Christmas, A Very Peculiar History

The Very Peculiar History series features absorbing and easy-to-read guides to a wide range of historical and biographical subjects, all with witty anecdotes, incredible information, and timelines.

Just when you thought it was safe to take a sneak peek into your stocking, here's Christmas: A Very Peculiar History. Taking an unbiased view of the myth and mystery surrounding the origins of the yuletide season, it introduces mind-bending facts about the holiday and shatters the myths surrounding some of Christmas's most treasured and well-known facets: When exactly was Jesus born? Why is Santa's outfit red and white? Where do we get Christmas trees from? What's the snow in a snow globe made of? The book takes a sideways look at bizarre yuletide customs and stories from around the world, such as Santa's evil sidekick, the terrifying Krampus, and the Scandinavian celebration of Saint Lucy. So, leave the cookies on the mantlepiece if you've been good and block your chimneys if you've been bad, because Christmas: A Very Peculiar History is here.