In an age of secularization and the decline of ritual, Christmas has emerged as the most promising candidate for the first global festival. It is celebrated in the Christian West as well as in many countries with either a minority or no Christian population. How is it that Christmas is not merely surviving, but actually gaining in importance? Unwrapping Christmas is the first comparative study of the Christmas phenomenon, based on direct observation of how the festival is actually celebrated in diverse social contexts. ...
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In an age of secularization and the decline of ritual, Christmas has emerged as the most promising candidate for the first global festival. It is celebrated in the Christian West as well as in many countries with either a minority or no Christian population. How is it that Christmas is not merely surviving, but actually gaining in importance? Unwrapping Christmas is the first comparative study of the Christmas phenomenon, based on direct observation of how the festival is actually celebrated in diverse social contexts. It begins by presenting general theories of Christmas and includes the first full English translation of "Father Christmas Executed" by Claude Levi-Strauss. The focus then turns to two controversial issues: the relationship between Christmas and materialism, and the debate over the place of the family in Christmas celebrations. Both of these issues are examined and interpreted in a variety of cultural contexts; including the USA, Japan, Britain, Sweden, and Trinidad. Christmas is rapidly becoming the focus for a constellation of activities including gift-giving, the marking of the seasons, and the celebration of extended family networks. This collection, the first systematic analysis of Christmas, represents a fascinating and significant contribution to understanding how and why this holiday has developed into the global festival celebrated today.
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Add this copy of Unwrapping Christmas (Oxford Studies in Social and to cart. $53.66, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Clarendon Press.
Add this copy of Unwrapping Christmas to cart. $61.72, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 1995 by OUP Oxford.
Add this copy of Unwrapping Christmas (Oxford Studies in Social and to cart. $138.06, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Clarendon Press.
Add this copy of Unwrapping Christmas to cart. $26.63, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1993 by Oxford University Press, USA.
Add this copy of Unwrapping Christmas (Oxford Studies in Social and to cart. $26.71, fair condition, Sold by EB-Books LLC rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rockford, IL, UNITED STATES, published 1993 by Oxford University Press, USA.
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Fair. Item in acceptable condition including possible liquid damage. As well answers may be filled in. May be missing DVDs, CDs, Access code, etc. 100%Money-Back Guarantee! Ship within 24 hours! ! The dust jacket is missing.
Add this copy of Unwrapping Christmas to cart. $54.14, like new condition, Sold by Burwood Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Wickham Market, SUFFOLK, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1993 by Clarendon Press.
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First Edition. Hardback. Dust Jacket. 8vo. pp x, 239. Green and black illustrated dust jacket with white lettering and stylised drawing entitled 'Merry Old Santa Claus', by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly. Original publisher's black cloth boards with gilt lettering at spine. ISBN: 0198279035 Fine in near fine dust jacket. Small neat book labe of Sheila Arup, anthrop[ologist and relation of architect Air Ove Arup.
