Why Does Santa Wear Red? by Lester, Meera -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Introduction Part 1: The First Christmas

1. When Is Jesus’ Actual Birthday? 2. Mary, “One of the Guys?” and the Census 3. More Than a Star in the East 4. Conflicting Stories of the Virgin Birth 5. Who Were Those Three Wise Men? 6. “Away in a Manger” Confusion

Part 2: The History of Christmas

7. Why December 25? 8. The Dawn of Christmas in Europe 9. Let the Festivities Begin 10. Scrooges and Their Attempts to Outlaw Christmas 11. Halleluiah! Christmas Bans Are Lifted 12. Germans Keep the Flame Alive 13. A True Translation?: “Christ Was Born on Christmas Day”

Part 3: The Victorian Christmas

14. More Than a Party? 15. Defining Family Togetherness 16. Victorians Revive Wassailing 17. Caroling, Caroling Through the Years 18. “Classic” Christmas Dinner 19. Christmas Reborn and Restored 20. How Good Was He?: “Good King Wenceslas”

Part 4: Joy to the World: Christmas Around the Globe

21. European Christmas 22. Celebrations in Central America, the West Indies, and the Caribbean 23. “Do They Know It’s Christmastime At All?” 24. A Visit to Bethlehem 25. Far-Eastern Festivities 26. Christmas Celebrations Far and Near 27. “Joy to the World”: Psalm to Hymn to Song!

Part 5: Santa: A Man of Myth, Reality, and Mispronunciation

28. The Legend 29. Santa Today 30. Santa’s Many Names 31. Which Way to Santa Claus, Indiana? 32. Why Does Santa Ride a Reindeer-Driven Sleigh? 33. Why a Red Suit? 34. The Woman Behind the Wonder: Mrs. Claus 35. Should Santa’s Cookies Be Low Fat? 36. Does Santa Need a GPS? 37. Why Does Santa Fly the Polar Route? 38. Coming Down the Chimney 39. So Where Do All the Letters Go? 40. The Origins of Rudolph and His Red Nose 41. First at Thanksgiving?: “Jingle Bells”

Part 6: Deck the Halls

42. The History of Decorating 43. Shopping in Your Own Back Yard 44. We All Need Something to Rock Around! 45. Twinkle Lights Delight 46. Wreaths Galore 47. So Santa Will See: Indoor Decorating Tips 48. And to All, A Good Night: Outdoor Ornaments 49. The Making of a Mozart Duet: “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly”

Part 7: All the Little Things We Do

50. Why Do We Write “X”-mas? 51. Colors of the Season: Red and Green 52. Baby Jesus Is Everywhere! 53. Another Poinsettia? 54. Stockings Hung by the Chimney with Care 55. Trimming the Tree 56. Special Touches: Ornaments, Holly, Ivy, and Mistletoe 57. Braving the Cold: Carol Singers 58. Christmas Cards for All to Share 59. Bonuses, Tips, and Other Green Gifts 60. Black Friday 61. “O Holy Night”: Christmas Premieres on the Radio

Part 8: Crafty Gifts for All to Make

62. Decorations from the Kitchen 63. Crafts for Children of All Ages 64. Homemade Ornaments 65. Piñatas, Candy Sleds, and Homemade Wrapping Paper 66. Gifts from the Kitchen and the Garden 67. “The Holly and the Ivy”: A Present Left by the Peasantry

Part 9: Giving and Receiving

68. Gifts and Celebrations, Old and New 69. Today’s Spending Budget 70. The Art (and Cost) of Giving 71. Gifts on Everyone’s List 72. Toys and the Baby-Boomer Generation 73. Christmas Business Emerges 74. What Is Figgy Pudding, Anyway?: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

Part 10: A Pop-Culture Christmas

Part 11: Sugar Plums Dancing: Recipes for the Season

81. Off to a Good Start: Breakfast and Brunch 82. Breakfast and Brunch Entertaining Tips 83. For Parties or Family Dinners, Appetizers and Sides Sure to Please 84. Hosting a Crowd 85. Celebratory Main Courses and Accompaniments 86. A Flawless Christmas Feast 87. Sweets Even Scrooge Would Love 88. What to Do With All Those Cookies! 89. Drinks to Warm the Soul 90. Why So Silent?: “Silent Night”

Part 12: A Literary Look at Christmas

Part 13: Christmas, a Poet’s Pastime