WIKIPEDIA:WIKIPROJECT HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS TASK FORCE REFERENCE SOURCES ARTICLES LIST

This page contains listings of articles relevant to Christmas which are found in some specialist reference books related to that topic.

Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Year's Celebrations

Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Year's Celebrations, 2nd edition, by Tanya Gulevich, Omnigraphics, 2003, ISBN 0-7808-0625-5.

Significant articles

3 paragraphs, or over ½ page (20 lines), to 2 pages

Adam and Eve Day; Folk Customs;
Barring out the schoolmaster - History; Birth of the Invincible Sun or Birth of the Unconquered Sun – Roman Sun God Worship;
Christmas Bonus; Christmas Club; Christmas Lads or Christmas Boys or Jola-Sveinar or Yuletide Lads; Christmas Sheaf; Christmas Symbols – Lost and Lesser-Known Christmas Symbols; Christmas Village or Christmas Garden or Christmas Yard* - Christmas Gardens and Yards; Ceremonies and Celebrations; Children's Letters – Letters to Santa Claus;
Devil's Knell or Devil's Funeral or Old Lad's Passing Bell;
Farolitos;
Knocking Nights or Anklopfnächte or Klöpfelnachte or Klopfelnächte or Klöpfleinsnächte;
Paradise tree or Christbaum
Peace of Christmas;
Plygain;
St. Basil's Day;
St. Sylvester's Day – Customs;
Salvation Army kettles;
Shooting in Christmas;
Store Window Displays – Nineteenth-Century Beginnings;

Minor articles

under ½ page or 19 lines or less

Children's Letters – Letters to the Child Jesus; Letters to Other Gift Bringers; Seals and Stamps Christmas Seals;
Christmas Candles;
Firstfooting - Scotland and England;
St. Barbara's Day – European Customs, Middle Eastern Customs; Weather and Crop Lore – Legend of St. Barbara;
Store Window Displays – Twentieth-Century Trends; The View from the Other Side of the Window;

Redirects

Belsnickel;
Candles; Candy cane; Christmas dramas;
Fires;
Gift Bringers;
Manger scene; Masqueraqdes;
Noisemaking;
St. Martin; St. Wenceslaus;
United States of America, Christmas and New Year's Celebrations in the or Christmas and New Year's Celebrations in the United States of America;
Wise Men of the East;

