Marele atlas al Crăciunului: Cele mai vesele, mai savuroase și mai neobișnuite tradiții din toată lumea

by Alex Palmer, Mihai Călin (Narrator)

Durata: 4h 58m

BUCURIE ÎN LUMEA ÎNTREAGĂ!

Știai că în Guatemala perioada festivă a Crăciunului începe doar după ce are loc o tradiție numită „Arderea diavolului”, când în fiecare gospodărie se dă foc unei piñata în scop purificator?
Sau că în Suedia în centrul acestei sărbători se află julbock („Capra de Crăciun”), un personaj popular zgomotos și puțin înfricoșător, care merge din casă în casă, cerându-le dulciuri gazdelor?
Sau că în Japonia preparatul care nu lipsește de pe nicio masă de Crăciun este celebrul „pui Kentucky”?

Dacă te afli printre cei care citesc această carte înseamnă că ceva ce are legătură cu sărbătoarea Crăciunului îți place în mod deosebit. Poate că este vorba despre un colind, o prăjitură specială făcută de bunica în Ajunul Crăciunului sau pur și simplu despre mirosul îmbietor din case, din magazine și de pe străzi. Sigur există o tradiție de Crăciun care te încântă şi te emoţionează profund.

În lucrarea de faţă vei descoperi o mulțime de obiceiuri încântătoare care au loc de această sărbătoare peste tot în lume. De la decorațiuni și diverse jocuri la mese bogate și daruri speciale, din paginile MARELUI ATLAS AL CRĂCIUNULUI vei afla despre tradițiile minunate, dar și ieșite din comun ale fiecărei țări.

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction, Holiday, History, Audiobook, Folklore, Coffee Table Books

5 pages, Audiobook

About the author

Alex Palmer was born in London‚ and arrived in Sydney in the late 1960s. She studied English literature and language at Macquarie University and later gained a postgraduate diploma in information management at the University of New South Wales. Alex now writes full time. She is married and lives in Canberra.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now for a general reference guide regarding Yuletide traditions from all over the world, Alex Palmer has (in my humble opinion) done a pretty decently extensive (but of course also not ever intensive) textual job with his 2020 The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World, featuring a for the most part sufficiently user friendly set-up and also including at the back of The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World a very nice and detailed list of sources (about which I am personally truly pleased, since far too often, Christmas guidebooks and encyclopaedias do sadly not bother with providing bibliographical materials, or they do not provide sufficient amounts of the same, something that I do as an academic really consider a major no-no with regard to non-fiction).

And yes, I do very much delightfully appreciate Alex Palmer showing in The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World how many of the non specifically Nativity (read specifically Christian, whether Western or Eastern) themed European Christmas traditions are in fact (or at least likely) based on folklore and pre-Christian concepts (frightening away the winter, gift bearing witches and goddess like figures, knocking on doors to obtain treats, the many often strange incarnations of St. Nicholas and his distinctly non saint like, often clad in black or in ragged furs companions) and that there is also a major focus in The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World on the more obscure and on the lesser known (such as using guns to salute Christmas in Bavaria, that many African countries combine traditional spirituality with the Biblical story of Jesus' birth, that for Syrian Christians, gifts are brought by the camels of the Magi and that in Iceland the aptly named Christmas Book Flood, the Jólabókaflóðið, is one of the country's most cherished Yuletide customs, with new books being released just before Christmas and being the most popular and also the most asked for and beloved presents in Iceland).

However, as much as I have truly enjoyed reading The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World (and in particular finding out about some German, Austrian, Scandinavian, Belgian and Dutch traditions that were actually totally unknown to me, even with my Western European background), sorry, but there are a few issues with Alex Palmer's featured text that kind of bother me a bit. For indeed, it does kind of at times seem like Palmer is so focused on showing us the obscure that some of the more standard Christmas traditions are either not covered at all or only briefly alluded to in The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World, so that there is for example not really a section on Advent and on the Nativity but that readers kind of need to find bits and pieces in separate sections. And yes, that in The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World, Jesus Christ, Mary and Joesph are certainly not ever as prominently presented by Alex Palmer as are Frau Holle, Krampus, St. Nicholas and Christmas witches like La Befana and Babushka, and not to mention that in the section on Christmas foods and drinks, no mention is made of Christmas Pudding, Stollen and Lebkuchen, which are all foods that in my opinion should be prominently featured in every reference book on Christmas, this does indeed for me leave some rather annoying and also totally unavoidable informational hole in The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World (and also leaves me shaking my head a bit).

