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Die Geheime Geschichte von Weihnachten
Ho Ho Ho! Hier kommt ein Füllhorn an weihnachtlichen Wissensschmankerln von Bestsellerautor Bill Bryson.
Weihnachten ist das größte jährliche Ereignis auf dem Planeten, eine Zeit des Fröhlichseins, der Übertreibung, des Friedens, des guten Willens und des gelegentlichen Familienstreits.
Dieses Fest ist so bequem und vertraut wie ein altes Paar Schuhe und dabei trotzdem noch immer voller Glitzer und Aufregung. Aber was wissen wir wirklich darüber? Weihnachten ist vollgestopft mit Traditionen und Ritualen, die die meisten von uns schon unser ganzes Leben lang beobachten, ohne die geringste Ahnung zu haben, woher sie kommen.
Warum gibt es in England zum Beispiel den Boxing Day und warum heißt er so? Was ist die Geschichte hinter dem Weihnachtsbaum? Und wer hätte gedacht, dass Deck the Halls, eines der populärsten englischen Weihnachtslieder, ursprünglich ein walisisches Volkslied mit semi-pornografischen Anklängen war? Und wie wurde aus dem Heiligen Nikolaus, einem Bischof aus den Anfängen des Christentums, die dickliche und fröhliche Gestalt des Weihnachtsmanns mit einem fliegenden Schlitten und einem Zuhause am Nordpol?
Bill Bryson greift in den Weihnachtsstrumpf holt die überraschende Geschichte der englischen Weihnacht heraus - zusammen mit der unvermeidlichen Mandarine.
Originalaufnahme
Spieldauer: 3 Stunden 48 Minuten
Weihnachten ist das größte jährliche Ereignis auf dem Planeten, eine Zeit des Fröhlichseins, der Übertreibung, des Friedens, des guten Willens und des gelegentlichen Familienstreits.
Dieses Fest ist so bequem und vertraut wie ein altes Paar Schuhe und dabei trotzdem noch immer voller Glitzer und Aufregung. Aber was wissen wir wirklich darüber? Weihnachten ist vollgestopft mit Traditionen und Ritualen, die die meisten von uns schon unser ganzes Leben lang beobachten, ohne die geringste Ahnung zu haben, woher sie kommen.
Warum gibt es in England zum Beispiel den Boxing Day und warum heißt er so? Was ist die Geschichte hinter dem Weihnachtsbaum? Und wer hätte gedacht, dass Deck the Halls, eines der populärsten englischen Weihnachtslieder, ursprünglich ein walisisches Volkslied mit semi-pornografischen Anklängen war? Und wie wurde aus dem Heiligen Nikolaus, einem Bischof aus den Anfängen des Christentums, die dickliche und fröhliche Gestalt des Weihnachtsmanns mit einem fliegenden Schlitten und einem Zuhause am Nordpol?
Bill Bryson greift in den Weihnachtsstrumpf holt die überraschende Geschichte der englischen Weihnacht heraus - zusammen mit der unvermeidlichen Mandarine.
Originalaufnahme
Spieldauer: 3 Stunden 48 Minuten
4 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 22, 2022
57 people are currently reading
1567 people want to read
About the author
Bill Bryson
100 books22.3k followersBill Bryson is a bestselling American-British author known for his witty and accessible nonfiction books spanning travel, science, and language. He rose to prominence with Notes from a Small Island (1995), an affectionate portrait of Britain, and solidified his global reputation with A Short History of Nearly Everything (2003), a popular science book that won the Aventis and Descartes Prizes. Raised in Iowa, Bryson lived most of his adult life in the UK, working as a journalist before turning to writing full-time. His other notable works include A Walk in the Woods, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, and The Mother Tongue. Bryson served as Chancellor of Durham University (2005–2011) and received numerous honorary degrees and awards, including an honorary OBE and election as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society. Though he announced his retirement from writing in 2020, he remains one of the most beloved voices in contemporary nonfiction, with over 16 million books sold worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 532 reviews
December 14, 2022
Bill Bryson reels off Christmas facts. I love Christmas, it's definitely my favourite time of the year, so this was great for December. Lots of trivia about the start of traditions and random stuff. Fun, festive and free on Audible.
