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The Secret History of Christmas
The Secret History of Christmas | Bill Bryson
11 posts | 8 read | 8 to read
A cornucopia of Christmas delights from the bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything and Notes from a Small Island.
Christmas is the single biggest annual event on the planet, a time for merry-making, over-indulgence, peace, goodwill, and the occasional family row. It’s as comfortable and familiar as a pair of old shoes and yet still glittery and exciting. But what do you really know about it? It’s stuffed full of traditions and rituals that most of us have been observing all our lives without having the slightest idea of where they come from.
Why is it called Boxing Day, for example? Why do we sing about Good King Wenceslas – who wasn’t a king and possibly not even good? What’s the story behind Christmas crackers? Who would have guessed that one of our most popular Christmas carols began as a kind of semi-pornographic Welsh folksong? And how did St Nicholas, a bishop from the dawn of Christianity, turn into the plump and jolly figure of Santa Claus with a flying sleigh and a home at the North Pole?
Christmas, and how it got that way, is full of surprises. Join Bill Bryson to reach into this Christmas stocking and pull them out – along with the inevitable tangerine.
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TheSpineView
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Chrissyreadit how is the book? 4mo
Andrew65 I enjoyed this one last year. 4mo
TheSpineView @Chrissyreadit I enjoyed it.oys of interesting information. 4mo
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TheSpineView @Andrew65 I liked it a lot too. 4mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 4mo
Eggs Perfect 🎅🎄❤️ 4mo
55 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
peanutnine
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Pickpick

This is a really interesting history of the holiday, as its popularity ebbed & grew throughout time & traditions were adapted. Great short listen with a lot of info wo being dull
#WinterGames Book 10 #SantasBookshELVES
#ISpyBingo @TheAromaofBooks @clwojick
#WinterGamesAtoZ @TexReader
#CandylandReadathon @catsandbooks
#GottaCatchEmAll @PuddleJumper
#LittenListen @aperfectmjk
#Rushathon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @Ghabi4Roses
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo
BookmarkTavern What a sweet cover! 4mo
Catsandbooks 🍭❄️❤️ 4mo
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 I enjoyed this last year. 4mo
31 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Magpiegem
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Pickpick

A Short and interesting look at Christmas traditions and where they started with a healthy dose of Brysons trademark humor. And a great one for #WGwordsearch #wintergames #jollyhollyreaders . It didn‘t talk about these guys and their origins though- spotted at Westfield‘s today.

willaful Ack, that is terrifying! 5mo
24 likes1 comment
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Magpiegem
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Today I took my kids to visit Father Christmas at Hever Castle (home of Anne Boleyn). Definitely one of my favorite traditions, but as my oldest is nearly 11 one that might be coming to an end! On the way there we started listening to the tagged book because my kids love facts. Until I realised to my horror Bill was about to start debunking Santa!! I made an excuse and put on the radio 😂 🎅🏻 #selfiescavangerhunt #wintergames #hollyjollyreaders

TEArificbooks Is excellent for Christmas nonfiction. I haven‘t finished it yet, so I don‘t know if it debunks Santa or anything like that. But my kiddo loves nonfiction and is obsessed with Geography right now, so learning about other countries traditions each night at bedtime he has loved it. 5mo
Magpiegem @TEArificbooks ooh thank you for this recommendation! This looks great. I really love that my kids love non fiction because I‘m learning so much too!! 5mo
Cupcake12 Great photo. Hever castle is on our list to visit x 5mo
24 likes3 comments
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peanutnine
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#WinterGames #DailyPhotoChallenge Day 3 #Santa 🎅🏼
This one is on my audiobook TBR this month
#SantasBookshELVES

AnnR I listened to this in 2022 and gave it a 👍. I hope you enjoy it. 5mo
29 likes1 stack add1 comment
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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Finished this driving today! I survived another holiday 😂🎄 #holidayfriends @Andrew65

Andrew65 This was a good listen. Amazing the stress Christmas causes.
Well done 🎅🏼🎄🎅🏼
1y
TheBookHippie 🤣🤣👏🏼👏🏼♥️♥️ 1y
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TheSpineView
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Pickpick