And combined with the fact that I have found a rather annoying number of silly typos in The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the Worl (and certainly mistakes that totally could easily be avoided with adequate proofreading and editing) and that I personally also do not find the accompanying artwork with basically no facial features for the depicted human figures all that aesthetically appealing, no, even though I do consider The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World pretty good and both readable and informative, I also cannot really have a rating higher than three stars.

[Sandra Deaconu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dacă nu aș fi citit cuvântul ,,Crăciun" de atâtea ori, nu aș fi simțit nici urmă din această sărbătoare în tonul cărții. La fel de bine putea să fie și despre nasturi, că nu ar fi fost nicio diferență. Putea, cu siguranță, să fie și o carte distractivă, nu doar pentru cultura generală. Niște ilustrații frumoase sau poze care să surprindă lucrurile despre care a vorbit nu m-ar fi supărat deloc, zău! Nici două-trei rețete detaliate în capitolele în care vorbește despre mâncare. Nu cum mă așteptam, dar, în mare parte, a fost o lectură OK, citită când chiar nu am avut niciun chef să îmi trezesc creierul, și poate fi un cadou frumos, în special pentru cei care apreciază enciclopediile, dar, dacă vreți ceva care să și transmită acea atmosferă festivă, nu sperați prea mult! Recenzia aici: https://shorturl.at/kosP4.

[Loredana (Bookinista08) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ascultată pe Voxa și mi-a plăcut foarte mult, dar trebuie să recunosc că e o carte care merită parcursă pe hârtie, și nu numai asta, dar merită să vă luați un exemplar ca să-l puteți răsfoi în fiecare an de Crăciun. Însă și lectura lui Mihai Călin a fost extrem de plăcută. Recomand totuși exemplarul fizic, și eu îmi voi lua anul viitor unul ca să-l mai frunzăresc. Din păcate multe dintre detalii se pierd la audiție fiindcă trecerile de la o țară la alta și de la un obicei la altul sunt rapide și e mai bine să vezi totul scris negru pe alb. 4 steluțe fiindcă mi-ar fi plăcut să aflu încă și mai multe lucruri, din și mai multe țări. Însă apreciez munca autorului. ^^

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiindcă sărbătoarea Crăciunului e tot mai aproape această carte a fost o alegere foarte bună. M-am bucurat mult să aflu despre tradițiile și obiceiurile mai multor popoare, astfel am putut să-mi aduc aminte și de obiceiurile pe care le aveam și eu când eram copil, era una dintre cele mai așteptate sărbători, iar iernile aveau un farmec aparte fiindcă aveau zăpadă din belșug 🤍
Cartea conține foarte multe informații captivante și nu te lasă să te plictisești, ba din potrivă îți îmbogățește cunoștințele și îți aduce atmosfera un pic mai aproape 🎄⭐️🙏🏻
Recomand cu drag 🤩 și apropo ca o idee de cadou e genială 🫶🏻

[Carmen Liffengren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Atlas of Christmas is a compact concise compendium of Christmas traditions around the world. It was fascinating to read about how many traditions are so similar and yet, distinct. I found that some of the traditions had a definite Halloween vibe and I could see the connection and flow of the holidays and seasons. I loved learning about both the Coptic church and the Eastern church and their emphasis on the Epiphany celebrations. Traditions to adopt: Iceland's Book Flood, the Christmas Eve book exchange!