Subarticles

Advent or Christmas Lent or Little Lent or St. Philip's Lent or Winter Lent– History**; The Orthodox Church*; Folk Customs**;
America, Christmas in colonial or Christmas in colonial America – The First American Christmas*; The First Christmas in the English Colonies*; Virginia and the South**; New England**; New York and Pennsylvania**; Conclusion*;
America, Christmas in Nineteenth Century or Christmas in Nineteenth Century America – New York and Pennsylvania**; The South**; The Slaves**; After Slavery*; The West*; Christmas Becomes a Legal Holiday*; Protestants Embrace Christmas*; A Festival of Home and Family*; Christmas Trees and Gift Giving**; Santa Claus and Children's Gifts*; Commerce and Cards**; Conclusion*;
Amish Christmas – The Amish*; Amish Christmas Customs**;
Angels – Biblical Angels**; What Angels Look Like;
Armenia, Christmas in or Christmas in Armenia – New Year's Day and Christmas in Armenia**;
Auld Lang Syne – Robert Burns's Restoration*; Words to the Song**; “Auld Lang Syne” Becomes an American New Year's Song**;
Australia, Christmas in or Christmas in Australia – Christmas Decorations*; Christmas Eve and Day**; Christmas Dinner**; Boxing Day*; Other December Holidays*; Christmas in July*;
Baboushka – The Legend of Baboushka**; Variations - The Legend of Baboushka;;
Barring Out the Schoolmaster – History**;
Befana or La Strega or La Vecchia – The Legend of La Befana**; Customs;
Bells – Bells in the Ancient World*; Church Bells*; Bell Customs**; Bells and Christmas;
Berchta or Bertha or Frau Gaude or Hertha or Holda or Holde or Holle or Perchta – The Winter Goddess of Northern Europe*; Folklore Associated with Berchta**; Folklore Associated with Holde*; Another Winter Goddess, Hertha;
Bethlehem – The Birthplace of Jesus*; The Church of the Nativity**; Christmas in Bethlehem**; Rachel's Tomb*;
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Christmas in or Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – The Moravians*; History of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania**; Christmas Candles and Lights**; Moravian Stars*; Community Putzes**; Religious Services*; Concerts*; Historic District*;
Birth of the Invincible Sun or Birth of the Unconquered Sun – Origins of Mithraism*; Roman Sun God Worship**; Ceremonies and Celebrations**; Mithraism and Early Christianity;
Black Peter or Zwarte Piet – History**; Contemporary Customs**;
Boar's Head – Origins**; History**; Queen's College**;
Boxing Day – Origins and Development**; Resistance*; Stephening*; Decline*;
Boy Bishop or Bairn Bishop or St. Nicholas Bishop – Beginnings**; Costumes*; Ceremonies**; Customs**; Controversy**; Decline**; Revival*;
Brazil, Christmas in or Christmas in Brazil – Papai Noel, the Three Kings, and Gifts**; Visits and Christmas Dinner*; Christmas Trees and Nativity Scenes*; Cards, Charity, Plays*;
Bulgaria, Christmas in or Christmas in Bulgaria – Christmas Season*; Christmas Dinner*; New Year's Eve and Day**;
- Bulgaria, Christmas in or Christmas in Bulgaria – New Year's Eve and Day – Grandfather Frost*;
Candlemas or Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple or Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin or The Meeting of the Lord – History**; Christmas Customs**;
Cert;
A Charlie Brown Christmas – Charles Schulz's “Peanuts”**; The Making of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”**; Reactions to “A Charlie Brown Christmas”**;
Cherry Tree – Legends**; Customs*;
Children's Letters – Letters to the Child Jesus*; Letters to Santa Claus**; Letters to Other Gift Bringers*; Seals and Stamps*;
Christmas Ale or Christmas Beer or Yule Ale – Yule Ale*; Seasonal Ales*; Church Ales**; Christmas Ale*;
Christmas Cakes or Christmas Breads or Yule Bread or Yule Cakes – European Christmas Breads and Cakes*; Yule Doughs*; Scandinavian Cakes and Customs*; Twelfth Night and Christmas Cakes**; Greek New Year Bread*;
Christmas Card – Possible Origins**; The First Christmas Card*; Early English Christmas Cards**; Victorian Christmas Cards in Their Heyday**; Early American Christmas Cards**; Increasing Popularity*;
A Christmas Carol – Life and Times of Charles Dickens**; The Writing of A Christmas Carol**; Public Readings**; The Carol as a Ghost Story*; The Carol as Personal History**; The Carol as Christmas Philosophy**; Other Christmas Works**;
Christmas Carol or Noël or Villancico – Earliest Christian Songs*; Medieval Christmas Carols*; The Golden Age***; The Reformation and Beyond**; The Nineteenth-Century Revival**; Carol Services and Ceremonies**; Twentieth-Century America**;
Christingle;
Christmas in July;
Christmas Markets – Christmas Markets in Germany**; Christmas Markets in Sweden*; Christmas Markets in Italy*; Christmas Markets in Belgium*;
Christmas Rose or Black Hellebore or Snow Rose or Winter Rose – The Legend of Madelon*; A Swedish Tale**; A French Legend**;
Christmas Seals;
Christmas Symbols – Lost and Lesser-Known Christmas Symbols**;
Christmas Tree – Legends**; Origins**; Early History**; The Christmas Tree Comes to America**; The Christmas Tree Becomes an American Institution**; Symbolic Trees*;
Christmas Village or Christmas Garden or Christmas Yard – Christmas Gardens and Yards**;
Commercialism – Christmas in Nineteenth-Century America**; Commercial Influences on Christmas**; Changing Consumer Preferences**; Financing Christmas*; Conclusion;
December 25 – Birthdays in the Ancient World*; Selection of December 25**; Division of Christmas and Epiphany*; Spread of the New Feast*; Origins of the Word “Christmas”*;
Denmark, Christmas in or Christmas in Denmark – Christmas Countdown*; Christmas Symbols and Decorations**; Preparations**; Christmas Parties*; Christmas Eve**; Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day*; New Year's Eve and Epiphany**;
Depression – Unrealistic Expectations**; Advice**; Christmas Suicides*; Winter Weather**;
Ecuador, Christmas in or Christmas in Ecuador – Parties*; Religious Observances*; Christmas Eve**; Holy Innocents' Day and Epiphany*;
Elves – Elves and Fairies**; European Christmas Elves**; American Christmas Elves**;
Emancipation Day – First Celebrations**; Annual Celebrations**;
England, Christmas in or Christmas in England – Father Christmas*; Christmas Eve*; Christmas Day**; Boxing Day*; Regional Customs*; Lesser-Known Days and Customs*; Extinct Customs**;