Loved this novella packed with Christmas facts. I found it very interesting and informative. I learned what a cracker is in the UK. @Andrew65
The various traditions around the world were fascinating. The KFC tradition in Japan I found particularly interesting. If you enjoy Christmas and want to learn more about how our modern traditions came to be, you need to listen to this book. Narrated by the author. 4⭐️

Andrew65 🤣 Amazing how different Christmas can be either side of the Atlantic. Don‘t forget to wear your Christmas ‘Jumper‘ 🤣
Loved the KFC Christmas
1y
TheSpineView @Andrew65 I have several Christmas jumpers. I have already worn two. ❤️🎄👕 1y
Andrew65 @TheSpineView I have to be honest I don‘t own any! 1y
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TheSpineView @Andrew65 What!😱 1y
Andrew65 @TheSpineView Plenty of Christmas Ties but no Christmas Jumpers, in fact don‘t even own any jumpers. Usually preference to wear fleeces these days. 1y
TheSpineView @Andrew65 At least you have ties! 1y
Andrew65 @TheSpineView Loads of Christmas ties. 1y
65 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Read4life
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Three quick audiobooks from the Audible Plus catalog (at least in the US). All recommended by fellow Littens. Once Upon a Christmas Carol was my favorite of the 3 and filled a spot on my #HolidayRomanceBingo board.

#WinterReadathon #Adventathon #HolidayRomanceBingo #BookSpinBingo
@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @ozma.of.oz @peanutnine @TheAromaofBooks

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1y
Andrew65 I loved Once Upon a Christmas Carol. Well done 🎄🎄🎄 (edited) 1y
BookmarkTavern Looks like some fun listens! 1y
peanutnine Awesome job! That one's on my list ☺️🎄💖 1y
38 likes5 comments
review
Andrew65
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Pickpick

1st book finished for #WinterReadathon. It‘s only available as an audiobook from Audible, an Audible Original. Just over 3 hours long and available free if you are a member of Audible.

It gave a great history of Christmas, Santa Claus and all the traditions of Christmas. This was really interesting and I learnt a lot. Definitely recommend it in you are interested in the history and traditions.

Aims42 I love Bill Bryson! Thanks for sharing this, will have to give it a listen 😁 1y
DieAReader Awesome!!♥️🤓🎄📚 1y
Andrew65 @Aims42 Definitely worth listening to. 1y
Andrew65 @DieAReader 🥰🎄🎄🎄 1y
63 likes4 comments
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Andrew65
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Started off #WinterReadathon with this Audible original. It‘s only about three hours long and great if you want to find out the history of Christmas and it‘s many traditions. Bill Bryson does it in his great style.

If you are a member of Audible you can download it for free.

Great for the Bingo and Word Search.

@DieaReader @Ghabi4Roses

Bookwormjillk Nice! I‘m going to look for that! 1y
AnnR How funny! I've kicked off my December reading with the same audiobook. The history of 'all things Christmas' is really interesting so far. Enjoy! 🙂⛄ 1y
Andrew65 @Ann_Reads Great minds think alike 🤣 It was a great way to start and as you say so interesting. I certainly learnt a lot. (edited) 1y
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DieAReader @Andrew65 I‘ll double check with hubby but, I think he‘s on an Audible Free Trial. Might just have to take a look at this one. 1y
Andrew65 @DieAReader It‘s a quick read but very intersting. 1y
DieAReader @Andrew65 Just checked and, for whatever reason, it‘s not free in Canada unfortunately😟🙄 1y
Andrew65 @DieAReader Oh no, that‘s terrible. Why they difference! 😠 1y
DieAReader @Andrew65 IDK but, yes it‘s very annoying, & maddening. Happens with a lot of things unfortunately.😡😡😡 1y
Andrew65 @DieAReader Likewise the other way round 😡😡😡 1y
Blaire Thanks for the rec! I always like bill Bryson. 1y
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