Christmas falls on 25 December with faithful inevitability. Indeed, our entire Western system of time is based upon it. It may seem as though it has always been this way, but like many facts of the holiday’s history, the date of Christ’s birth contains a complex story wrapped in controversy. Despite the deep traditions that bind a culture to its version of Christmas – the pageantry, food and folklore – its longevity has always depended on its ability to evolve.Christmas: The Sacred to Santa takes us on a journey from its historical origins to its modern incarnation as a global commercial event. Along the way we encounter a vast array of religious personages, fictional characters and mythic figures that have become associated with its celebration, from Saint Nicholas to the Magi, Scrooge and Krampus. Moore explores how the great traditions such as Christmas trees, feasting and gift-giving emerged, as well as how Christmas has been portrayed in culture, from the literary works of Charles Dickens to the now annual bout of films and seasonal music – including traditional carols and the latest Christmas chart-topper.Since Christmas is not all merriment and games, Moore also probes the tension between the sacred and the secular during Christmas as well as the cultural stigmas that have historically accompanied the season. She considers Christmas in its global context as a unifying but also divisive event, enchantingly and compellingly reintroducing us to the holiday we only think we know.

Black Friday. The War on Christmas. Miracle on 34th Street and Elf. From shopping malls and Fox News to movie theaters, Christmas no longer solely celebrates to the birth of Christ. Considering the holiday in its global context, Christmas journeys from its historical origins to its modern incarnation as a global commercial event, stopping along the way to look at the controversies and traditions of the celebratory day. Delving into the long story of this unifying but also divisive holiday, Tara Moore describes the evolution of Christmas and the deep traditions that bind a culture to its version of it. She probes the debates that have long accompanied the season-from questions of the actual date of Christ's birth to frictions between the sacred and the secular-and discusses the characters associated with the holiday's celebration, including Saint Nicholas, the Magi, Scrooge, and Krampus. She also explores how customs such as Christmas trees, feasting, and gift giving first emerged and became central facets of the holiday, while also examining how Christmas has been portrayed in culture-from the literary works of Charles Dickens to the yearly bout of holiday films, television specials, traditional carols, and modern tracks. Ultimately, Moore reveals, Christmas's longevity has depended on its ability to evolve. Packed with illustrations, Christmas is a fascinating look at the holiday we only think we know.