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those books that passed through my hands at the library that I couldn’t resist! I loved reading about the Christmas meals, the Christmas desserts, and the weird traditions from around the world. So much of our present day celebrations are linked to pagan rituals, other cultures, folklore, and just strange origins. Christmas traditions can be just as wacky as Easter being about bunnies and eggs :) It’s a fun book that you could just skim through or read parts of.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote a review for this ***Previously*** but it's disappeared. As other readers & reviewers have observed this book was probably pushed to publication too quickly. I myself pre-ordered a copy, prior to the holidays, it often references a page number that does not exist, pages are missing, etc.
Second observation is this book includes Christmas Traditions from all over the world, except the United States. Perhaps that is their next book.

[Sarah Cupitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely stretches the idea of what counts as Christmas - really interesting read

notes:
- In Mexico, the nightly celebrations of Las Posadas turn the story of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter into a neighbourhood routine.Each evening, a small procession moves from house to house with people in costume, children carrying candles, and musicians playing traditional songs.
- Later in the season, Epiphany on January 6 keeps the holiday going in Spain and much of Latin America.The focus shifts to the three Wise Men, who appear in parades and bring gifts that many children anticipate even more than those on December 25.Kids write letters, leave out their shoes, and often wake up to small surprises tucked inside.Bakeries sell special cakes with a hidden token, and the person who finds it is treated as honorary royalty for the day.
- Together, Las Posadas and Epiphany stretch the Christmas story over several weeks, with each celebration highlighting a different moment.Other ceremonies are less about specific Bible scenes and more about setting the seasonal mood.German Christmas markets turn town squares into meeting places with wooden stalls, nativity scenes, hot spiced wine, and toys that draw people out on cold evenings.In Sweden, white-clad Saint Lucia processions bring light into some of the darkest days of the year, while in Guatemala, the “Burning of the Devil” uses dramatic bonfires to clear away bad influences before major feast days.Finland’s Declaration of Christmas Peace adds an official touch as authorities publicly call for calm and good behaviour.
- Farther south and west, Christmas becomes a test of stamina.On the Irish coast, thousands in Santa hats sprint into icy seas on Christmas morning, often for charity while rescue crews keep watch.In Finland, the same season sends people into intense heat rather than cold.
- In Brazil’s northeast, communities stage Bumba Meu Boi, a lively play about the death and resurrection of a bull, with a pregnant trickster, dancing costumed “animals,” and mockery of local elites.In Welsh villages, a party escorts a decorated horse skull from door to door, trading rhymed insults with homeowners before being let in for food, drink, and a bit of a fright.


- (on santa) Around the world, the job of gift giving is shared among bishops, babies, giants, witches, and even a frost spirit, each shaped by local history and belief.
- A good place to start is with the historical Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop from Myra in today’s Turkey, known for generosity and honored with his own feast on December 6. Over time, parents left secret gifts for their children in his name, often tucked into shoes, and that habit spread across Europe
- In the Netherlands and Belgium, he remains Sinterklaas, still dressed as a bishop in red robes, arriving by boat and horseback in early December and treated as the main gift giver of the season.Elsewhere in Europe he splinters into relatives like Father Christmas in England or Père Noël in France, who look very Santa-like yet keep touches such as hooded robes or filling shoes instead of stockings.
- In Russia and other Slavic countries, Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, arrives from the woods with his granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden.
- The Basque Country celebrates Olentzero, a rustic giant from mountain folklore who now spends his eternal life handing out toys, while Italy welcomes La Befana, a house-proud old woman on a broomstick who roams on Epiphany, still trying to find the Christ child and leaving treats – or coal – along the way.Taken together, these characters show how each culture picks a different face to represent generosity and moral lessons at Christmas.