Epiphany or Blessing of the Waters Day or Día de los Tres Reyes or Three Kings Day or Feast of Baptism or Feast of Jordan or Feast of Lights or Feast of the Three Kings or Fête des Rois or Le Jour des Rois or Kings' Day or Night of Destiny or Old Christmas Day or Perchtennacht or Theophania or Timkat or Twelfth Day or Twelfth Night – The Meaning of Epiphany*; The History of Epiphany**; Folklore and Customs**; Religious Customs**;
Estonia, Christmas in or Christmas in Estonia – Preparations**; St. Thomas's Day*; Christmas Eve**; From Christmas Day to New Year's Eve**; Christmas under Soviet Rule*; Christmas since Independence*;
Europe, Christmas in medieval or Christmas in medieval Europe – Christmas Season**; Entertainments*; Christmas Feasts in Medieval Europe**; Famous English Christmas Feasts**; Adapting Pagan Customs**; Creating Christmas Customs*; Surviving Medieval Customs*;
Father Christmas or Christmas or King Christmas or Sir Christmas – Early History*; Appearance**; Recent History*;
Feast of Fools – History**; Customs**;
Feast of the Ass;
Feast of the Circumcision or Circumcision of Jesus or Feast of the Circumcision and the Name of Jesus or Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord or Feast of the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ or Octave of the Birth of Our Lord or Solemnity of Mary – History**; Contemporary Observance*;
Firstfooting – Scotland and England**;
Flight into Egypt – Legends*;
Football Bowl Games – The Rose Bowl Game and the Tournament of Roses**; Other New Year's Day Bowl Games**; Bowl Championship Series*;
France, Christmas in or Christmas in France – St. Nicholas' Day*; Père Nöel*; Preparations**; Christmas Eve**; Regional Customs**;
Frankincense;
Gabriel – Gabriel in the Bible*; Gabriel in Christian Art*; Jewish and Muslim Beliefs*; Christian Love*; Patronage*;
Games – Late Medieval and Renaissance England**; Victorian England**; Other Countries**;
Germany, Christmas in or Christmas in Germany – Advent**; Special Days within Advent**; Christmas Decorations*; Christmas Baking*; Gift Bringers*; Christmas Eve and Day**; The Twelve Days of Christmas**; St. Stephen's Day*; New Year's Eve**; Epiphany*;
Ghana, Christmas in or Christmas in Ghana – Before Christmas*; Christmas Eve*; Christmas Day**; After Christmas*;
Ghosts – England**;
Gifts – Roman Gifts*; Medieval Gifts*; Royal Gifts*; Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Gifts*; Saint Nicholas's Day Gifts*; Boxing Day Gifts**; German Christmas Gifts**; Julklapp*; Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, and Gifts*; Conclusion*;
Gingerbread – Uses and Recipes**; Fairs and Bakers**; German Traditions*;
Glastonbury Thorn – Life and Legends of Joseph of Arimathea**; The History of the Glastonbury Thorn**; The Glastonbury Thorn in the United States*; Christmas at Glastonbury*;
Gospel Accounts of Christmas – Similarities*; Differences**; Folklore*;
Gospel According to Luke – The Birth of Jesus According to Luke**;
Gospel According to Matthew – The Birth of Jesus According to Matthew**;
Grandfather Frost or Dyed Moroz – History**; Customs*;
Greece, Christmas in or Christmas in Greece – Advent*; Carols*; Christmas Dinner*; Name-Day Celebrations*; Superstitions*; St. Basil's Day**; Epiphany*;
Greenery – Ancient Beliefs and Customs*; Christianity and Winter Greenery**; The Green Branch as a Symbol*; Christmas Greenery**;
Guatemala, Christmas in or Christmas in Guatemala – Fires and Housecleaning*; Decorations*; Posadas*; Christmas Eve and Day**;
Hanukkah or Feast of Dedication or Feast of Lights – What Is Hanukkah?**; Hanukkah and Christmas*;
Herod, King or King Herod – Herod in the Gospel of Matthew**; The Historical Herod**; Herod's Sons*;
Hogmanay – History*; Daft Days*; Origins of the Word “Hogmanay”**; Visits and Treats**; Firstfooters*; Other Superstitions**; Foods*; Parties*; Noise and Song*; Torches, Dancing, and Sports*;
Holly – Ancient Beliefs and Customs*; Christianity and the Significance of Holly**; Folklore and Customs**;
Holy Innocents' Day or Childermas or Feast of the Holy Innocents or Innocents' Day – Church History**; Folk Customs**; Folklore*;
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Book, Cartoon, and Movie**; Dr. Seuss**;
Iceland, Christmas in or Christmas in Iceland – Past Preparations*; St. Thorlak's Day*; Christmas Eve and Day*; Gift Bringers*; Gifts*; Decorations*; New Year's Eve**; Twelfth Night and Epiphany*;
India, Christmas in or Christmas in India – Bengal**; Kerala**;
Ireland, Christmas in or Christmas in Ireland – Christmas Preparations*; Christmas Candles**; Christmas Eve in Times Past*; Christmas Eve Today*; Christmas Day*; St. Stephen's Day*; New Year's Day*; Epiphany*;
Italy, Christmas in or Christmas in Italy – Christmas Markets*; Pre-Christmas Celebrations and Observances*; Nativity Scenes and Ceppos**; Christmas Eve*; Christmas Day*; New Year*; Epiphany*;
It's a Wonderful Life – The Greatest Gift**; The Story Becomes a Script*; The Script Becomes a Film**; It's a Wonderful Life**; Looking Back**;
Ivy – Ancient Beliefs and Customs**; Medieval Beliefs and Customs**; Later Beliefs and Customs**;
Jesus – The Incarnation**; Jesus the Christ*; Jesus' Birth According to John**; Creeds and Councils*; The Festival of Jesus' Birth**;
Jesus, Year of Birth or Year of Birth of Jesus – The Date*; The Year**; The Star**; Continuing Controversy*; B.C. and A.D.**;
Jonkonnu or John Canoe or John Kooner or Junkanoo – Jonkanoo in Jamaica**; Jonkonnu in the Caribbean*; Jonkonnu in the United States**;
Joseph – Feast Days*; Christmas Customs*;
Jultometen or Joulutonttuja or Julenissen or Julnissen – Denmark, Norway, and Finland*; History**;
Kalends or Calends – Customs**; Similarities to Christmas**; Christian Opposition**;
Kallikantzari or Callicantzari or Kallikantzaroi – Appearance*; Activities*; Remedies**; Parallels*;
King of the Bean or Bean King or Epiphany King – History**;
- Kissing Bough or Kissing Ball or Kissing Bunch;
Knecht Ruprecht or Aschenklas or Belsnickel or Bullerklas or Butz or Hans Muff or Hans Trapp or Klaubauf or Krampus or Pelz Nicholas or Pulterklas or Ru-Klas or Schimmelreiter – Ruprecht's Many Names*; Folklore**; Origins*; European Customs*; Belsnickeling in the United States**; Opposition*; Decline*;
Kwanzaa;
Lamb's Wool or Wassail – Recipes**;
Latvia, Christmas in or Christmas in Latvia – Preparations*; Christmas Eve*; Latvian Christmas Traditions**; Repression and Revival*;
Lebanon, Christmas in or Christmas in Lebanon – Preparations*; Christmas Eve and Day**; New Year's Eve and Day*;
