Merry Kitschmas: The Ultimate Holiday Handbook

by Michael Conway, Peter Medilek (Photographer)

Rejoice in the gaudiest gifts of the season with Merry Kitschmas , a glorious inspirational guide for Santa's hapless and hopeless little helpers. Sure to awaken fond memories of a tackier, spanglier time, the dazzling decorating ideas in these pages put the ho ho ho (or the oh, oh, oh ) back into the holidays. Send tastebuds tripping on a sentimental journey with the delicious Yes You Can! straight-from-the-can-to-the-table Kitschmas feast. Dee-licious! Save a tree, and set the house aglow with a glittering aluminum White Trash Christmas Tree. And finally bring those nagging carolers that Frigging Figgy Pudding they've been yapping on about for decades. Merry Kitschmas provides a sleighful of holiday inspiration for anyone itching to craft with fruitcake, frolic in a tree skirt, and wow the neighbors with a spectacular lawn lighting fantasia. So, don you now your gay apparel -- it's beginning to look a lot like Kitschmas!

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Christmas, Cookbooks

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2004

Reviews

[Kate]

I was shopping at Borders the other night, and I happened upon this book, which was on sale for all of 3 dollars. The cover is a striking little number in bright red with a wreath of kitschy looking elf-heads adorning it. I thumbed through the pages, and when I saw a drunk Barbie swimming in a punch bowl, I knew I had to have it.

The author states that Christmas is the time all good taste goes straight out the window as people try to outdo each other with decorations, crappy food, and gay apparel. This book embraces the tradition of over-the-topness that is Christmas. The hell with Martha Stewart perfection! On with Kitschmas!

I am madly in love with the Valley of the Dolls Christmas tree, featuring Barbies spray painted silver. As you can imagine, Barbie takes it on the chin quite a bit in this book. There is also a tree made out of rubber gloves and one made from a tomato cage, covered in green grass skirts and leis. There are directions for wreaths made from an old tire, a straight from the cupboard Christmas feast, and clothing made from tree skirts. There's a scary-as-hell looking night light made from Santa's head, a drink called The Judy Garland, and stockings made from fetish boots.

The book is a festival of bad taste, but it's so bad it's good. Holiday hilarity just in time for the rush to hit.

[Velma]

Just like it says: it's the ULTIMATE holiday handbook, with an extra dose of kitsch! For the irreverent DIYer, it's chock-full of recipes and crafts to make your holiday merry and bright. Get your cocktail on with the xmas elves!

[L Jung]

Fahhh-bulous. If I lived in a trailer park, I would be the hit of the 'hood. I tried make the creepy-santa-nightlight, but the light wasn't strong enough to shine through the dollhead. Sad but true.

[Linnea]

Meh. There is ever-broadening line (this book was published in 2004) between kitsch and crap. When I think of *kitsch* I think of charming and nostalgic in a tasteful way. The examples in this book are not that.

[Kelli]

Visual, step by step guide to a gaudy tasteless celebration. Funny.

[Julie]

As bizarre shizit is my forte,
You had me at Merry Kitschmas.
Um...hello...why isn't there one for each and every holiday?
Get cracking, Mr. Conway!!!