- Krampus from Austria and Bavaria, a horned creature with hooves, a long tongue, and a bundle of birch switches for misbehaving children. He trails behind Saint Nicholas on his rounds while adults in heavy fur costumes march through towns for Krampus Night parades.Attempts by church leaders and later governments to suppress him never fully worked, and his popularity has surged again with elaborate masks and organised events.
- Farther north in Iceland, a whole family of winter beings takes the role of enforcer.Thirteen Yule Lads descend from the mountains one by one in the days before Christmas, each with a specialty prank that ranges from stealing food to peering through windows.Their mother, the ogress Grýla, looms over the stories, said to kidnap disobedient children for her cooking pot, helped by a huge black Yule Cat that targets kids who have failed to receive new clothes for the holiday.
- Liberian communities welcome “Dancing Devils,” masked performers who whirl through the streets during the season, backed by drummers and a narrator figure often called Old Man Beggar.



- Families in Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia sit down only after the first star appears, then work through soups, fish, grains, and vegetable dishes like beet soup, sweetened wheat, and herring or carp.The twelve dishes point to the apostles or the months of the year, and many homes still set an extra place for a guest or departed relative, sometimes with straw under the cloth as a quiet reminder of the manger.
- In Spanish-speaking countries and the Philippines, Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena, is often built around lechón, a whole roasted pig.The details vary, from Cuban roasting boxes to seasoned pork in Puerto Rico to different roasting methods in Manila and Cebu, but in every case the slow cooking draws neighbors and relatives together long before anyone eats.
- Elsewhere, seafood or beloved staples take center stage.Southern Italian households focus on eel and other fish dishes at a long Christmas Eve supper, while West African families gather around bright red jollof rice cooked in huge pots and endlessly debated in terms of whose version is best.In Japan, many households now mark the day with pre-ordered Kentucky Fried Chicken, a tradition launched by a 1970s advertising campaign and still associated with special “Christmas Chicken” sets
- In Indian Christian communities, families prepare kuswar, a spread of homemade sweets that can include fried curls of dough glazed in sugar.Nigerian chin chin fills bowls with crunchy cubes of spiced dough that guests and children graze on throughout the holiday.In the cold of a European December, mugs of mulled wine simmered with spices and citrus warm both hands and conversation.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been 4 stars, but lots of typos, and most of the suggestions to reference a certain page for more information said “see page TK”. As in, the person needed to go back and write the number and didn’t get to it. Either way, I enjoyed the books and learned a little about different traditions.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been wanting a book like this forever! I liked the illustrations and design of the book. The facts about winter holiday celebrations around the world were very interesting. There were a couple of typos, particularly with the “refer back to” pages, but overall it didn’t take away from the book. I enjoyed reading this one right before Christmas!

[Mădă · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed learning about different Christmas and New Year's traditions! I definitely jotted some of them down, so I can add them to my own traditions. <3

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Любопытные традиции разных стран, которые я забуду через полчаса. Меня больше всего удивило, что в Эфиопии - православная страна (загуглите фотки).

[Anne Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is a book encouraging us to ‘take it slow’ really necessary during the pandemic? Perhaps not, many of us are taking it slow because have no other choice. But everyone is in a different situation, and I have no doubt there are some people facing an even busier holiday season because of the restrictions; family staying the length of a quarantine, individual meals made up and delivered to family around the city, obsessive house cleaning to reduce spread, all these measures to help protect us against Covid-19 will inevitably be dumped on someone’s lap, so this book will always be relevant to a percentage of the population. Personally, I’ve ordered my Christmas Eve dinner from a local cooking school so all I have to do is heat it up in the oven. Look at me; I’m benefitting from this book already!

Next we have The Atlas of Christmas, The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions From Around the World by Alex Palmer. I say this in the nicest way possible; this is your standard-fare toilet book, and by that I mean it’s one of those books you keep in the bathroom. You can dip in and out of it for a page or two to discover some fascinating little fact that you can impress people with at your next trivia night (in 2021?), or simply revel in the fact that Christmas means so many different things to so many different people. Palmer divides the book into sections like food, games, decor, ceremonies, and saints/gift bringers, and even though each country he touches upon has their own variations, it’s a real treat to learn about the breadth of traditions that are connected to this holiday. One of the most hilarious examples is from the Spanish in Catalonia, who sometimes include a figure known as “El Caganer”, otherwise known as “the crapper” in their nativity scenes. This is a figure, (typically a man) who is squatting down with his pants around his ankles taking a poop off in the corner of the scene. Yes, you read that right! I laughed out loud when I first landed upon this, and you can best believe I’ll be trotting out this little piece of information at my family’s next holiday meal.