December 4, 2022
Oh my! This audio was a true delight! “The Secret History of Christmas” narrated and authored by Bill Bryson is a freebee from Amazon Audible that is 3 hours of joy.
Ever wonder who invented the Christmas Card? How did mistletoe become part of Christmas? How did December 25th become the decided birth of our Lord? Boxing Day? What the heck is that? And Christmas carols, who started the tradition? What sort of fowl is favored by different countries at the “Christmas” season? Ever wonder what the folks in Japan eat to recognize a Christian Holiday?
This is the perfect listen to get you in the holiday spirit. It’s fun, entertaining, and incredibly informative. I was astounded by my lack of curiosity surrounding the traditions of Christmas.
I highly recommend this, especially for the month of December. I am going to make it a new tradition for me to listen to this audio every December!
Ever wonder who invented the Christmas Card? How did mistletoe become part of Christmas? How did December 25th become the decided birth of our Lord? Boxing Day? What the heck is that? And Christmas carols, who started the tradition? What sort of fowl is favored by different countries at the “Christmas” season? Ever wonder what the folks in Japan eat to recognize a Christian Holiday?
This is the perfect listen to get you in the holiday spirit. It’s fun, entertaining, and incredibly informative. I was astounded by my lack of curiosity surrounding the traditions of Christmas.
I highly recommend this, especially for the month of December. I am going to make it a new tradition for me to listen to this audio every December!
October 21, 2025
Als Weihnachts-Fan fand ich dieses Hörbuch sehr interessant und spannend! Der Autor präsentiert uns Fakten und Wissenswertes rund um das Weihnachtsfest. Vieles davon war mir nicht bekannt, daher fand ich es nicht nur unterhaltsam, sondern auch sehr lehrreich.
Auf jeden Fall hat es viel Spaß gemacht!
Auf jeden Fall hat es viel Spaß gemacht!
December 23, 2022
This is a short audiobook (3 hours long) that came free with my Audible membership, and an entertaining look at the development of our modern Christmas rituals. The book is heavily slanted towards the traditions of the Anglophone world, with a few brief mentions of some from continental Europe.
The origin of many Christmas traditions has been lost to time and in parts of the book Bryson can only outline our best guesses. The book provided me with plenty of new perspectives though. It sems that in medieval times Advent was expected to be a period of abstinence, rather like Lent, and thus by the time Christmas arrived people were ready for a bit of merry-making. At this stage in history Christmas was an occasion for adults rather than children, and it seems it wasn’t unusual for revellers to go around banging on doors and demanding food and drink and/or gifts with menaces. Anyone who refused might expect retaliatory action. The drunkenness and general licentiousness associated with Christmas led the Puritans to try to ban it in the 17th century, on both sides of the Atlantic. Christmas survived but the book suggests that it was a fairly low-key event until the 1840s. It’s often suggested that Dickens created the modern Christmas with the publication of A Christmas Carol in December 1843, though Bryson suggests that Dickens captured rather than created the new national mood. The role of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert was also significant, but the book suggests that the bounce-back of Christmas at this time was more a reflection of Britain’s growing prosperity and of the country’s population explosion during the 19th century, largely brought about by a spectacular fall in the infant death rate. The United States gets the lead role in the development of Santa Claus, who somehow morphed from a 4th century Christian Bishop from Asia Minor into a magical being who lives at the North Pole.
A light and very fun seasonal read.
