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Christmas and the British: A Modern History
by Martin JohnesThe modern Christmas was made by the Victorians and rooted in their belief in commerce, family and religion. Their rituals and traditions persist to the present day but the festival has also been changed by growing affluence, shifting family structures, greater expectations of happiness and material comfort, technological developments and falling religious belief. Christmas became a battleground for arguments over consumerism, holiday entitlements, social obligations, communal behaviour and the influence of church, state and media. Even in private, it encouraged reflection on social change and the march of time. Amongst those unhappy at the state of the world or their own lives, Christmas could induce much cynicism and even loathing but for a quieter majority it was a happy time, a moment of a joy in a sometimes difficult world that made the festival more than just an integral feature of the calendar: Christmas was one of British culture's emotional high points. Moreover, it was also a testimony to the enduring importance of family, shared values and a common culture in the UK. Martin Johnes shows how Christmas and its traditions have been lived, adapted and thought about in Britain since 1914. Christmas and the British is about the festival's social, cultural and economic functions, and its often forgotten status as both the most unusual and important day of the year
Christmas and the British: A Modern History
by Martin JohnesThe modern Christmas was made by the Victorians and rooted in their belief in commerce, family and religion. Their rituals and traditions persist to the present day but the festival has also been changed by growing affluence, shifting family structures, greater expectations of happiness and material comfort, technological developments and falling religious belief. Christmas became a battleground for arguments over consumerism, holiday entitlements, social obligations, communal behaviour and the influence of church, state and media. Even in private, it encouraged reflection on social change and the march of time. Amongst those unhappy at the state of the world or their own lives, Christmas could induce much cynicism and even loathing but for a quieter majority it was a happy time, a moment of a joy in a sometimes difficult world that made the festival more than just an integral feature of the calendar: Christmas was one of British culture's emotional high points. Moreover, it was also a testimony to the enduring importance of family, shared values and a common culture in the UK. Martin Johnes shows how Christmas and its traditions have been lived, adapted and thought about in Britain since 1914. Christmas and the British is about the festival's social, cultural and economic functions, and its often forgotten status as both the most unusual and important day of the year
A Christmas Angel at the Ragdoll Orphanage
by Suzanne LambertAn unforgettable true story . . . A heartwarming tale about the true meaning of Christmas, set in a remarkable orphanage in the middle of the last century. When Suzanne was left, two weeks old, at the door of an orphanage, it was Nancy the nanny who fought for the right to adopt Suzanne. Now, 60 years later, Suzanne is sharing the untold story of all the many orphans that her mother Nancy saved throughout the 1940s and 50s. As a teenager, Nancy accompanied the orphans to the other side of the country when they were evacuated during the war years. When they finally returned, 6 long years later, she vowed to dedicate her life to the children. A Christmas Angel at the Ragdoll Orphanage tells the story of a remarkable woman, who worked tirelessly to give society's most vulnerable children a chance of home and happiness. Full of touching, tear-jerking and unforgettable stories, this is a wondrously festive book all about the real meaning of motherhood.
Christmas at the Ragdoll Orphanage
by Suzanne LambertDiscover Suzanne Lambert's magical true story about the power of love and motherhood . . . Two-week-old Suzanne was left at the door of Nazareth House orphanage - abandoned by the very people who should have given her love, protection and care she desperately needed.So when Nancy - the orphanage nanny - held Suzanne in her arms and looked into her eyes, feeling a magical bond, it seemed that a guardian angel had brought them both together.Yet their future looked uncertain. Would Nancy ever be allowed to adopt tiny Suzanne? And could their love endure all that the years ahead were to send them?Tear-jerking and unforgettable, Nancy and Suzanne's true story is about the struggles and joys of parenthood and childhood. It's also about how, for an orphan, having somewhere to call home and a loving mother waiting there makes every day feel like Christmas. Suzanne Lambert is the winner of Penguin and Take a Break magazine's life story competition.