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[Jung]

Alex Palmer’s "The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World" invites readers to explore the extraordinary variety of ways people celebrate Christmas across the globe, showing that the season stretches far beyond the familiar images of a decorated tree, carols, and a festive meal. In this book, Palmer uncovers a rich tapestry of customs, rituals, foods, and folklore that range from the heartwarming to the bizarre, revealing how different cultures layer their history, humor, and local identity onto a holiday that is celebrated almost universally. By tracing these practices, readers gain both a sense of wonder and practical inspiration for reimagining their own festive experiences.

Palmer begins with public rituals, the collective expressions that mark the official start of the season in towns and cities. Around the world, these events bring communities together, blending faith, folklore, and history. In Mexico, Las Posadas transforms the biblical story of Mary and Joseph into nine nights of processions where neighbors and children participate, moving from house to house with music, costumes, and candles before being welcomed in with prayers and festive treats like tamales and sweet bread. Similarly, Epiphany celebrations in Spain and Latin America continue the story into January, centering on the three Wise Men with parades, gift-giving, and ceremonial cakes with hidden tokens that delight children. In Germany, town squares come alive with Christmas markets that feature wooden stalls, nativity scenes, hot spiced wine, and handcrafted toys, while Sweden’s Saint Lucia processions light the darkest days with glowing candles and white-clad singers. In Guatemala, dramatic bonfires in the Burning of the Devil ritual cleanse the streets of bad influences, and Finland officially declares Christmas Peace, creating a public reminder to embrace calm and goodwill. These shared ceremonies set the tone for the season, announcing its arrival with communal energy and spectacle.

Beyond formal observances, Christmas becomes an outlet for local quirks and eccentricities, revealing how deeply culture shapes festive expression. In Iceland, a literary tradition dominates the holiday, as families exchange stacks of new books on Christmas Eve, prompting nationwide engagement with reading and language. On the Irish coast, thousands brave icy waters in charity swims, while in Finland, the sauna becomes a central part of Christmas Eve, with heat, birch branches, and candlelit graveyard visits forming a unique winter ritual. Brazil’s Bumba Meu Boi is a theatrical spectacle involving dancing animals, mockery of local elites, and playful dramatization, while in parts of Wales, communities parade a decorated horse skull from door to door, exchanging rhymes before being welcomed for food and drink. Such customs reveal how communities adapt Christmas to local humor, history, and the natural environment, adding vivid diversity to a single holiday.

Gift-giving practices illustrate another layer of cultural variation, showing that Santa Claus is only one of many figures who reward children. Historical Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop celebrated for generosity, became the model for European traditions. In the Netherlands and Belgium, he is Sinterklaas, arriving on horse or boat in early December, while England and France feature Father Christmas and Père Noël, retaining local variations. Germany and Switzerland often celebrate the Christkindl, an angelic figure who delivers presents, while Russia and other Slavic nations welcome Ded Moroz, accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka. In Italy, La Befana - a house-proud old woman on a broomstick - roams during Epiphany, leaving sweets or coal, while the Basque Olentzero is a mountain-dwelling giant dispensing toys. These figures show how different societies represent generosity and moral guidance, creating cultural identities through the faces and stories of those who bring gifts.

Palmer also delves into the darker, more mischievous side of the season. Across Europe, devils and tricksters like Austria’s Krampus, with his horned visage and bundle of birch switches, patrol the streets to discipline misbehaving children. Iceland’s thirteen Yule Lads and their mother Grýla, accompanied by a giant black Yule Cat, embody similar lessons, using pranks and threats to reinforce order during a harsh winter. Liberia’s 'Dancing Devils' combine drumming, masks, and playful intimidation, integrating local political commentary into festive performance. These figures reveal how Christmas can harness fear and chaos to enhance storytelling and social cohesion, balancing generosity with cautionary lessons.