Lithuania, Christmas in or Christmas in Lithuania – Christmas Eve Preparations and Ceremonies**; Adam and Eve Day*; Christmas Eve Foods*; Fortune-Telling**; Return of the Dead*; Increasing Crop Yields and Protecting Animals*; Miracles*; Christmas Day**; Christmas under Soviet Rule*; New Year's Eve and Day**;
Lord of Misrule or Abbot of Unreason or Christmas Lord or Master of Merry Disports – Activities*; Term of Office and Duties**; Rise and Decline*;
Luminarias;
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – Thanksgiving Day in Nineteenth-Century New York**; Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Begins**; Balloons**; World War II*; National Popularity*; Commercial Effects and Influences**; Where and When*;
Madagascar, Christmas in or Christmas in Madagascar – New Year's Celebrations**;
Magi or Three Kings or Three Kings of Cologne or Wise Men of the East – The Magi in Matthew's Gospel*; The Magi in History**; Early Christian Interpretations**; Folk Beliefs and Legends**; Magi Tales from the East**; The Fate of the Magi*; Relics**; Enduring Popularity**; Significance*;
Marshall Islands, Christmas in the Republic of the or Christmas in the Republic of the Marshall Islands – The Christmas Season*; Jeptas**; Last-Minute Preparations*; Christmas Day**; New Year Celebrations*;
Martinmas or Funkentag or Martinalia or Martinsfest or Martinstag or St. Martin's Day – Life and Legends of St. Martin**; Precedents*; History**; Martinmas Fires*; Martinmas Feasts**; Martinmas Folklore**; Martinmas in contemporary Germany*;
Mary, Blessed Virgin or Blessed Virgin Mary – The Annunciation*; The Visitation**; Jesus' Birth*; The Flight into Egypt and the Circumcision*; Early Christian Ideas*; Feast Days**; New Views*;
Masque or Disguising – Early Masques**; Height of Popularity*;
Merry; Merry Christmas and Happy New Year;
Messiah or Messiah (Handel) – Composition of Messiah**; First Performance of Messiah**; Later Performances of Messiah**; Handel's Death*; Handel's Personality and Legacy**;
Mexico, Christmas in or Christmas in Mexico – Decorations*; Posadas, Pastores, and Novenas*; Piñatas**; Christmas Foods*; Christmas Activities*; Innocents' Day, Epiphany, and Candlemas**;
Mincemeat pie or Christmas pie – Medieval Christmas cookery**; Jack Horner's Christmas pie**; Puritan Opposition to Mincemeat**; Changing Recipes**;
Miracle on 34th Street – The Author of the Book*; The Director and Screenwriter*; The Actors**; Facts about the Film**; Remakes*;
Misa de Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo or Missa do Galo – The Philippines**;
Mistletoe – Evergreens in Ancient Times*; Other Customs and Beliefs**; Norse Mythology**; Mistletoe as an Emblem of Good Will*; Kissing under the Mistletoe**;
Mummers Parade – Parade Forerunners**; Pre-Civil War Holiday Masquerades in Philadelphia***; Post-Civil War Parade*; Twentieth Century and Beyond**; Recent Controversies and Challenges**;
Mumming or Geese Dancing or Guising or Masking or Mummering – Ancient Precedents*; Mumming in Britain**; Mummers' Plays**; Mumming in Europe**; Mumming in North America**; Related Customs*; Controversies*;
Myrrh – History and Significance**; Customs*; Myrrh Today*;
National Christmas Tree – The Early Years**; World War II*; Post-War Years**; Problems and Protests**; The Eighties and Beyond**;
Nativity Fast;
Nativity legends – Legends concerning Jesus' Birth**; Christmas legends**;
Nativity play – Liturgical dramas**; Mystery plays**; Folk Dramas in the New World*; Folk Dramas in Europe**; The American Christmas Pageant*;
Nativity scene or Bethlehem or Christmas Crib or Crèche or Krippe or Lapinha or Manger scene or Nacimiento or Pesebre or Portale or Presepio or Putz – Origins**; Early Nativity Scenes**; Southern Europe**; Latin America**; Central Europe*; The United States**;
New Year's Day – Roman New Year Celebrations*; Medieval New Year Celebrations**; New Year Customs Migrate to Christmas*; The Puritans and the Protestant Reformation**; Changing Dates**; From the Puritans to the Nineteenth Century**; Twentieth Century and Beyond**;
New York City, Christmas in or Christmas in New York City – Birth of Santa Claus**; Macy's Parade**; Window Displays*; Rockefeller Center**; Other Decorations**; Events*; New Year's Eve*;
North Pole;
Norway, Christmas in or Christmas in Norway – Yule*; Old Customs and Superstitions**; The Julenisse*; Preparations**; Chrsitmas Eve*; Christmas Day*; Related Days**;
The Nutcracker – The Tales and the Making of the Ballet**; The Story as Told in the Ballet**; Tchaikovsky's Score**; First Performances**; International Fame*;
Old Christmas Day – Calendar Confusion**; Resistance to Reform*; Europe Adopts the New Calendar*; Christmas Controversy**;
Ornaments – Earliest ornaments**; Early Nineteenth-Century Ornaments**; Commerical Ornaments**; Glass Ornaments**; Ethnic Ornaments*; Lighting the Tree**;
Pantomime – Ancient Pantomime*; Commedia Dell'Arte*; British Harlequinade**; The Birth of British Pantomime**; Christmas Themes*; Established Tradition*;
Paradise tree or Christbaum – Mystery Plays*; Paradise Play*; Paradise Tree**;
Pastores, Los or Los Pastores or La Pastorela – History**; Plots and Characters**; Performances*;
Philippines, Christmas in the or Christmas in the Philippines – Rooster Masses*; Christmas Carols*; Decorations**; Christmas Trees*; Nativity Scenes*; Christmas Eve**; Christmas gifts*; Christmas Day*; The Twelve Days of Christmas*; Holy Innocents' Day*; New Year**; Epiphany*;
Plough Monday – History**; Contemporary Customs*;
Plum Pudding or Christmas Pudding or Figgy Pudding – Medieval Cookery*; Plum Pottage**; Plum Pudding**;
Poinsettia or Flor de la Nochebuena, Winter Rose;
Poland, Christmas in or Christmas in Poland – Christmas Eve Fast*; Oplatek*; Animals*; Christmas Dinner*; Gifts and Carols*; Fortune-Telling*; Christmas Trees, Nativity Scenes, Nativity Plays*; Epiphany*;
Posadas, Las or Las Posadas – The Procession and Celebration**; History**; Observances in U.S. Cities*;
Puritans – Campaign against Christmas**; Active Resistance**; Passive Resistance**; Scotland**; The Return of the Monarchy*; Conclusion*;
Putz – Possible Origins*; Moravian Putzes**; Related Customs*;
Reindeer – Santa's Reindeer**; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer**;
Resolutions – History**; Modern Resolutions*;
Réveillon - Réveillon in France**; Réveillon in the United States and Canada*;
Robin – Folklore**; Christmas Symbol**;
