4,000 Years of Christmas

The Christmas story which begins 4000 years ago, a charming narrative of Christmas customs from ancient Babylonia to modern America, from the rituals of the god-hero, Marduk, to those of the department store Santa Claus. Dr. Count traces the development of the idea of Christmas, shows how many different peoples and nations have shaped and transformed it, follows its historical movement from Asia Minor across the face of Europe and into America.

His pages are crowded with the legendary figures and exotic heroes who make up the long Christmas procession, yet his main concern lies always with the Child who gave Christmas its name, and with the mass of common people who have given it meaning.

All the elements of Christmas are here: the early pagan ceremonies and festivals, the Wise Men, the Star of Bethlehem, the Savior, the Yule Log, Christmas trees and decorations, St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, the gift giving, the rejoicing and the worship.

Son of a missionary, and an anthropologist of repute who has contributed widely to learned journals, Dr. Count has written this very readable and attractive book for the general reader-for adults, for teenagers, for youngsters to whom the story may be read.

Unusual Christmas Carols, many never before available in English, will be found here. Another unique feature is the chapter, "A Christmas Calendar," which explains the meaning of each date in the Yule period, beginning with Christ's Mass, the twelve days from November 11 to November 22, and ending with Candlemas on February 2.

This is, indeed, a remarkable book that will deepen our understanding of the nearly universal Christmas period of festival and worship. Here is the story of Christmas that is rarely told, the whole Christmas story.