Food plays a central role in Christmas celebrations worldwide, serving as both sustenance and cultural storytelling. In Eastern and Central Europe, Christmas Eve often features twelve meatless dishes representing the apostles or months, including soups, fish, grains, and vegetable dishes, with extra places set for absent family members. Spanish-speaking countries and the Philippines focus on lechón, a whole roasted pig, while Venezuela adds hallacas, cornmeal parcels filled with meat, raisins, and olives. Southern Italians center on fish, and West Africans enjoy red jollof rice in abundant communal gatherings. Even Japan has adopted a modern culinary tradition of ordering Kentucky Fried Chicken, illustrating the influence of advertising and cultural adaptation. These meals embed history, family, and local flavor in everyday practice, emphasizing connection and ritual over uniformity.

Sweets and drinks extend Christmas into daily life, blending enjoyment with meaning. Spanish roscón de reyes hides a small figure inside, crowning the finder as symbolic royalty. France, Poland, China, India, and Nigeria each use local confections to reinforce tradition, connection, and symbolic significance, from Polish oplatek wafers shared for good wishes to decorated apples in China symbolizing peace. Mulled wine, kuswar, and chin chin illustrate how seasonally prepared treats support communal life and mark the passage of the holiday. These edible customs quietly carry the season’s spirit, connecting communities and families across time and space.

In conclusion, "The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World" by Alex Palmer shows that Christmas is far richer and more diverse than a single image of snow, trees, and presents. Through public processions, eccentric local rituals, a wide array of gift-giving figures, mischievous devils, lavish feasts, and meaningful sweets and drinks, the book captures the depth and creativity of human celebration. Palmer’s exploration illustrates that while Christmas may have universal themes, the ways people mark it are endlessly inventive, offering inspiration to refresh our own holiday customs and storytelling with new sights, tastes, and stories from around the world.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, but did not appreciate the fact it was sent to the printers before the copy edits were finished.

[Gala · Rating 2 out of 5]

зазвичай у грудні я читаю Різдвяне все, і мене ще жодного разу не знудило конфеті, тож і ця книжка - данина щорічному читальному адвентцайту.

Насправді, я чекала чогось більшого, ніж хаотичний мікс цитат аз Вікі, але це теж було непогано - я ��ізналася нові факти, і, можливо, в наступні роки (Різдвяний час має дарувати оптимізм) я пошукаю грунтовніших книжок про побіжно згалані тут явища.

Книга для дорослих, це навіть за ілюстраціями помітно, тож не зрозуміло, чому вавтор опріснює деякі факти - святий Миколай тут рятує чомусь від жебракування, а не проституції (проте розчленовані хлопці в діжці присутні). Але згладжування підсолодження дає мені надію, що і, скажімо, з Кобилячою головою із Вельсу все не так солодкаво і дізнатися про неї більше має сенс.

В якийсь момент я трошки прифігіла, коли серед визначних музичних традицій не знайшла українських колядок та щедрівок. Але потім серед кулінарних пам'яток, так само, були відсутні, штолен з лебкухенами (а от кутя була), та й інші скарги є, якщо почитати відгуки, тож робота загалом просто виглядає як не надто дбайлива.

Вже не вперше я зустрічаю цікавий факт про Український різдвяний декор - буцімто в нас прикрашають різдвяну ялинку сріблястою чи золотавою павутиною, на яку садовлять павука, від чого "святкування Різдва починає скидатися на Хеловін". Тут автор навіть кілька легенд на пояснення приводить. І я ніяк не можу зрозуміти, про що йдеться - це точно не "павук" із соломи - він в інщому параграфі(і згаданий як скандинавська, польська чи російська прикраса). Якщо це "дощик", то я ніколи не бачила, щоб на нього садовили павука. Нагуглити картинку не виходить.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sounded super cute! Unfortunately, reads like a college student’s research paper. Definitely presented with an American perspective, and has little to no context for many of the traditions described aside from how they might stem from the nativity story. Mentions that most western Christmas iconography stems from earlier pagan symbols and rituals, and doesn’t examine that at all. Describes a lot of different traditions with very little consideration of the cultural context surrounding them. Very dry. Also, could have benefitted from photos, personal accounts or interviews, heck even recipes for some of the Christmas food from around the world. Also, the book just ends, no conclusions or summarizing statements. Educational but not informative.

