Christmas: Tradition, Truth and Total Baubles

by Nick Page

An account of the strange things we do at Christmas, and why much of what we are told about them is wrong

Genres: History, Christmas, Nonfiction, Holiday, Religion

246 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2020

About the author

Nick Page lives in Oxfordshire, UK, with his wife Claire, their three daughters and a dog called Bill.

As well as writing books, he works with a number of campaign groups and NGOs. He is also a popular speaker for churches, church weekends and other events. events, etc.

His main focus is on church history – particularly the early church. Recent work includes A Nearly Infallible History of Christianity, and the Longest Week trilogy.

As well as writing many books for adults (or at least those who think they are adult) he has also written many books for children.

Reviews

[M. Slinger-Carreer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the information interesting, however, what I did not find interesting was the way the author presented this information. As a non-fiction book, I wasn't anticipating it to be very exciting. I'm fine if the author takes a few liberties to make it more intriguing or fun with a unique writing style or adding humor; and Nick Page opted to do this. However, I am not a fan of dry humor so it ended up being a tough read. I wanted to know the information but it was hard to focus because I was rolling my eyes so much. Also, the overall format of the book seem clunky to me. You jump from a made-up chapter of "The Christmas Carol" featuring the Spirit of Christmas-that-never-was, to just general info, to a chapter about a Christmas carol and then some other letter-to-the-editor format. I appreciate the author attempting to give this info in a unique way, but it was poorly executed in my opinion.
3 stars, didn't love it, didn't hate it.

[Gerald Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topic of Nick Page’s latest offering is (as the title tells us) Christmas. He looks at the origins of tradition, when some things became traditional and debunks much of the myths and folklore surrounding the season. Have you a favourite tradition? Be prepared to learn it’s not as old as you might think. Every one who has read the bible knows that Jesus wasn’t born on 25 December but Nick explains why the church chose the date to celebrate his birth and approximately when. Who was St Nicholas? Who is Santa Claus? Are they the same person? All this and more in Nick’s amusing and humorous take on an ancient traditional celebration. Read this and Yule never think of Christmas in the same way again. ( see what I did there?)

[D.J. Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the following criteria are met, I give a book five stars: I recommend the book; I own the book; I'm giving others the gift of this book; I learn something; I find something(s) meaningful. Oh! And, I enjoy the book, too. I already knew there was a good chance that I would like the writing of Page since I have read a few of his other books. I knew that he would research thoroughly and include a bibliography and end notes (which I sometimes read), and that he would include hilarious comments in footnotes (which I always read). Who might not like the book: a reader who does not want his/her/their thoughts about Christmas (whether pagan, Christian, or something else) disturbed by any kind of research and/or a reader without a sense of humor.

Additional note: The book is mostly for those readers living in the northern hemisphere as the southern hemisphere will laugh at these festivities dispelling the gloom of the cold weather. Santa riding in on a surfboard while the family barbecues on the beach did not make it to these pages. Even brussel sprouts made it to one page (the author writes a pithy, hearty 'no' to eating them, but we'll forgive Nick -- no relation to the guy in a red suit as far as I know -- no author can be 100% correct).

I finished reading it on Christmas Eve 2021. All copies were sold out in 2020 when I originally went to get it. I'll get my order in early for the 2022 year.

[Edoardo Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know all those stories and memes about Christmas actually being a pagan feast that the early Church appropriated? Christmas trees, yule and yule logs, even the actual day of the celebration? Turns out that the myth of the Christian origin of Christmas is as much a myth as its detractors claim the feast is itself.

Nick Page does an excellent job of chasing the historical roots of Christmas down to their often obscure origins. In particular, he digs down into the origin of the feast in the Christian calendar and the roughly contemporary start of the pagan feast that the Church was supposed to have muscled in upon.

