The Curious World of Christmas: Celebrating All That Is Weird, Wonderful, and Festive Hardcover - 2008

by Niall Edworthy

A fascinating miscellany that celebratesall things Christmas from the author ofThe Curious Gardener's Almanac.

Drawing from more than two thousand years ofhistory and culture, this collection of anecdotes,customs, tips, and recipes features more than 1,000entries honoring one of the world's most celebratedholidays. This unpredictable, addictive gem weavesin famous quotations, traditional sayings, verses,and wisdom to create a book that will be enjoyedlong after the Christmas tree is down and the turkeyleftovers finished off. Each page yields tidbits oneverything from the real reason why December 25thwas chosen as the celebratory day and a 19th-centuryturkey recipe to the origins of kissing under mistletoeand statistics showing why Christmas is proven tobe more stressful than divorce or burglary. Chaptertopics include:

á Farting Dwarves and Peacock Pie (or, How OurAncestors Celebrated Christmas)

á Will the Real Father Christmas Please Stand Up(or, The Origins of Santa Claus)

á Happy Reunions, Terrible Tantrums (or, Christmasand the Family)

á Reindeer Sausages and Minced Coffins (or,Christmas Food and Drink)

á And much more

With enough curiosities to intrigue, amuse, andenlighten even the grumpiest Scrooge, this is theperfect gift book for anyone who counts down themonths until their favorite holiday.