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$69.95

Hardback

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English
Phaidon
29 August 2023
A visual celebration of Christmas, from religious beginnings to festive cultural touchstones - a book to treasure
This book is a unique and groundbreaking visual celebration of Christmas, a joyous religious and cultural occasion observed by billions of people around the world. The origins of Christmas are in the Christian observance of the birth of Christ on 25 December and, since the early 20th century, it has become a secular holiday with a myriad decorations, rituals, and themes. Key themes covered include advent and the nativity; the Christmas tree and holiday decorations; gift giving and carol singing; classic Christmas films; and festive music. This extraordinary book showcases a broad spectrum of global festive traditions from many different cultures, such as fried chicken eaten for Christmas dinner, surfing Santas, and shoes filled with carrots.

A collection of more than 200 rich and evocative images, paintings, books, prints, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and photography, thoughtfully paired to highlight similarities and contrasts between them, the works included feature a diverse range of both lesser-known and iconic artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Grandma Moses, Beatrix Potter, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and many more.

These significant works cover festive topics such as Advent; the Christmas tree and holiday decorations; gift giving and carol singing; and classic Christmas films and music. Essays by Sam Bilton, Dolph Gotelli and David Trigg explore traditional festive food and drink, Santa Claus throughout history, and the religious origins of Christmas.

In The Christmas Book, the significant artistic and cultural influence of Christmas throughout history is explored through a wide range of beautiful and significant artworks and images from across the ages and six continents, creating the ultimate cultural companion to the festive season.

By:  
Contributions by:   , ,
Imprint:   Phaidon
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 270mm,  Width: 233mm,  Spine: 32mm
Weight:   1.910kg
ISBN:   9781838665968
ISBN 10:   183866596X
Pages:   240
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Sam Bilton is a food historian, writer and cook, with a particular focus on historical recipes. Dolph Gotelli is an international expert and lecturer on Christmas, holiday rituals, and Santa Claus. He is Professor Emeritus of Design at University of California, Davis. David Trigg is a writer, critic, and art historian. He is a regular contributor to books on art.

Reviews for The Christmas Book

‘Who knew a Christmas coffee table book would be such a festive decoration necessity?’ – ELLE ‘Christmas, but make it a book. These stunning pages showcase global traditions, like surfing Santas, shoes filled with carrots, the Nativity, gift giving, and more.’ – Real Simple 'A jolly look at Christmas via design and artifacts.' – Associated Press ‘Glorious … this oversize offering is meant to be browsed through and marveled at, whether it's Christmastime or not.’ – Booklist ‘The Christmas Book captures the nostalgia and iconography of Christmas in full-color pictorial splendor.' – Foreword Reviews ‘A beautiful holiday gift.’ – Marie Leslie, The Leslie Lifestyle ‘A  treasure trove of the traditions, lore, rituals and spirituality of “the most wonderful time of the year.” – The Media Tourist ‘Covers the holiday and all its myriad forms, from the advent and the nativity to decorations, rituals, and theme.’ – Uncrate 'This quintessential holiday gift is not only a delight for Christmas enthusiasts but also a treasure for those fascinated by art, design, and pop culture.' – Quest Magazine


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