Christmas Bells (large print)
by RnibThis page shows two decorative Christmas bells with a bow and two holly leaves. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. You can find the red bow in the top centre of the page with a loop to each side and two loose ends down the page. The two spiky, green holly leaves are to each side of the bow. The two shiny, gold coloured bells are seen from the side down the page from the bow. Each has a metal ring at the top to hang it up. At the bottom centre of each bell you can find the end of the clapper (the rest is hidden inside the bell). This metal rod swings around, striking the bell to produce a ringing sound.
Christmas Bells (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows two decorative Christmas bells with a bow and two holly leaves. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. You can find the red bow in the top centre of the page with a loop to each side and two loose ends down the page. The two spiky, green holly leaves are to each side of the bow. The two shiny, gold coloured bells are seen from the side down the page from the bow. Each has a metal ring at the top to hang it up. At the bottom centre of each bell you can find the end of the clapper (the rest is hidden inside the bell). This metal rod swings around, striking the bell to produce a ringing sound.
Christmas Bells (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows two decorative Christmas bells with a bow and two holly leaves. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. You can find the red bow in the top centre of the page with a loop to each side and two loose ends down the page. The two spiky, green holly leaves are to each side of the bow. The two shiny, gold coloured bells are seen from the side down the page from the bow. Each has a metal ring at the top to hang it up. At the bottom centre of each bell you can find the end of the clapper (the rest is hidden inside the bell). This metal rod swings around, striking the bell to produce a ringing sound.
Christmas Candles (tactile)
by Adrian FarnsworthThis is a large print image of two decorative Christmas candles. Each one has a flame burning at the top and is standing in a nest of green leaves.
The Christmas Carol Reader
by William E Studwell Frank Hoffmann B Lee CooperLike that Biblical, astronomical star of Bethlehem, The Christmas Carol Reader guides readers on their quest for information about Christmas songs. Studwell gathers a composite picture of the world's most important and famous carols and includes an ample selection of lesser-known Christmas songs. All of the carols are presented in their historical and cultural contexts which adds to readers’understanding and appreciation of the songs.As the only book that covers this elusive topic, The Christmas Carol Reader informs and entertains readers on over 200 songs of all types (sacred and secular), of all periods (Middle Ages through the 20th century), and from a number of countries and cultures. Because many of the songs in The Christmas Carol Reader fit into more than one distinct category, Studwell wisely divides the songs into two major groups--those that reflect Christmas as a Holy Day and those that celebrate Christmas as a Holiday. Here is just a sample of the breadth of coverage of songs:Sacred: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come; O Come, O Come Emmanuel; Angels From the Realms of Glory; As With Gladness Men of Old; O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël); Thou Didst Leave Thy ThroneSecular: Happy Holiday; A Holly Jolly Christmas; God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; Silver Bells; Here Comes Santa Claus; I'll Be Home for ChristmasMedieval: Puer Natus in Bethlehem (A Boy Is Born in Bethlehem); Coventry Carol; I Sing of a Maiden; La marche des rois (The March of the Kings); In Dulci Jubilo1500--1700's: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella; I Saw Three Ships; Carol of the Bagpipers1800's: Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful); O Little Town of Bethlehem; What Child Is This?; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Stille Nacht, Heiliege Nacht (Silent Night)Spirituals: Go Tell It on the Mountain; I Wonder as I Wander; Mary Had a Baby; Rise Up, Shepherd, and FollowLittle Known: O Bethlehem!; The Sleep of the Infant Jesus; Song of the Nuns of ChesterCountries and Cultures: O Tannenbaum; Lulajze Jezuniu (Polish Lullaby); Fum, Fum, Fum; Carol of the Bells; Patapan; El rorro (The Babe)As readers learn about the history and nature of the Christmas carol in general and the specific history of individual religious and secular carols, they will learn some history and nature of the holiday season which can bring more enjoyment into their celebrations for years to come.On long winter nights, The Christmas Carol Reader can be read continuously as a series of fact-based commentaries on Christmas music. For shorter periods in between holiday activities, readers can peruse one of the topical sections or select, with the aid of the title index, an individual essay of interest. As a library reference, this book can provide facts for research on Christmas songs or just provide an entertaining education for curious library patrons.