The origin of many Christmas traditions has been lost to time and in parts of the book Bryson can only outline our best guesses. The book provided me with plenty of new perspectives though. It sems that in medieval times Advent was expected to be a period of abstinence, rather like Lent, and thus by the time Christmas arrived people were ready for a bit of merry-making. At this stage in history Christmas was an occasion for adults rather than children, and it seems it wasn’t unusual for revellers to go around banging on doors and demanding food and drink and/or gifts with menaces. Anyone who refused might expect retaliatory action. The drunkenness and general licentiousness associated with Christmas led the Puritans to try to ban it in the 17th century, on both sides of the Atlantic. Christmas survived but the book suggests that it was a fairly low-key event until the 1840s. It’s often suggested that Dickens created the modern Christmas with the publication of A Christmas Carol in December 1843, though Bryson suggests that Dickens captured rather than created the new national mood. The role of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert was also significant, but the book suggests that the bounce-back of Christmas at this time was more a reflection of Britain’s growing prosperity and of the country’s population explosion during the 19th century, largely brought about by a spectacular fall in the infant death rate. The United States gets the lead role in the development of Santa Claus, who somehow morphed from a 4th century Christian Bishop from Asia Minor into a magical being who lives at the North Pole.
A light and very fun seasonal read.
December 20, 2023
An interesting history of the traditions of Christmas 🤓
December 14, 2025
Leaping off from At Home to this was a good move. There's some repeat material . . . well, it's almost like a sequel, there are people who figured big in At Home who pop up again . . . which was great! This was very funny, and sweet, and fascinating, with a look at everything from Christmas carols to trees to Santa to plum pudding!
2024: Had the kids listen to this with me as we drove to and from Idaho. Enjoyable for all!
2025: Had a bad day, listened to this, instantly felt better!
2024: Had the kids listen to this with me as we drove to and from Idaho. Enjoyable for all!
2025: Had a bad day, listened to this, instantly felt better!
November 28, 2024
The Secret History of Christmas is a non-fiction audio book written by and narrated by Bill Bryson. This is a fun and informative book to entertain and also teach you lots of facts and tidbits of information you never knew you wanted the answer to.
Bill has obviously done lots of research for this book, and it was a different listen for Christmas for me, and I found I really enjoyed it.
Have you ever wanted to know why boxing day is called boxing day? Or what the story behind the Christmas cracker is? Give this a listen and find out. This book is currently free on audible, so give it a whirl.
Bill has obviously done lots of research for this book, and it was a different listen for Christmas for me, and I found I really enjoyed it.
Have you ever wanted to know why boxing day is called boxing day? Or what the story behind the Christmas cracker is? Give this a listen and find out. This book is currently free on audible, so give it a whirl.
December 5, 2023
Free with audible, this is narrated by Bill Bryson (who I've had the pleasure of meeting - he's great) and presents various facts and interesting tit bits about Christmas. It's a very Western, often British viewpoint but I found it to be really interesting and quite nostalgic. I liked the section on hymns and traditions best, and it went well with my other current read at the time The Twelve Birds of Christmas. I had no idea that the man who wrote Sleepy Hollow pretty much invested Santa for example.
Christmas is such a well known holiday, brimming with so much history and memories that I find it really interesting to see how customs and traditions have evolved over time. Really fun and engaging read.
Christmas is such a well known holiday, brimming with so much history and memories that I find it really interesting to see how customs and traditions have evolved over time. Really fun and engaging read.
December 13, 2024
I'm quite the Christmas fan.
Not a fan of the kitsch, the overabundance of far too chaotic and colourful lighting and cheap blow-up figures some deploy all around their homes, or the mad shopping sprees some go on - to say nothing of how aggressive most tend to be in the stores.
What I do love is the coziness, the punch (don't like mulled wine) and traditional cookies (Spekulatius as well as Lebkuchen), the songs (the classics anyway), and the idea of being surrounded by loved ones (it's nobody's fault that most families aren't what they are supposed to be).
Yeah, I'm a romantic.
This is the (not so) secret history of Christmas. As such, we learn about the origins / evolution, different (and sometimes rather weird) customs from places all over, how Christmas was almost cancelled once upon a time, when and how Santa Clause was created (again), the different Christmas foods (and drinks), as well as modern-day shopping.