Russia, Christmas in or Christmas in Russia – Christmas Customs in Old Russia**; Feasting and Fasting in Old Russia**; Chrtistmas under Communism*; New Year's under Communism**; Christmas since 1991**;
St. Barbara's Day – Legend of St. Barbara**; European Customs*; Middle Eastern Customs*; Weather and Crop Lore*;
St. Basil's Day – New Year's Eve**; St. Basil's Day, New Year's Day**;
St. Distaff's Day or Rock Day;
St. John's Day – History and Legends**;
St. Knut's Day or St. Hilary's Day – Two Saints*; Customs**;
St. Lucy's Day or Santa Lucia – Life and Legends of St. Lucy**; History**; St. Lucy's Day in Italy*; St. Lucy's Day in Sweden**; Origins of Swedish St. Lucy's Day*; Recent Traditions*;
St. Nicholas – Life of St. Nicholas*; St. Nicholas and the Three Maidens**; St. Nicholas and the Three Students*; St. Nicholas and the Unpaid Loan*; Patronages**; Bones of St. Nicholas**; St. Nicholas in the Twentieth Century**;
St. Nicholas's Day – Shoes, Stockings, and Gifts*; St. Nicholas's Helpers*; History**; St. Nicholas's Day in the Netherlands**; St. Nicholas's Day in Italy*;
St. Stephen's Day – History and Legend**; European Customs**; Swedish Customs and Lore**;
St. Sylvester's Day – Life and Legends of St. Sylvester*; Customs**;
St. Thomas's Day – Life and Legends of St. Thomas the Apostle**; English Begging Customs**; School Customs*; Germany, Holland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia**; Norway*;
Santa Claus or Kriss Kringle or St. Nick – Before Santa Claus**; The Christ Child in America*; Belsnickel in America*; St. Nicholas in America*; Washington Irving and St. Nicholas*; Clement C. Moore and St. Nicholas**; More Confusion Over Names*; Thomas Nast and Santa Claus**; Nineteenth-Century Developments**; Promoting the Santa Claus Myth**; Twentieth-Century Developments**;
Saturnalia – Saturn and His Festival**; Equality**; Mock Kings*; Leisure and Merrymaking**;
Shepherds – Sheep and Shepherds in the Bible**; Christmas Customs*;
Slave's Christmas – Leisure**; Food and Drink**; Visits and Marriages*; Gifts**; Song and Dance*; Religion*; Running Away and Rebelling*; Christmas Legends, Lore and Superstituon*; New Year**; Psychological Pressures**; Conclusion*;
Snow Maiden or Snegurochka – Legend of the Snow Maiden**;
South Africa, Christmas in or Christmas in South Africa – The English Christmas Heritage*; The Afrikaner Christmas Heritage*; Music*; Christmas Day*; Black and Asian South Africans*;
Spain, Christmas in or Christmas in Spain – Feast of the Immaculate Conception*; Christmas Decorations*; Christmas Foods*; Pardons*; Christmas Eve and Day*; Holy Innocents' Day*; New Year's Eve*; Epiphany**;
Star Boys or Starngossar;
Star of Bethlehem – Astrology in Biblical Times**; Scientific Explanations for the Star***; Religious Perspectives*; Folklore*;
Stir-Up Sunday;
Stockings;
Store Window Displays – Nineteenth-Century Beginnings**; Twentieth-Century Trends*; The View from the Other Side of the Window*;
Syria, Christmas in or Christmas in Syria – Christmas Eve and Day*; Gift Bringer*; New Year's Day*; Epiphany**;
Times Square, New Year's Eve in or New Year's Eve in Times Square – History**; The Ceremony Today**;
Timkat or Timqat or Timket – Preparations*; Religious Observances**; Recreation*;
Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve or Old Christmas Eve – Feasts, Cakes, and Kings**; Shakespeare's Twelfth Night*; Masques*; Characters**; Pranks*; Decline of Twelfth Night*; Old Christmas Eve*; Twelfth Night in Colonial America and the United States**; Last of the Twelve Days of Christmas**;
Twelve Days of Christmas or Christmastide or The Days of Fate or The Nights of Mystery or Smoke Nights or The Twelve Quiet Days – Establishment of the Holiday**; Feasting, Resting, Revelry, and Charity**; Other Holidays*; Ghosts and Spirits**; Fortune-Telling*;
Urban Legends – Poisonous Poinsettias**; Crucified Santa Claus**; Candy Cane Symbolism*; “Santa” Dies in Chimney**;
Up Helly Aa;
Victorian England, Christmas in or Christmas in Victorian England – Decline*; Revival*; Christmas Dinner*; Christmas Charity*; Protestants Embrace Christmas*; Christmas Trees and Gifts**; Christmas Carols*; Christmas Greetings and Entertainments**; Customs in Decline*;
Virginia O'Hanlon – Virginia's Letter and the Sun's Response**; Who Was Francis P. Church?*; Whatever Happened to Virginia?*;
Waits – History**;
Wales, Christmas in or Christmas in Wales – Music**; Mari Lwyd*; Wren Hunt*;
Wassail – The Toast**; The Caroling Custom***; The Beverage*;
Watch Night or New Year's Eve Service – Vigils*; Making New Year's Eve a Religious Holiday**; Methodist Watch Night Services**; African Americans*; Moravians*;
Wenceslaus, King or King Wenceslaus or St. Wenceslaus or Vaceslav or Vaclav;
White Christmas – The Composer*; “White Christmas,” the Song*; Holiday Inn**; White Christmas, the Movie*; A Personal Tribute*;
White House, Christmas in the or Christmas in the White House – White House Christmas Parties**; A Child's Christmas in the White House**; White House Charity**; Greetings from the White House**; A Discontinued New Year's Custom*; White House Christmas Firsts*;
Wild Hunt or Asgardsreid or Furious Hunt or Furious Host or Gabriel's Hounds or Gandreid or Jolerei or Julereien or Raging Host or Yuletide Host;
Williamsburg, Virginia, Christmas in Colonial or Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia – Christmas in Colonial Virginia*; Before Christmas**; Feasts and Parties**; Marriage and Romance*; Slaves and Free Blacks*; Men, Women, Children, and Gifts*; Christmas Decorations*; Christmas in Contemporary Williamsburg**;
Winter Solstice – Solstice Astronomy**; Winter Solstice in Ancient Rome**; Winter Solstice and the Date of Christmas*; Winter Solstice and Other Ancient Celebrations*; Contemporary Celebrations*;
Wrapping Paper – History**;
Wreath;
Wren Hunt or Hunting of the Wren – Customs**; Origins**; Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century*; Twentieth Century*; Legends and Lore**;
Yule – Origins**; Yule in Medieval Scandinavia**; Yule in Medieval Britain**;
Yule goat or Joulupukki or Julbock or Julbukk or Klapparbock – Origins and History**; Today*;
Yule log or Bouche de Noël or Calignaou or Chalendal or Christmas Block or Christmas Log or Tréfoir or Yule Clog – History**; Selection and Preparation*; Ceremonies and Superstitions**; Lighting the Log*; Gifts and Blessings**; Decline*;
Yule Straw – Straw Beds**; Straw Magic*; Straw Decorations*; Straw Fortunes*;
Zagmuk or Akitu or Babylonian New Year or Zagmug – Myths*; Ceremonies*; Popular Customs*; Similarities**;

