{"product_id":"of-christmases-long-long-ago-brian-earl-9781493089659","title":"Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past","description":"\u003cp\u003eAuthor Brian Earl is back with another look at the fascinating stories behind the most wonderful time of the year. Get ready to experience Christmas as you've never seen it before.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSurely, Christmas in the distant past must have been different from the one we know today. But how different? You're about to find out. The Christmases of long long, ago were a merry mess of of odd superstitions, dangerous games, and overindulgences that lasted from Christmas Day until Epiphany twelve days later. The \"Christmas season\" of earlier times was not the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day that Americans experience today, but rather a no-holds-barred bacchanalia following the austerity period of Advent. From it evolved some of our present-day traditions, such as caroling, which had its roots in beggars performing for a meal. This book also answers such questions as: when was Christmas Day first celebrated on December 25? Which president celebrated the first White House Christmas? What are the origins of holly and ivy as Christmas d?cor? These questions and more are answered in this fascinating look back at Christmases past.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Brian Earl\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 149308965X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781493089659\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Lyons Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/05\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 184\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover","brand":"Brian Earl","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46795602460927,"sku":"9781493089659","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_14743446-683b-420c-98c3-4fb07b320779.jpg?v=1744948110","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/of-christmases-long-long-ago-brian-earl-9781493089659","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}