The Christmas Carol Reader
by William E Studwell Frank Hoffmann B Lee CooperLike that Biblical, astronomical star of Bethlehem, The Christmas Carol Reader guides readers on their quest for information about Christmas songs. Studwell gathers a composite picture of the world's most important and famous carols and includes an ample selection of lesser-known Christmas songs. All of the carols are presented in their historical and cultural contexts which adds to readers’understanding and appreciation of the songs.As the only book that covers this elusive topic, The Christmas Carol Reader informs and entertains readers on over 200 songs of all types (sacred and secular), of all periods (Middle Ages through the 20th century), and from a number of countries and cultures. Because many of the songs in The Christmas Carol Reader fit into more than one distinct category, Studwell wisely divides the songs into two major groups--those that reflect Christmas as a Holy Day and those that celebrate Christmas as a Holiday. Here is just a sample of the breadth of coverage of songs:Sacred: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come; O Come, O Come Emmanuel; Angels From the Realms of Glory; As With Gladness Men of Old; O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël); Thou Didst Leave Thy ThroneSecular: Happy Holiday; A Holly Jolly Christmas; God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; Silver Bells; Here Comes Santa Claus; I'll Be Home for ChristmasMedieval: Puer Natus in Bethlehem (A Boy Is Born in Bethlehem); Coventry Carol; I Sing of a Maiden; La marche des rois (The March of the Kings); In Dulci Jubilo1500--1700's: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella; I Saw Three Ships; Carol of the Bagpipers1800's: Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful); O Little Town of Bethlehem; What Child Is This?; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Stille Nacht, Heiliege Nacht (Silent Night)Spirituals: Go Tell It on the Mountain; I Wonder as I Wander; Mary Had a Baby; Rise Up, Shepherd, and FollowLittle Known: O Bethlehem!; The Sleep of the Infant Jesus; Song of the Nuns of ChesterCountries and Cultures: O Tannenbaum; Lulajze Jezuniu (Polish Lullaby); Fum, Fum, Fum; Carol of the Bells; Patapan; El rorro (The Babe)As readers learn about the history and nature of the Christmas carol in general and the specific history of individual religious and secular carols, they will learn some history and nature of the holiday season which can bring more enjoyment into their celebrations for years to come.On long winter nights, The Christmas Carol Reader can be read continuously as a series of fact-based commentaries on Christmas music. For shorter periods in between holiday activities, readers can peruse one of the topical sections or select, with the aid of the title index, an individual essay of interest. As a library reference, this book can provide facts for research on Christmas songs or just provide an entertaining education for curious library patrons.
A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions
by Mark ForsythThe unpredictable origins and etymologies of our cracking Christmas customsFor something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas.We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas, etymologically speaking, means "Go away, Christ". Nor do we know that Christmas was first celebrated in 243 AD on March 28th - and only moved to 25th December in 354 AD. We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of crackers was merely a way of popularising sweet wrappers.Luckily, like a gift from Santa himself, Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities, making it all finally make sense - in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way.
Christmas Crackers (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of two Christmas crackers. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The two crackers stretch across the page horizontally. To the left and right of the page are the ends of the crackers. Their cylinder shapes are nipped in and twisted to make them easier to tear when you pull them apart. Each cracker is covered in a different coloured decorative paper: the red one at the top of the page has a pattern of stars and dots and the blue one at the bottom has a pattern of six-sided snowflakes and dots.
Christmas Crackers (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of two Christmas crackers. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The two crackers stretch across the page horizontally. To the left and right of the page are the ends of the crackers. Their cylinder shapes are nipped in and twisted to make them easier to tear when you pull them apart. Each cracker is covered in a different coloured decorative paper: the red one at the top of the page has a pattern of stars and dots and the blue one at the bottom has a pattern of six-sided snowflakes and dots.