All of it is made all the more enjoyable by Bryson's signature quirkiness and the mishaps that have happened to him and his family. It doesn't hurt that he has several decades of experiencing Christmas - in America and Europe.
There was almost nothing new for me here, but then I do know quite a bit about the original mythology and what catholics turned it into. What I hadn't known was how close Christmas came to total cancellation (at least in England) so that was an added bonus.
I really enjoyed the humour. Sometimes I wonder if this can have happened to just one guy but then I think of all the shit I have experienced during Christmas(es) with the family and ... yep ... not THAT unrealistic. Naturally, it gets more colourful thanks to the author's writing which isn't bad at all.
Nice little overview on the rather funny side that emphasizes all the silly things we humans are up to during "the most wonderful time of the year".
Not a fan of the kitsch, the overabundance of far too chaotic and colourful lighting and cheap blow-up figures some deploy all around their homes, or the mad shopping sprees some go on - to say nothing of how aggressive most tend to be in the stores.
What I do love is the coziness, the punch (don't like mulled wine) and traditional cookies (Spekulatius as well as Lebkuchen), the songs (the classics anyway), and the idea of being surrounded by loved ones (it's nobody's fault that most families aren't what they are supposed to be).
Yeah, I'm a romantic.
This is the (not so) secret history of Christmas. As such, we learn about the origins / evolution, different (and sometimes rather weird) customs from places all over, how Christmas was almost cancelled once upon a time, when and how Santa Clause was created (again), the different Christmas foods (and drinks), as well as modern-day shopping.
All of it is made all the more enjoyable by Bryson's signature quirkiness and the mishaps that have happened to him and his family. It doesn't hurt that he has several decades of experiencing Christmas - in America and Europe.
There was almost nothing new for me here, but then I do know quite a bit about the original mythology and what catholics turned it into. What I hadn't known was how close Christmas came to total cancellation (at least in England) so that was an added bonus.
I really enjoyed the humour. Sometimes I wonder if this can have happened to just one guy but then I think of all the shit I have experienced during Christmas(es) with the family and ... yep ... not THAT unrealistic. Naturally, it gets more colourful thanks to the author's writing which isn't bad at all.
Nice little overview on the rather funny side that emphasizes all the silly things we humans are up to during "the most wonderful time of the year".
December 17, 2022
What a delightful Christmas read this was!
If you want to learn everything about this holiday - where the name comes from, how Santa came to be, about traditions around the world and many, many other interesting facts, I highly recommend you pick this up!
If you want to learn everything about this holiday - where the name comes from, how Santa came to be, about traditions around the world and many, many other interesting facts, I highly recommend you pick this up!
January 12, 2023
Fun and festive read from Bill Bryson. A real delight for anyone who loves Christmas.
December 30, 2023
1. Božić se prvi put slavi 354. godine.
2. Kraj decembra je naravno izmišljen datum - znao sam da je paganski rimski praznik Saturnalije bio inspiracija, nešto kao hajde da napravimo praznik u danima kad ljudi već slave, lakše će da pređu… nisam znao da su širom Evrope postojali razni zimski praznici sa jelom i pićem, isto tako krajem decembra.
3. Da li se zna barem godina rođenja? Ne zna se ni to, ali verovatno par godina pre godine 0. Čak je i godina 0 zapravo “izbrojana” tek 600 godina kasnije. Ljudi naravno nisu znali da žive u godini 1, na primer.
4. Do početka 19. veka je 80-90% Britanaca bilo vegetarijanaca, osim za 12 dana Božića.
5. Henri VIII je 1508. na državnu proslavu Božića potrošio sav porez naplaćen te godine.
7. Deda Mraza nije izmislila Coca Cola, kako su me ubedili. Pojavljivao se stotinjak godina pre toga, u dečijim pričama u Americi, pa u pričama i crtežima. Ali, istina je da je Coca Cola prilično popularizovala, kroz crteže 1930-ih, i obukla ga u crveno.