[Ania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas is my favourite holiday so I love to learn about traditions that countries have around the world (also why I love the short "Olaf's Frozen Adventure"). In Hispanic countries like Mexico and Spain, it seems to be celebrated similarly to Halloween in North America, with kids asking for treats and going door to door to reenact Joseph and Mary looking for an innkeeper who would take them in, called posada; similar celebrations occur in other Christian countries like Austria and Germany. Sinterklaas Festival, which begins in November, is mentioned next, which is similar to what I experienced going to Polish school as a kid when we were visited by Santa and given sweets weeks before actual Christmas. Next, is "Weihnachtsmarkte" or "Christmas market" in German, in which the oldest still-operating market is in Munich but the largest is in Nuremberg, and apparently the markets in Germany are some of the best though I still want to go to the one in Tallinn instead; Germany is also responsible for (or at least popularized) advent calendars, Christmas trees adorned with decorations and presents, and mulled wine.

I do wish there were more pictures in this book like of Santa Lucia, because the image of a girl with candles on her head always looks magical. I learned of the tradition of burning a yule log, which in Latvia starts by dragging it to various houses for it to collect negativity and misfortune, before burning it at a bonfire. I'm sure versions of this happen in other countries too, just as 'colinde', which the author attributes to Romania and Moldova as a caroling tradition, occurs in Poland as 'koledy' and I'm sure many other countries. I didn't know that here in Canada there's also the unique tradition of mummering, where people dress up in white bulky rags and disguise their voices while greeting people at their doors, before they perform music and have the hosts try to guess their identities (popularized by the song "Any Mummers Allowed In?" by Simani). Some traditions sound more suited to Halloween than Christmas, like Mari Lwyd in Wales, which involves a poetry-reciting horse skull on a stick. I was surprised that even Hong Kong celebrates Christmas with its annual WinterFest, which looks as nice as traditional Christmas markets around the world. I also love the mention of Christmas witches, including the well-dwelling, wagon-driving Frau Holle in Germany and La Befana or literally the Christmas Witch in Italy, who is basically the female Santa Claus (she is also similar to the Russian Baboushka). Then comes mention of the Christmas demon Krampus (similar to Belsnickel which reminds me of the hilarious "The Office" Christmas episode), which I already knew about, but there is more detail about its backstory in here, as well as troublemaking elves among others.

My favourite part of this atlas is probably the third, covering Christmas activities and food. Activities include lighting a yule goat (wooden of course) in Sweden, decorating with lanterns in the Phillippines and covering Christmas trees in silver and gold cobwebs and spiders in Ukraine, which also seems more fitting for Halloween. I love the tradition of the Night of the Radishes in Mexico, where sculptures are made out of, you guessed it, radishes, depicting different scenes, the day before Christmas Eve. And of course there's mention of Christmas crackers, which I want to do at least once at Christmas (we've always followed Polish traditions more), which is popular in commonwealth countries and especially England. Finally, this book mentions the numerous traditional dishes served like king cake in Spain, wassail or the similar but more popularly known mulled wine, barbara in Muslim countries where Christmas is celebrated, kutya in Ukraine, poppyseed milk in Lithuania, kadeh in Iran and chin chin in Nigeria. Having celebrated Polish Wigilia my whole life, I would expand on the "general meal of fish, potatoes and pea soup" that is stated here and say that we also follow the 12-course meal of Slavic countries, including potato/vegetable salad, cucumbers with sour cream and dill, pierogi with potatoes and cheese or mushrooms and sauerkraut, bread, barszcz, cakes including poppyseed (makowiec, which looks similar to the Yule log dessert), gingerbread, cheesecake, etc. This atlas doesn't claim to be comprehensive but hopefully readers know that it's not telling the full story of any of the traditions listed either. Overall, it's a fun read though again would have loved to see more pictures and of real people and things rather than all in one style, and it's not completely accurate.