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, 3rd edition, ed. Helene Henderson;

Advent

Advent; Advent in Eastern Orthodoxy; Advent in Austria; Advent in Germany; Advent in Sweden; Christmas Lent; – History; Advent calendar; Advent candle; Advent wreath; Christmas Markets, Christmas Lent or Little Lent or St. Philip's Lent or Winter Lent – The Orthodox Church; Jesse Tree;
- - Gaudete Sunday;

Holidays and Festivals Index

Martinmas or Funkentag or Martinalia or Martinsfest or Martinstag or St. Martin's Day; – Life and Legends of St. Martin; History; Martinmas Feasts; Martinmas folklore – Precedents; Martinmas Fires; Martinmas in contemporary Germany;
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – Thanksgiving Day in Nineteenth-Century New York; Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Begins; Balloons; Commercial Effects and Influences; Football Bowl Games – Bowl Championship Series;
Hanukkah or Feast of Dedication or Feast of Lights – What Is Hanukkah? – Hanukkah and Christmas;
St. Nicholas*; St. Nicholas's Day – St. Nicholas and the Three Maidens; Patronages; Bones of St. Nicholas; St. Nicholas in the Twentieth Century; St. Nicholas's Day – History; St. Nicholas's Day in the Netherlands – Life of St. Nicholas; St. Nicholas and the Three Students; St. Nicholas and the Unpaid Loan; St. Nicholas's Day – Shoes, Stockings, and Gifts; St. Nicholas's Helpers; St. Nicholas's Day in Italy;
St. Lucy's Day or Santa Lucia – Life and Legends of St. Lucy; History; St. Lucy's Day in Sweden – St. Lucy's Day in Italy; Origins of Swedish St. Lucy's Day; Recent Traditions;
St. Thomas's Day – Life and Legends of St. Thomas the Apostle – School Customs; Norway;
Boxing Day – Origins and Development; St. Stephen's Day – History and Legend; European Customs; Swedish Customs and Lore, – Resistance, Stephening; Decline;
Holy Innocents' Day or Childermas or Feast of the Holy Innocents or Innocents' Day – Church History; folk Customs;
Feast of the Circumcision or Circumcision of Jesus or Feast of the Circumcision and the Name of Jesus or Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord or Feast of the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ or Octave of the Birth of Our Lord or Solemnity of Mary; New Year's Day; – History; Football Bowl Games – The Rose Bowl Game and the Tournament of Roses; Other New Year's Day Bowl Games; Father Time;New Year's Day]] – Medieval New Year Celebrations; The Puritans and the Protestant Reformation; Changing Dates; From the Puritans to the Nineteenth Century; Twentieth Century and Beyond; Feast of the Circumcision – Contemporary Observance; First Night; Hogmanay – History; Daft Days; Firstfooters; Foods; Parties; Noise and Song; Torches, Dancing, and Sports – Origins of the Word “Hogmanay”; Visits and Treats; Other Superstitions;[[
Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve or Old Christmas Eve – Feasts, Cakes, and Kings; Characters; Twelfth Night in Colonial America and the United States;; Watch Night or New Year's Eve Service – Shakespeare's Twelfth Night; Masques; Pranks; Decline of Twelfth Night; Old Christmas Eve; Twelve Days of Christmas or Christmastide or The Days of Fate or The Nights of Mystery or Smoke Nights or The Twelve Quiet Days – Other Holidays; Fortune-Telling;
Epiphany: Berchta or Bertha or Frau Gaude or Hertha or Holda or Holde or Holle or Perchta; or Blessing of the Waters Day or Día de los Tres Reyes or Three Kings Day or Feast of Baptism or Feast of Jordan or Feast of Lights or Feast of the Three Kings or Fête des Rois or Le Jour des Rois or Kings' Day or Night of Destiny or Old Christmas Day or Perchtennacht or Theophania or Timkat or Twelfth Day or Twelfth Night; – Folklore Associated with Berchta; – The History of Epiphany; Folklore and Customs; Religious Customs; King of the Bean or Bean King or Epiphany King – History; Magi or Three Kings or Three Kings of Cologne or Wise Men of the East – The Magi in History; Early Christian Interpretations; Folk Beliefs and Legends; Magi Tales from the East; Relics; Enduring Popularity;Last of the Twelve Days of Christmas; Twelve Days of Christmas or Christmastide or The Days of Fate or The Nights of Mystery or Smoke Nights or The Twelve Quiet Days – Establishment of the Holiday; Feasting, Resting, Revelry, and Charity; Ghosts and Spirits, Blessing of the Waters Day or Día de los Tres Reyes or Three Kings Day or Feast of Baptism or Feast of Jordan or Feast of Lights or Feast of the Three Kings or Fête des Rois or Le Jour des Rois or Kings' Day or Night of Destiny or Old Christmas Day or Perchtennacht or Theophania or Timkat or Twelfth Day or Twelfth Night – The Meaning of Epiphany;
Candlemas or Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple or Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin or The Meeting of the Lord – History; Christmas Customs;