To je Bill Bryson. Jedan interesantan i radoznao pisac.
2. Kraj decembra je naravno izmišljen datum - znao sam da je paganski rimski praznik Saturnalije bio inspiracija, nešto kao hajde da napravimo praznik u danima kad ljudi već slave, lakše će da pređu… nisam znao da su širom Evrope postojali razni zimski praznici sa jelom i pićem, isto tako krajem decembra.
3. Da li se zna barem godina rođenja? Ne zna se ni to, ali verovatno par godina pre godine 0. Čak je i godina 0 zapravo “izbrojana” tek 600 godina kasnije. Ljudi naravno nisu znali da žive u godini 1, na primer.
4. Do početka 19. veka je 80-90% Britanaca bilo vegetarijanaca, osim za 12 dana Božića.
5. Henri VIII je 1508. na državnu proslavu Božića potrošio sav porez naplaćen te godine.
7. Deda Mraza nije izmislila Coca Cola, kako su me ubedili. Pojavljivao se stotinjak godina pre toga, u dečijim pričama u Americi, pa u pričama i crtežima. Ali, istina je da je Coca Cola prilično popularizovala, kroz crteže 1930-ih, i obukla ga u crveno.
To je Bill Bryson. Jedan interesantan i radoznao pisac.
December 26, 2025
Highly recommend this History of Christmas. Its popularity has waxed and waned over the years and evolved tendrils of cultural representations all over the globe. The writing is very easy to follow, and this is brimming with historical facts back to the Middle Ages and more recent times.
I hear that there is a similar book on the History of Halloween by another author that I am going to seek.
I'm giving this 5 stars. I learned things. I appreciated that the author explored the dark side of Christmas, not just the candy-coated surface. For example, a lot of traditions stem from corruption, greed, and malice of the elite against the working classes. I didn't take notes so not all is retained but this could be a fun reread with the family.
I hear that there is a similar book on the History of Halloween by another author that I am going to seek.
I'm giving this 5 stars. I learned things. I appreciated that the author explored the dark side of Christmas, not just the candy-coated surface. For example, a lot of traditions stem from corruption, greed, and malice of the elite against the working classes. I didn't take notes so not all is retained but this could be a fun reread with the family.
January 11, 2023
The Secret History of Christmas was another fun read from one of the best authors in the genre.
Author William McGuire Bryson is an American–British writer of books on travel, the English language, science, and other nonfiction topics. Born in the United States, he has been a resident of Britain for most of his adult life, returning to the U.S. between 1995 and 2003, and holds dual American and British citizenship. He served as the chancellor of Durham University from 2005 to 2011.
Bill Bryson:
Bryson is my go-to author for road trips. I just missed the mark of reading this one before Christmas, and got to it shortly after.
The book is presented in audio format, and is not very long; the version I have clocking in at just over 3 hours.
The writing here is typical Bryson. He writes in a uniquely deadpan, tongue-in-cheek manner that really cracks me up. I always enjoy listening to his fractured take on history, and his often hilarious accompanying commentary.
In this case (and as the book's title promises), he goes through the history of most of the staples that make up the Christmas holiday. Turkeys, caroling, the Christmas tree, Boxing day - and more are all covered here by Bryson.
*****************
The Secret History of Christmas is my 6th book from the author, and I have enjoyed all of his books so far. Thankfully, this one was no exception.
I would definitely recommend it. It's a light-hearted book that had me chuckling many times throughout.
4.5 stars.
Author William McGuire Bryson is an American–British writer of books on travel, the English language, science, and other nonfiction topics. Born in the United States, he has been a resident of Britain for most of his adult life, returning to the U.S. between 1995 and 2003, and holds dual American and British citizenship. He served as the chancellor of Durham University from 2005 to 2011.
Bill Bryson:
Bryson is my go-to author for road trips. I just missed the mark of reading this one before Christmas, and got to it shortly after.
The book is presented in audio format, and is not very long; the version I have clocking in at just over 3 hours.
