Items related to A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our...
For something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas, etymologically speaking, means "Go away, Christ." Nor do we know that Christmas was first celebrated in 243 AD on March 28—and only moved to December 25 in 354 AD. We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of Christmas crackers was merely a way of popularizing sweet wrappers. Luckily, Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities, making it all finally make sense—in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Mark Forsyth is the author of The Etymologicon and The Horologicon.
Review:
"Witty and revelatory. Blooming brilliant." —Raymond Briggs
"Everything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuff." —Matthew Parris
"Mark imparts knowledge about Christmas traditions from the essential to the (very) abstruse in wry and sardonic style. An effortless and enjoyable way to learn more about this fulcrum of our calendar." —Paul Smiddy, Former Head of pan-European retail research, HSBC
"Rather strangely for a book about Christmas, I could read this all year round. Lyrical and full of joy, it will definitely be in stockings round our house this December." —Bryony Gordon, author, The Wrong Knickers
"Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully." —Guardian on The Elements of Eloquence
"With his casual elegance and melodious voice, Mark Forsyth has an anachronistic charm totally at odds with the 21st century." —Sunday Times South Africa on The Horologicon
"This year's must-have stocking filler . . . the essential addition to the library in the smallest room is Mark Forsyth's The Etymologicon." —Guardian on The Etymologicon
"[The Etymologicon is] a perfect bit of stocking filler for the bookish member of the family, or just a cracking all-year-round-read. Highly recommended." —Spectator on The Etymologicon
"As good as promised—could have been thrice as long." —Ben Schott on The Elements of Eloquence
"Everything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuff." —Matthew Parris
"Mark imparts knowledge about Christmas traditions from the essential to the (very) abstruse in wry and sardonic style. An effortless and enjoyable way to learn more about this fulcrum of our calendar." —Paul Smiddy, Former Head of pan-European retail research, HSBC
"Rather strangely for a book about Christmas, I could read this all year round. Lyrical and full of joy, it will definitely be in stockings round our house this December." —Bryony Gordon, author, The Wrong Knickers
"Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully." —Guardian on The Elements of Eloquence
"With his casual elegance and melodious voice, Mark Forsyth has an anachronistic charm totally at odds with the 21st century." —Sunday Times South Africa on The Horologicon
"This year's must-have stocking filler . . . the essential addition to the library in the smallest room is Mark Forsyth's The Etymologicon." —Guardian on The Etymologicon
"[The Etymologicon is] a perfect bit of stocking filler for the bookish member of the family, or just a cracking all-year-round-read. Highly recommended." —Spectator on The Etymologicon
"As good as promised—could have been thrice as long." —Ben Schott on The Elements of Eloquence
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherViking
- Publication date2018
- ISBN 10 0241267730
- ISBN 13 9780241267738
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages192
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 20.01
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Seller Image
A Christmas Cornucopia (Hardcover)
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd, London
(2016)
ISBN 10: 0241267730
ISBN 13: 9780241267738
New
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. The curious origins and meanings of our cracking Christmas customsFor something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas.We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas was first celebrated on 28 March in 243 AD - and only moved to 25 December in 354 AD. We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. We're unaware of the recipe that inspired the Twelve Days of Christmas. And we would never have guessed that the invention of crackers was merely a way of popularizing sweet wrappers.Luckily, like a gift from Santa himself, Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities, making it all finally make sense - in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way. The unpredictable origins and etymologies of our cracking Christmas customs For something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas, etymologically speaking, means 'Go away, Christ'. Nor do we know that Christmas was first celebrated in 243 AD on 28 March - and only moved to 25 December in 354 AD. We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of crackers was merely a way of popularizing sweet wrappers. Luckily, like a gift from Santa himself, Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities, making it all finally make sense - in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780241267738
Buy New
US$ 20.01
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The hidden stories behind our Yuletide traditions
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 160. Seller Inventory # 26374945555
Buy New
US$ 16.03
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd 2016-11-03, London
(2016)
ISBN 10: 0241267730
ISBN 13: 9780241267738
New
Hardcover
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description hardback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9780241267738
Buy New
US$ 14.97
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The hidden stories behind our Yuletide traditions
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 160. Seller Inventory # 372148428
Buy New
US$ 14.72
Convert currency
Seller Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions by Forsyth, Mark [Hardcover ]
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780241267738
Buy New
US$ 26.67
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9780241267738_new
Buy New
US$ 14.15
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The hidden stories behind our Yuletide traditions
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd
(2018)
ISBN 10: 0241267730
ISBN 13: 9780241267738
New
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Num Pages: 192 pages. BIC Classification: 5HC; HBTB. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 120 x 188 x 19. Weight in Grams: 212. 2016. Hardback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # 9780241267738
Buy New
US$ 16.55
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The hidden stories behind our Yuletide traditions
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd
(2016)
ISBN 10: 0241267730
ISBN 13: 9780241267738
New
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Num Pages: 192 pages. BIC Classification: 5HC; HBTB. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 120 x 188 x 19. Weight in Grams: 212. 2016. Hardback. . . . . Seller Inventory # 9780241267738
Buy New
US$ 16.17
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Brand New. 192 pages. 7.50x4.50x0.75 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __0241267730
Buy New
US$ 16.06
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions
Published by
Viking Drill Tool
(2018)
ISBN 10: 0241267730
ISBN 13: 9780241267738
New
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover0241267730
Buy New
US$ 26.80
Convert currency