Contributor
Larsen, Timothy, 1967- editor.
Edition Statement:First edition.
ImprintOxford, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2020.
Imprint2020
Descriptionxix, 619 pages : color illustrations ; 25 cm.
Note:Part I: History -- Dating of Christmas: The Early Church / Paul F. Bradshaw -- Middle Ages / Kati Ihnat -- Reformation and Early Modern Periods / Katrina Jennie-Lou Wheeler -- Nineteenth Century / Timothy Larsen -- Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries / Christopher Ferguson -- Part II: Theology -- Old Testament / John Barton -- New Testament / Markus Bockmuehl and Evangeline Kozitza -- Jesus Christ and the Incarnation / Katherine Sonderegger -- Blessed Virgin Mary and the Virgin Birth / Katherine G. Schmidt -- Part III: Worshipping Communities -- Roman Catholicism / Anne McGowan -- Eastern Orthodoxy / Mary B. Cunningham -- Lutheranism / Kirsi Stjerna -- Anglicanism / Martyn Percy -- Reformed and Dissenting Protestants / Andrew R. Holmes -- Part IV: Nativity Story -- Holy Family / Holly Taylor Coolman -- Gabriel and the Angels / David Lyle Jeffrey -- Bethlehem and the Census / Leroy A. Huizenga -- Magi and the Star / D. H. Williams -- Inn, the Manger, the Swaddling Clothes, the Shepherds, and the Animals / Jody Vaccaro Lewis -- Part V: Traditions -- Winter Solstice and Other Celebrations of the Season / Daniel Gifford -- St Nicholas to Santa Claus / Adam C. English -- Trees and Decorations / David Bertaina -- Gifts and Charity / Ellen M. Litwicki -- Children and Childhood / Marcia J. Bunge -- Food and Drink / Paul Freedman -- Part VI: Arts -- Carols and Music to 1900 / Tova Leigh-Choate -- Carols and Music since 1900 / Todd Decker -- Paintings / Barbara von Barghahn -- Plays / Frances Clemson -- Poetry / Emma Mason -- Fiction / Nattalie McKnight -- Film and Television / Mark Connelly -- Part VII: Around the World -- Bethlehem and the Middle East / Elizabeth Monier -- Catholic Europe / Nadine Cretin -- Germany and Scandinavia / Joe Perry -- Russia / Francesca Silano -- United Kingdom / Martin Johnes -- United States / Daniel Vaca -- Africa / Joel Cabrita -- Asia, / Joseph Tse-Hei Lee -- Latin America and the Caribbean / David Thomas Orique, O.P. -- Part VIII: State and Society -- Public Holidays and the Law / Richard W. Garnett and Jackson Blais -- Commercialism and Consumerism / John Schmalzbauer -- Secularity / David Nash -- Culture Wars / Gerry Bowler -- Epilogue: Many True Meanings of Christmas / Timothy Larsen.
Bibliography Note:Includes bibliographical references and index.
Note:The 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 draw to this holiday-from 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.