The writing here is typical Bryson. He writes in a uniquely deadpan, tongue-in-cheek manner that really cracks me up. I always enjoy listening to his fractured take on history, and his often hilarious accompanying commentary.
In this case (and as the book's title promises), he goes through the history of most of the staples that make up the Christmas holiday. Turkeys, caroling, the Christmas tree, Boxing day - and more are all covered here by Bryson.
*****************
The Secret History of Christmas is my 6th book from the author, and I have enjoyed all of his books so far. Thankfully, this one was no exception.
I would definitely recommend it. It's a light-hearted book that had me chuckling many times throughout.
4.5 stars.
December 9, 2023
If you're familiar with Bryson, you know he's got a knack for making history fun, and this book is no exception. It's like taking a cozy trip down the memory lane of Christmas, with some quirky pit stops along the way.
First off, Bryson's deep dive into Christmas traditions has some amazing facts. Ever wonder why we drag trees into our living rooms every December? Or how Santa went from being a saint to a jolly dude in a red suit? Bryson's got you covered.
The chapters on the evolution of Santa and the Christmas tree are like unwrapping the secret life of these holiday icons. I was genuinely shocked at how some of our most treasured holiday traditions were just random stuff that an insignificant person thought up...and somehow it stuck.
Bryson's humor is usually a winner, but here it's hit or miss. Sometimes it's like sitting by the fire with a witty friend, and other times it's more like that uncle who tries too hard to be funny at family gatherings. You know, where the jokes don't quite land and you're just smiling politely.
The book really shines when Bryson links the old-school Christmas with our current celebrations. It's like a light bulb moment when you realize why we do the things we do during the holidays.
Layout-wise, the book is pretty neat. Pictures and old documents sprinkled throughout the book add a nice touch, like tinsel on a tree. But sometimes, Bryson wanders off on tangents that are more distracting than festive. It's like going Christmas shopping with a list and coming home with everything but what you actually needed.
"The Secret History of Christmas" has got some really interesting bits, especially if you're into holiday trivia. It's like a casual chat over eggnog about the weird and wonderful ways of Christmas.
First off, Bryson's deep dive into Christmas traditions has some amazing facts. Ever wonder why we drag trees into our living rooms every December? Or how Santa went from being a saint to a jolly dude in a red suit? Bryson's got you covered.
The chapters on the evolution of Santa and the Christmas tree are like unwrapping the secret life of these holiday icons. I was genuinely shocked at how some of our most treasured holiday traditions were just random stuff that an insignificant person thought up...and somehow it stuck.
Bryson's humor is usually a winner, but here it's hit or miss. Sometimes it's like sitting by the fire with a witty friend, and other times it's more like that uncle who tries too hard to be funny at family gatherings. You know, where the jokes don't quite land and you're just smiling politely.
The book really shines when Bryson links the old-school Christmas with our current celebrations. It's like a light bulb moment when you realize why we do the things we do during the holidays.
Layout-wise, the book is pretty neat. Pictures and old documents sprinkled throughout the book add a nice touch, like tinsel on a tree. But sometimes, Bryson wanders off on tangents that are more distracting than festive. It's like going Christmas shopping with a list and coming home with everything but what you actually needed.
"The Secret History of Christmas" has got some really interesting bits, especially if you're into holiday trivia. It's like a casual chat over eggnog about the weird and wonderful ways of Christmas.
dnf
December 23, 202323 December 2023: DNF @20%. Bill Bryson is not a good narrator. He swallows too many syllables and reads monotonously.
December 1, 2024
Perfekta izvēle 1. decembrim. Uz Braisonu var paļauties, ka fakti tiks pasniegti izklaidējošā manierē. Ļoti mīlīgs un pietiekoši informatīvs ieskats Ziemassvētku vēsturē (pārsvarā britu tradīcijās, bet tas nekaitē) sākot ar romiešiem un Kristus dzimšanu un beidzot ar Coca Colas reklāmistu, kurš "vainīgs" pie Santa Klausa sarkanā mēteļa.
