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Of Christmases Long, Long Ago
- Author
- Brian Earl
- Narrator
- Brian Earl
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Publish Date
- 5 August 2025
- Run Time
- 2 hours 23 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Religious Festivals
What to expect
Author Brian Earl is back with another look at the fascinating stories behind the most wonderful time of the year. Get ready to experience Christmas as you’ve never seen it before.
Surely, Christmas in the distant past must have been different from the one we know today. But how different? You’re about to find out. The Christmases of long, long ago were a merry mess of odd superstitions, dangerous games, and overindulgences that lasted from Christmas Day until Epiphany twelve days later. The “Christmas season” of earlier times was not the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day that Americans experience today, but rather a no-holds-barred bacchanalia following the austerity period of Advent. From it evolved some of our present-day traditions, such as caroling, which had its roots in beggars performing for a meal. This book also answers such questions as: when was Christmas Day first celebrated on December 25? Which president celebrated the first White House Christmas? What are the origins of holly and ivy as Christmas décor? These questions and more are answered in this fascinating look back at Christmases past.
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Details
- Author
- Brian Earl
- Narrator
- Brian Earl
- Duration
- 2 hours 23 minutes
- Release Date
- 5 August 2025
- ISBN
- 9798895940655
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Genre
- Religious Festivals
Synopsis
Author Brian Earl is back with another look at the fascinating stories behind the most wonderful time of the year. Get ready to experience Christmas as you’ve never seen it before. Surely, Christmas in the distant past must have been different from the one we know today. But how different? You’re about to find out. The Christmases of long, long ago were a merry mess of odd superstitions, dangerous games, and overindulgences that lasted from Christmas Day until Epiphany twelve days later. The “Christmas season” of earlier times was not the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day that Americans experience today, but rather a no-holds-barred bacchanalia following the austerity period of Advent. From it evolved some of our present-day traditions, such as caroling, which had its roots in beggars performing for a meal. This book also answers such questions as: when was Christmas Day first celebrated on December 25? Which president celebrated the first White House Christmas? What are the origins of holly and ivy as Christmas décor? These questions and more are answered in this fascinating look back at Christmases past.
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