Christmas Crackers (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of two Christmas crackers. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The two crackers stretch across the page horizontally. To the left and right of the page are the ends of the crackers. Their cylinder shapes are nipped in and twisted to make them easier to tear when you pull them apart. Each cracker is covered in a different coloured decorative paper: the red one at the top of the page has a pattern of stars and dots and the blue one at the bottom has a pattern of six-sided snowflakes and dots.
Christmas Dodos: Festive Things On The Verge Of Extinction
by Steve StackFrom the author of 21st Century Dodos comes a festive collection of endangered objects.
Christmas in America: A History
by Penne L. RestadThe manger or Macy's? Americans might well wonder which is the real shrine of Christmas, as they take part each year in a mix of churchgoing, shopping, and family togetherness. But the history of Christmas cannot be summed up so easily as the commercialization of a sacred day. As Penne Restad reveals in this marvelous new book, it has always been an ambiguous meld of sacred thoughts and worldly actions-- as well as a fascinating reflection of our changing society. In Christmas in America, Restad brilliantly captures the rise and transformation of our most universal national holiday. In colonial times, it was celebrated either as an utterly solemn or a wildly social event--if it was celebrated at all. Virginians hunted, danced, and feasted. City dwellers flooded the streets in raucous demonstrations. Puritan New Englanders denounced the whole affair. Restad shows that as times changed, Christmas changed--and grew in popularity. In the early 1800s, New York served as an epicenter of the newly emerging holiday, drawing on its roots as a Dutch colony (St. Nicholas was particularly popular in the Netherlands, even after the Reformation), and aided by such men as Washington Irving. In 1822, another New Yorker named Clement Clarke Moore penned a poem now known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," virtually inventing the modern Santa Claus. Well-to-do townspeople displayed a German novelty, the decorated fir tree, in their parlors; an enterprising printer discovered the money to be made from Christmas cards; and a hodgepodge of year-end celebrations began to coalesce around December 25 and the figure of Santa. The homecoming significance of the holiday increased with the Civil War, and by the end of the nineteenth century a full- fledged national holiday had materialized, forged out of borrowed and invented custom alike, and driven by a passion for gift-giving. In the twentieth century, Christmas seeped into every niche of our conscious and unconscious lives to become a festival of epic proportions. Indeed, Restad carries the story through to our own time, unwrapping the messages hidden inside countless movies, books, and television shows, revealing the inescapable presence--and ambiguous meaning--of Christmas in contemporary culture. Filled with colorful detail and shining insight, Christmas in America reveals not only much about the emergence of the holiday, but also what our celebrations tell us about ourselves. From drunken revelry along colonial curbstones to family rituals around the tree, from Thomas Nast drawing the semiofficial portrait of St. Nick to the making of the film Home Alone, Restad's sparkling account offers much to amuse and ponder.