December 27, 2022
Bryson never fails to inform us of fascinating things but make us feel like we’ve just been well entertained. I’m glad he came out of retirement for this seasonal treat.
December 23, 2024
Slim, but filled with facts delivered with Bryson's usual low-key humor. I wish I'd read this before doing that Christmas-based pub quiz.
December 7, 2022
🎅🦢🎄🎁
Quite fun, with some new facts that made it feel worth the time. Unfortunately I doubt I will remember them all!
Quite fun, with some new facts that made it feel worth the time. Unfortunately I doubt I will remember them all!
April 11, 2025
If you’ve ever been digging into your Christmas dinner and paused to think … wait why do we do this … then this is the book for you. And even for the sane amongst us it’s quite fun 🤩😁
December 3, 2022
As an adherent of Bill Bryson I knew the book would be a interestingly researched.
The annual global recognition day of supreme waste, be it… wrapping paper, boxes, money, live specific tree’s purchased ONLY for the day, alcohol and food has a most definite background.
This is a great history which… I found as a student of history, philosophy and theology, supremely humorous, Bill Bryson narrates this book so it is full of verbal emoji’s / intonations that always make his books fun to listen.
Excellent listen thank you Bill Bryson, much appreciated. :-)
The annual global recognition day of supreme waste, be it… wrapping paper, boxes, money, live specific tree’s purchased ONLY for the day, alcohol and food has a most definite background.
This is a great history which… I found as a student of history, philosophy and theology, supremely humorous, Bill Bryson narrates this book so it is full of verbal emoji’s / intonations that always make his books fun to listen.
Excellent listen thank you Bill Bryson, much appreciated. :-)
December 6, 2022
I love Bill Bryson and this short investigation into Christmas and traditions in which lots of us partake is fun, informative and really got me in the festive mood. Shame it's audio only and that it's so short, because I would love to own it and for it to be longer, but still an enjoyable listen.
October 6, 2023
I wanted to like this because I normally like Bill’s books. However, I was deeply disappointed that he almost completely left out the European pagan traditions that attributed to Christmas. Sure he touched on the Roman Saturnalia, but nothing about Germanic, Celtic, or Norse traditions. I left feeling like this was just another history giving the Romans (who ruin everything….case in point Carthage and Christian Traditions of equality and tolerance from the original biblical texts) more credit than they deserve.
December 31, 2025
I will forever love Bill Bryson's iconic wit and dry humor. While it wasn't center stage in this book like it typically is, it still occasionally snuck in stage left. Interesting enough, but I probably won't revisit this again in the future.
Unlike A Walk in the Woods. Which I will read multiple times. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading his graceful memoir of being completely unprepared to bumble down... and up... the Appalachian Trail, READ IT.
I'd rate this a PG for some adult humor and themes.
Original review posted on 12/30/25.
Unlike A Walk in the Woods. Which I will read multiple times. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading his graceful memoir of being completely unprepared to bumble down... and up... the Appalachian Trail, READ IT.
I'd rate this a PG for some adult humor and themes.
Original review posted on 12/30/25.
December 23, 2022
Bill Bryson is like some sort of modern Mark Twain. He narrates his own work, and it was really good. Enjoyed learning all about various Christmas traditions, legends, etc. Obviously great fun for the Yuletide!
December 23, 2023
Funny, fascinating and easy to listen to. Well read by the author himself.
November 30, 2022
Everything you ever wanted to know about Christmas & where our traditions, foods, songs etc come from. A perfect start to December.
November 27, 2022
I love facts, specially weird facts, and Christmas so I am an obvious audience of this book. I enjoyed it, the chapters are well connected but I need to give 4 stars to the narration because the voice is not as clear as I hoped for. I couldn't use my living room speakers to listen to the book and had to use headphones. I'd enjoy a paper version of this too.
November 30, 2022
Such a fun brief history of Christmas and how it came to what it is today! I really enjoyed this one! Highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 532 reviews