Places

America, Christmas in colonial or Christmas in colonial America; Puritans; Christmas in Nineteenth Century or Christmas in Nineteenth Century America*; Williamsburg, Virginia, Christmas in Colonial or Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia; the South; The Slaves;Belsnickeling in the United States; Puritans – Campaign against Christmas; Active Resistance; Passive Resistance; Scotland; Christmas in Colonial or Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia – Before Christmas; Feasts and Parties; Christmas in Contemporary Williamsburg, – The First American Christmas; The First Christmas in the English Colonies; Conclusion; America, Christmas in Nineteenth Century or Christmas in Nineteenth Century America – After Slavery; The West; Christmas Becomes a Legal Holiday; Protestants Embrace Christmas; A Festival of Home and Family; Santa Claus and Children's Gifts; Conclusion; Amish Christmas – The Amish – Christmas in Colonial Virginia; Marriage and Romance; Slaves and Free Blacks; Men, Women, Children, and Gifts; Christmas Decorations;
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Christmas in or Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania*; Amish Christmas* - Amish Christmas Customs; – History of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania;
- New York City, Christmas in or Christmas in New York City; Christmas in or Christmas in New York City – Birth of Santa Claus; Macy's Parade; Rockefeller Center; Other Decorations – Window Displays; Events; New Year's Eve;
  - Times Square, New Year's Eve in or New Year's Eve in Times Square – History; The Ceremony Today;
- White House, Christmas in the or Christmas in the White House, Christmas in the or Christmas in the White House – White House Christmas Parties; A Child's Christmas in the White House; White House Charity; Greetings from the White House – A Discontinued New Year's Custom; White House Christmas Firsts;
Armenia, Christmas in or Christmas in Armenia*; Armenia, Christmas in or Christmas in Armenia – New Year's Day and Christmas in Armenia;
Australia, Christmas in or Christmas in Australia; – Christmas Eve and Day; Christmas Dinner – Christmas Decorations;
Bethlehem#Christmas celebrations;– The Church of the Nativity;
Brazil, Christmas in or Christmas in Brazil; – Papai Noel, the Three Kings, and Gifts – Visits and Christmas Dinner; Christmas Trees and Nativity Scenes; Cards, Charity, Plays;
Bulgaria, Christmas in or Christmas in Bulgaria - New Year's Eve and Day – Christmas Season; Christmas Dinner – Grandfather Frost, or Dyed Moroz – Customs;
Denmark, Christmas in or Christmas in Denmark; – Christmas Symbols and Decorations; Preparations; Christmas Eve; New Year's Eve and Epiphany – Christmas Countdown; Christmas Parties; Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day;
Ecuador, Christmas in or Christmas in Ecuador – Christmas Eve – Parties; Religious Observances; Holy Innocents' Day and Epiphany;
Egypt, Christmas in or Christmas in Egypt;
England, Christmas in or Christmas in England; Victorian England, Christmas in or Christmas in Victorian England; – Christmas Day; Extinct Customs; Pantomime – British Harlequinade; The Birth of British Pantomime; Christmas Crackers; Victorian England, Christmas in or Christmas in Victorian England – Christmas Trees and Gifts; Christmas Greetings and Entertainments – Father Christmas; Christmas Eve; Boxing Day; Regional Customs; Lesser-Known Days and Customs;
Estonia, Christmas in or Christmas in Estonia; – Preparations; Christmas Eve; From Christmas Day to New Year's Eve – St. Thomas's Day; Christmas under Soviet Rule; Christmas since Independence;
Ethiopia, Christmas in or Christmas in Ethiopia or Ganna or Genna or Leddat;
Europe, Christmas in medieval or Christmas in medieval Europe; Boy Bishop or Bairn Bishop or St. Nicholas Bishop – Beginnings; Ceremonies; Customs; Controversy; Decline; – Christmas Season; Christmas Feasts in Medieval Europe; Famous English Christmas Feasts; Adapting Pagan Customs; Feast of Fools, Christmas in medieval or Christmas in medieval Europe – Entertainments; Creating Christmas Customs; Surviving Medieval Customs;
France, Christmas in or Christmas in France; – Preparations; Christmas Eve; Regional Customs, Réveillon – St. Nicholas' Day; Père Nöel; Frau Gaude or Gaue or Gode or Wode;
Germany, Christmas in or Christmas in Germany; Christmas Markets; Germany, – Advent; Special Days within Advent; Christmas Eve and Day; The Twelve Days of Christmas; New Year's Eve; - Christmas Day – Christmas Decorations, Christmas Baking; Gift Bringers; St. Stephen's Day; Epiphany;
Ghana, Christmas in or Christmas in Ghana Ghana – Before Christmas; Christmas Eve; After Christmas;
Greece, Christmas in or Christmas in Greece; – St. Basil's Day – Advent; Carols; Christmas Dinner; Name-Day Celebrations; Superstitions; Epiphany;
Guatemala, Christmas in or Christmas in Guatemala – Christmas Eve and Day – Fires and Housecleaning; Decorations; Posadas;
Iceland, Christmas in or Christmas in Iceland; – New Year's Eve;* Iceland, Past Preparations; St. Thorlak's Day; Christmas Eve and Day; Gift Bringers; Gifts; Decorations; Twelfth Night and Epiphany;
India, Christmas in or Christmas in India; – Bengal; Kerala;
Iran, Christmas in or Christmas in Iran;
Iraq, Christmas in or Christmas in Iraq;
Ireland, Christmas in or Christmas in Ireland; – Christmas Candles; Ireland, – Christmas Preparations; Christmas Eve in Times Past; Christmas Eve Today; Christmas Day; St. Stephen's Day; New Year's Day; Epiphany;
Italy, Christmas in or Christmas in Italy; Italy, – Nativity Scenes and Ceppos; Italy – Christmas Markets; Pre-Christmas Celebrations and Observances; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year; Epiphany;
Latvia, Christmas in or Christmas in Latvia* - Latvian Christmas Traditions;
Lebanon, Christmas in or Christmas in Lebanon – Christmas Eve and Day;
Lithuania, Christmas in or Christmas in Lithuania – Christmas Eve Preparations and Ceremonies; Fortune-Telling; Christmas Day; New Year's Eve and Day;
Madagascar, Christmas in or Christmas in Madagascar – New Year's Celebrations;
Marshall Islands, Christmas in the Republic of the or Christmas in the Republic of the Marshall Islands – Jeptas; Christmas Day – The Christmas Season; Last-Minute Preparations; New Year Celebrations;
Mexico, Christmas in or Christmas in Mexico – Piñatas; Innocents' Day, Epiphany, and Candlemas; Midnight Mass – Decorations; Posadas, Pastores, and Novenas; Christmas Foods; Christmas Activities;
Nigeria, Christmas in or Christmas in Nigeria;
Norway, Christmas in or Christmas in Norway; – Old Customs and Superstitions; Preparations; Related Days – Yule; The Julenisse; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day;
Philippines, Christmas in the or Christmas in the Philippines; – Decorations; Christmas Eve; New Year, Misa de Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo or Missa do Galo – Rooster Masses; Christmas Carols; Christmas Trees; Nativity Scenes; Christmas gifts; Christmas Day; The Twelve Days of Christmas; Holy Innocents' Day; Epiphany;
Poland, Christmas in or Christmas in Poland – Christmas Eve Fast; Oplatek; Animals; Christmas Dinner; Gifts and Carols; Fortune-Telling; Christmas Trees, Nativity Scenes, Nativity Plays; Epiphany;
Russia, Christmas in or Christmas in Russia; Russia, – Christmas Customs in Old Russia; Feasting and Fasting in Old Russia; New Year's under Communism; Christmas since 1991; – Christmas under Communism;
South Africa, Christmas in or Christmas in South Africa – The English Christmas Heritage; The Afrikaner Christmas Heritage; Music; Christmas Day; Black and Asian South Africans;
Spain, Christmas in or Christmas in Spain; – Epiphany; Spain, – Feast of the Immaculate Conception; Christmas Decorations; Christmas Foods; Pardons; Christmas Eve and Day; Holy Innocents' Day; New Year's Eve;
Sudan, Christmas in or Christmas in Sudan;
Syria, Christmas in or Christmas in Syria – Epiphany – Christmas Eve and Day; Gift Bringer; New Year's Day;
- Wales, Christmas in or Christmas in Wales – Mari Lwyd – Music;