Christmas in America: A History
by Penne L. RestadThe manger or Macy's? Americans might well wonder which is the real shrine of Christmas, as they take part each year in a mix of churchgoing, shopping, and family togetherness. But the history of Christmas cannot be summed up so easily as the commercialization of a sacred day. As Penne Restad reveals in this marvelous new book, it has always been an ambiguous meld of sacred thoughts and worldly actions-- as well as a fascinating reflection of our changing society. In Christmas in America, Restad brilliantly captures the rise and transformation of our most universal national holiday. In colonial times, it was celebrated either as an utterly solemn or a wildly social event--if it was celebrated at all. Virginians hunted, danced, and feasted. City dwellers flooded the streets in raucous demonstrations. Puritan New Englanders denounced the whole affair. Restad shows that as times changed, Christmas changed--and grew in popularity. In the early 1800s, New York served as an epicenter of the newly emerging holiday, drawing on its roots as a Dutch colony (St. Nicholas was particularly popular in the Netherlands, even after the Reformation), and aided by such men as Washington Irving. In 1822, another New Yorker named Clement Clarke Moore penned a poem now known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," virtually inventing the modern Santa Claus. Well-to-do townspeople displayed a German novelty, the decorated fir tree, in their parlors; an enterprising printer discovered the money to be made from Christmas cards; and a hodgepodge of year-end celebrations began to coalesce around December 25 and the figure of Santa. The homecoming significance of the holiday increased with the Civil War, and by the end of the nineteenth century a full- fledged national holiday had materialized, forged out of borrowed and invented custom alike, and driven by a passion for gift-giving. In the twentieth century, Christmas seeped into every niche of our conscious and unconscious lives to become a festival of epic proportions. Indeed, Restad carries the story through to our own time, unwrapping the messages hidden inside countless movies, books, and television shows, revealing the inescapable presence--and ambiguous meaning--of Christmas in contemporary culture. Filled with colorful detail and shining insight, Christmas in America reveals not only much about the emergence of the holiday, but also what our celebrations tell us about ourselves. From drunken revelry along colonial curbstones to family rituals around the tree, from Thomas Nast drawing the semiofficial portrait of St. Nick to the making of the film Home Alone, Restad's sparkling account offers much to amuse and ponder.
Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season (Turner Classic Movies)
by Jeremy Arnold Turner Classic MoviesTurner Classic Movies presents a bucket list of the best and most beloved holiday films of all time, complete with spirited commentary, behind-the-scenes stories, and photos spanning eight decades of Christmastime favorites.Nothing brings the spirit of the season into our hearts quite like a great holiday movie. "Christmas films" come in many shapes and sizes and exist across many genres. Some, like It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story, are perennials, while others, such as Die Hard, have only gradually become yuletide favorites. But they all have one thing in common: they use themes evoked by the holiday period - nostalgia, joy, togetherness, dysfunction, commercialism, or cynicism - as a force in their storytelling.Turner Classic Movies: Christmas in the Movies showcases the very best among this uniquely spirited strain of cinema. Each film is profiled on what makes it a "Christmas movie," along with behind-the-scenes stories of its production, reception, and legacy. Complemented by a trove of color and black-and-white photos, Turner Classic Movies: Christmas in the Movies is a glorious salute to a collection of the most treasured films of all time.Among the 30 films included: The Shop Around the Corner, Holiday Inn, Meet Me in St. Louis, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Little Women,and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Christmas on the Farm: Wintry tales from a life spent working with animals
by Adam HensonWrap up warm and retreat to the wintry countryside with farmer and Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, as he recounts his Christmas memories tending to an assorted cast of animals, and celebrates the farmers who make our celebrations possible.Adam Henson has spent his whole life on Bemborough farm - over 50 winters and Christmases. During that time, the troughs have frozen over, snow has fallen so thickly riding shire horses out to the fields has been the only option, puppies have been found under the Christmas tree - and crises out in the world have almost brought the farm to a close...Christmas for a farmer takes a different shape to everyone else's, because the animals always have to come first. So settle down - ideally by a fireside and with a cup of something hot - to hear the tales that have defined festivity for the Henson family, and the turbulent times that have ensured Christmas is now more important than ever for Adam and his loved ones.Heart-warming and full of Christmas spirit, Christmas on the Farm will give you a new respect for the people who work on them.
Christopher and His Kind: A Biography (FSG Classics)
by Christopher IsherwoodIn November 1929, Christopher Isherwood - determined to become a 'permanent foreigner' - packed a rucksack and two suitcases and left England on a one-way ticket for Berlin. With incredible candour and wit, Isherwood recalls the decadence of Berlin's night scene and his route to sexual liberation. As the Nazis rise to power, Isherwood describes his dramatic struggle to save his partner Heinz from persecution.