Coming closer in time, it’s fascinating to learn how many apparently ancient Christmas customs are actually relatively recent, with most of them starting in the 18th and, particularly, 19th centuries. The book’s subtitle – Tradition, Truth and Total Baubles – shows Page’s love of jokes and puns. For this reader, there were slightly too many but that’s down to taste. All in all, the book is an excellent and readable account of how we have come to have the Christmas that we celebrate today.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This came to me through the Redemptorist monthly book club. Now anyone who knows me, will know how much I generally hate Christmas and what a mistletoe misery I am. This is one way I would have liked the seventeenth century Puritans. I am a fan of Scroogeonomics and my other book this year was Mrs Scrooge by Carol Ann Duffy. So you get the picture. But this book actually made me like the whole season, at a distance as I do things now. Which given reports of the shops, is probably a good thing. It is a fun and entertaining book, picking out hymns and their words, everything from saints to Christmas Trees and all the old myths of rather dodgy historical origins, as it turns out. Called Total Baubles. And implausibilities like sheep grazing in winter. And it all comes to seem entertaining and magical, way beyond a religious festival which is why it is the global phenomenon that it is. The funny thing being, this year everyone is saying merry or happy CHRISTMAS, not winter holiday. So same to you.

[Huw Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in the foundation of Christian tradition, as I am, but are also cynical of the accepted origin of these traditions, again as I am, then this book is definitely for you.

From the off the author is clear that he is writing from a Christian perspective but this does not dominate nor colour the findings he presents. Using literary criticism he reveals the background to many of the accepted ancient traditions, secular and Christian, and places them firmly in their place in time. He does this with a humorous touch and the writing flows well.

Highly recommended

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few of these type of books, looking at the things that make up what has become our modern Christmas. Most are usually interesting, but you often find your interest wanting by the end as facts and figures are thrown at you.
This author here takes a different tack, using humour and and irreverence while taking the subject matter very seriously.
A lot is information you probably already knew, though you will find some surprises along the way, and the light style of the author always keeps things interesting.
Definitely one on of the better books on Christmas you’ll read. Recommended.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Page takes the traditions of Christmas and shows us when they began, why they began, where they began, and what is myth.

I had so much fun reading this. I laughed out loud throughout the book. He is snarky. He is tongue-in-cheek. And he has it documented in the back of the book! I loved the way he parodied A CHRISTMAS CAROL and its ghosts as he takes Scrooge and the Ghost-of-Christmas-that-never-was through the myths and truths of Christmas. The carols he talks of are a hoot as is everything we think of tradition is from the Nativity to Christmas trees to mistletoe, etc.

This is one book everyone should have on their shelves to read as it is a blast for required Christmas reading!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equal parts informative and entertaining. Nick Page writes with characteristic humour as he delves into the not so ancient past of many of the traditions and common trivia facts we've been told a thousand times.

Turns out history is more mixed and interesting than the myths we often tell about it.

[J Landon Light · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puts to bed many of the more persistent myths about the alleged pagan origins of Christmas and also explains the history of more modern Christmas traditions. Author identifies as Christian but I suspect we wouldn't agree on much theologically.

[Rob Hewlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Light hearted but serious research makes it a worthwhile addition.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew Christmas to be so confusing, but then it has changed A LOT over the years! Witty, informative, and at times comforting. A complete guide to why we do what we do around the 25th December

[Sally George · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is amazing how we embrace tradition which basically comes from 'chinese whispers' by being altered and added to over the centuries. An interesting and very amusing book.

[Mr James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty Expose

I love Christmas and like reading a book per year on its traditions. Nick writes very well and funnily, I was chortling away.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book which shows that a lot of the supposed Pagan roots of Christmas traditions are not actually pagan. Another Nick Page book which enlightens and amuses the reader.

[Suzanne Wilkinson-McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and funny - made me laugh out loud. Nick Page’s sense of humour is so irreverent which suits me just fine. A book for anybody, Christian or not.

[Nicholas Serio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! So interesting and very funny! If you like Christmas and are curious about it’s origins, definitely read this!

[Gareth Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this dispelling of many Christmas gifts even if the authors humour was too much at times.