[wellreadtraveler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I try to read only Holiday themed books in December so all the wrapping, buying, spending, stressing, helps keep me in the Christmas spirit. Each of us has some holiday tradition in our own families but I thought it would be fun to read about traditions around the world. I mean fellow book lovers are practically packing at this very minute to head to Iceland for their tradition of giving books, and then spending the day reading. Oh my heart that sounds delightful. Icelanders receive a catalog in November ( me, me, I want one too) and can order all new titles that will be delivered by Christmas. The. Families get together and exchange books. It’s called the holiday book flood.
The book explains other countries rituals, who they believe in such as Saint Nicholas, Sinterklass,Saint Lucia, Joulupukki,and Christkindl just to name a few.
You can read about Holiday trimmings and Trinkets, Holiday meals and desserts, competitions, and one of my favorites….the pooping log. Yes you read that right, in Spain they use a poop log like we Americans use the Elf on the Shelf. Every day the children “feed” the log and keep it wrapped in a blanket to stay warm, and when the day comes they hit the log with sticks and magically the log “poops” out presents.
The Atlas of Christmas was a fun book to read and I learned a lot. What are you fondest memories growing up, or traditions you have started with your family? I for one would love to join Iceland and when all the gifts are open and my tummy is full, grab a book and fall deep into a world of fiction. Happy Holidays!

[Bernard Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Palmer is an author who writes light non-fiction books on lifestyle hacks.

This book is a short one and covers traditions, food, characters, parties, etc, that people have in celebrating Christmas. It explains Santa Claus and derivatives, but also religious activities that take place leading up to the birth of Christ. Christmas is also celebrated in It does get one in the Christmas spirit.

In many parts of the world, Christmas is celebrated in minority Christian countries like in parts in the Middle East (eg Iraq) and Indonesia, albeit with different traditions. In our part in the world, in China and Japan - largely non Christian countries - Christmas is celebrated a little like Valentines Day, and in Japan, a day when fried chicken is consumed. I have no idea why. Christmas also is 6 Jan for Orthodox Christians. They do not follow the Gregorian calendar.

This book misses out on two opportunities. First, illustrations. It would have been so much vivid if photographs or drawings were used to show Christmas stuff. I googled a lot of them on the side. The second, instead of making a book of a list of things - no one really likes to read lists - it may have been better to approach the topic thematically. How is Christmas celebrated in Scandinavia? How is it celebrated in South America? I think it would make the celebratory environment much more vivid, instead of having a section on food, on parties, on parades etc.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great gifty type book with fun illustrations all about the traditions of Christmas all over the world. It's organized by type of celebration--food, parties, ceremonies, etc. It's super cute and I will give this as a gift this year.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Palmer offers up a world-wide guide to traditions, characters, foods, events, decorations and so much more, in (what I personally would say) is the only holiday guide and educator you need about this merry holiday!

Wow!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this as I was doing a project with a group of kids on European Christmases. Read through it all myself for interest and really enjoyed it. I never tried following the links so can't comment if work but really nice little book to dip in and out of.

[Steve Biron · Rating 5 out of 5]

great holiday reading!

If you ever wondered how the rest of the world celebrated the holidays,this is your book! I learned about the pork pie I grew up eating coming from a French-Canadian family.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun compilation of mostly European traditions.

[Cristina Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice read in the Christmas season but there were some grammar mistakes and typos. Most of the suggestions to reference a certain page for more information said “see page TK”.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book chronicling Christmas around the world from ancient customs to food to gift-giving to music. Spanning the globe, a great read or gift for those who love Christmas!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read so many Christmas books that some have nothing new for me but this one did.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that goes into various traditions around the world regarding Christmas. It would have been nice if the food section had actually given recipes...

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book! I enjoyed the interesting , often amusing, information & the clever artwork!