Music

Messiah or Messiah (Handel); – Composition of Messiah; First Performance of Messiah; Later Performances of Messiah; Handel's Personality and Legacy – Handel's Death;
The Nutcracker; – The Tales and the Making of the Ballet; The Story as Told in the Ballet; Tchaikovsky's Score; First Performances – International Fame;
Ceremony of Lessons and Carols;

Carols

Christmas Carol or Noël or Villancico; – The Reformation and Beyond; The Nineteenth-Century Revival; Twentieth-Century America – Earliest Christian Songs; Medieval Christmas Carols;
Boar's Head; – Origins; History; Queen's College;

Songs

Auld Lang Syne; – Words to the Song; “Auld Lang Syne” Becomes an American New Year's Song – Robert Burns's Restoration;
White Christmas; – Holiday Inn – The Composer; “White Christmas,” the Song; White Christmas, the Movie;
Christmas Island (song)

Literature

A Christmas Carol; – Life and Times of Charles Dickens; The Writing of A Christmas Carol; Public Readings; The Carol as Personal History; The Carol as Christmas Philosophy; Other Christmas Works – The Carol as a Ghost Story;

Movies

Miracle on 34th Street – The Actors; Facts about the Film – The Author of the Book; The Director and Screenwriter; Remakes;
It's a Wonderful Life – The Greatest Gift; The Script Becomes a Film; It's a Wonderful Life; Looking Back;

Television shows

A Charlie Brown Christmas; – Charles Schulz's “Peanuts”; The Making of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”; Reactions to “A Charlie Brown Christmas”;
How the Grinch Stole Christmas;

Food and drink

Christmas Ale or Christmas Beer or Yule Ale, Seasonal Ales; Christmas Ale;
Christmas Cakes or Christmas Breads or Yule Bread or Yule Cakes; – Twelfth Night and Christmas Cakes – European Christmas Breads and Cakes; Yule Doughs; Scandinavian Cakes and Customs; Greek New Year Bread;
Mincemeat pie or Christmas pie; – Medieval Christmas cookery; Jack Horner's Christmas pie; Puritan Opposition to Mincemeat; Changing Recipes;
Plum Pudding or Christmas Pudding or Figgy Pudding – Medieval Cookery;
Yule log or Bouche de Noël or Calignaou or Chalendal or Christmas Block or Christmas Log or Tréfoir or Yule Clog – History; Ceremonies and Superstitions; Gifts and Blessings;
Eggnog;
Gingerbread – Uses and Recipes – German Traditions;
Hopping John;
Lamb's wool or Wassail - Recipes;
Sugarplums;

Gospel Accounts of Christmas

Gospel According to Matthew
Flight into Egypt – Legends;
Gospel According to Luke – The Birth of Jesus According to Luke
The Birth of Jesus According to Matthew – Differences – Similarities; Folklore;

Legends

Christmas Rose or Black Hellebore, Christmas Rose or Black Hellebore or Snow Rose or Winter Rose – A Swedish Tale – The Legend of Madelon;
A French Legend;
Cherry Tree - Legends;
Nativity legends – Legends concerning Jesus' Birth; Christmas legends;
Snow Maiden or Snegurochka – Legend of the Snow Maiden;
Glastonbury Thorn – Life and Legends of Joseph of Arimathea; The History of the Glastonbury Thorn, The Glastonbury Thorn in the United States; Christmas at Glastonbury;

Greenery

Mistletoe– Other Customs and Beliefs; Norse Mythology; Kissing under the Mistletoe – Evergreens in Ancient Times; Mistletoe as an Emblem of Good Will;
Holly – Christianity and the Significance of Holly; folklore and Customs – Ancient Beliefs and Customs;
Ivy – Ancient Beliefs and Customs; Medieval Beliefs and Customs; Later Beliefs and Customs, The Green Branch as a Symbol;
Rosemary;
Bay leaf;

Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Year's Celebrations

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Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Year's Celebrations

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