12: Kirsi Stjerna: Lutheranism 13: Martyn Percy: Anglicanism 14: Andrew R. Holmes: Reformed and Dissenting Protestants Part IV: The Nativity Story 15: Holly Taylor Coolman: The Holy Family 16: David Lyle Jeffrey: Gabriel and the Angels 17: Leroy A. Huizenga: Bethlehem and the Census 18: D. H. Williams: The Magi and the Star 19: Jody Vaccaro Lewis: The Inn, the Manger, the Swaddling Clothes, the Shepherds, and the Animals Part V: Traditions 20: Daniel Gifford: The Winter Solstice and other Celebrations of the Season 21: Adam C. English: St Nicholas to Santa Claus 22: David Bertaina: Trees and Decorations 23: Ellen M. Litwicki: Gifts and Charity 24: Marcia J. Bunge: Children and Childhood 25: Paul Freedman: Food and Drink Part VI: The Arts 26: Tova Leigh-Choate: Carols and Music to 1900 27: Todd Decker: Carols and Music since 1900 28: Barbara von Barghahn: Paintings 29: Frances Clemson: Plays 30: Emma Mason: Poetry 31: Natalie McKnight: Fiction 32: Mark Connelly: Film and Television Part VII: Around the World 33: Elizabeth Monier: Bethlehem and the Middle East 34: Nadine Cretin: Catholic Europe 35: Joe Perry: Germany and Scandinavia 36: Francesca Silano: Russia 37: Martin Johnes: The United Kingdom 38: Daniel Vaca: The United States 39: Joel Cabrita: Africa 40: Joseph Tse-Hei Lee: Asia 41: David Thomas Orique, O.P.: Latin America and the Caribbean Part VIII: The State and Society 42: Richard W. Garnett and Jackson Blais: Public Holidays and the Law 43: John Schmalzbauer: Commercialism and Consumerism 44: David Nash: Secularity 45: Gerry Bowler: Culture Wars Timothy Larsen: Epilogue: The Many True Meanings of Christmas