Christopher Marlowe and English Renaissance Culture (Routledge Revivals)
by Darryll Grantley Peter RobertsFirst published in 1996, this volume asked the question: who – and what – was Christopher Marlowe? Dramatist, poet, atheist and possible spy, he was a man in contrast with his time. The authors here gather to explore Marlowe on the four hundredth anniversary of his death. They include significant interdisciplinary elements and focus on dramaturgy, textual criticism and biography. It is hoped that the diversity of approaches can further debates on both Marlowe and Renaissance culture.
Christopher Marlowe and English Renaissance Culture (Routledge Revivals)
by Darryll Grantley Peter RobertsFirst published in 1996, this volume asked the question: who – and what – was Christopher Marlowe? Dramatist, poet, atheist and possible spy, he was a man in contrast with his time. The authors here gather to explore Marlowe on the four hundredth anniversary of his death. They include significant interdisciplinary elements and focus on dramaturgy, textual criticism and biography. It is hoped that the diversity of approaches can further debates on both Marlowe and Renaissance culture.
Christotainment: Selling Jesus through Popular Culture
by Shirley R. Steinberg,Joe L.For more than two thousand years Christian expansion and proselytizing was couched in terms of `defending the faith.? Until recently in the United States, much of that defense came in the form of reactions against the `liberal? influences channeled through big-corporate media such as popular music, Hollywood movies, and network and cable television. But the election of Ronald Reagan as a Hollywood President introduced Christian America to the tools of advertising and multimedia appeals to children and youth to win new believers to God?s armies. Christotainment examines how Christian fundamentalism has realigned its armies to combat threats against it by employing the forces it once considered its chief enemies: the entertainment media, including movies, television, music, cartoons, theme parks, video games, and books. Invited contributors discuss the critical theoretical frameworks of top-selling devices within Christian pop culture and the appeal to masses of American souls through the blessed marriage of corporatism and the quest for pleasure.
Christotainment: Selling Jesus through Popular Culture
by Shirley R. Steinberg,Joe L.For more than two thousand years Christian expansion and proselytizing was couched in terms of `defending the faith.? Until recently in the United States, much of that defense came in the form of reactions against the `liberal? influences channeled through big-corporate media such as popular music, Hollywood movies, and network and cable television. But the election of Ronald Reagan as a Hollywood President introduced Christian America to the tools of advertising and multimedia appeals to children and youth to win new believers to God?s armies. Christotainment examines how Christian fundamentalism has realigned its armies to combat threats against it by employing the forces it once considered its chief enemies: the entertainment media, including movies, television, music, cartoons, theme parks, video games, and books. Invited contributors discuss the critical theoretical frameworks of top-selling devices within Christian pop culture and the appeal to masses of American souls through the blessed marriage of corporatism and the quest for pleasure.
Chromosome Woman, Nomad Scientist: E. K. Janaki Ammal, A Life 1897–1984
by Savithri Preetha NairThis is the first in-depth and analytical biography of an Asian woman scientist—Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal (1897–1984). Using a wide range of archival sources, it presents a dazzling portrait of the twentieth century through the eyes of a pioneering Indian woman scientist, who was highly mobile, and a life that intersected with several significant historical events—the rise of Nazi Germany and World War II, the struggle for Indian Independence, the social relations of science movement, the Lysenko affair, the green revolution, the dawn of environmentalism and the protest movement against a proposed hydro-electric project in the Silent Valley in the 1970s and 1980s. The volume brings into focus her work on mapping the origin and evolution of cultivated plants across space and time, to contribute to a grand history of human evolution, her works published in peer-reviewed Indian and international journals of science, as well as her co-authored work, Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants (1945), considered a bible by practitioners of the discipline. It also looks at her correspondence with major personalities of the time, including political leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, biologists like Cyril D. Darlington, J. B. S. Haldane and H. H. Bartlett, geographers like Carl Sauer and social activists like Hilda Seligman, who all played significant roles in shaping her world view and her science. A story spanning over North America, Europe and Asia, this biography is a must-have for scholars and researchers of science and technology studies, gender studies, especially those studying women in the sciences, history and South Asian studies. It will also be a delight for the general reader.