Why We Kiss under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained

by Michael P. Foley

From the famed author of international bestseller Drinking with the Saints, every Christmas tradition explained and celebrated, as well as a glimpse into all the sometimes macabre and always fascinating nooks and crannies of the holiday. Deepen your knowledge of and love for Christmas!

The definitive guide to every question you’ve had about the Christmas holiday—and many more you’ve never thought to ask!

In Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe, bestselling author Michael Foley dives deep into the history of Christmas and the customs that surround this beloved holiday. Learn about the fascinating origins of your favorite Christmas food, drink, observances, and songs. Discover how Saint Nicolas, a fourth-century Catholic bishop, became Santa Clause and who Santa’s global competitors are (some of them will shock you). And dig into the forbidden history of the Yuletide season’s dark and ghoulish side.

Witty, imaginative, and wholly unique, Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe is the stocking stuffer that will be revisited every year.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christmas, History, Audiobook

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a compilation that was light and fun, but this was a really thorough almost scholarly tome delving into the historical aspects of all things Christmas. The information is well-researched and often interesting, but the delivery was not engaging for me and the content sometimes became heavy and dull making it hard to truly stay focused. I wish the print version had been available to me as then I could have selected the sections that were most interesting to me first, and then read as much or as little as I chose. It was too much information for this casual reader, but it would be a great read for those with serious and academic interest.

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it does seem that what quite a goodly number of reviewers are specifically faulting author Michael P. Foley for in his 2022 Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained is precisely what I both appreciate and actually am also very much and totally enjoying. For yes, I am not at ALL having any issues AT ALL with Foley's text for Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained being academic in scope and feel (although I also do NOT think that Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained is actually overly dry or in any way too intellectually focused either, that Michael P. Foley writes factually but also without using academic jargon, that his penmanship is clear, concise, never becomes confusing, so that potential readers of Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained will also NOT require a post secondary education for reading and for understanding Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained and that for an academic and for a professor, yes indeed, Foley writes with a lay readership in mind and very much delightfully and appreciatively does not engage in either verbal diarrhoea or in stylistic academic snobbery and arrogance).

And just to say that I in fact obtained my copy of Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained not just because Christmas traditions and culture (both religious and secular, both Holy Bible and folklore, mythology based) have always and do always interest me (and that yes, the Yuletide information I have encountered in Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained has been totally delightful, with much I already knew and was already familiar with but that Michael P. Foley also provides lots and lots of novel to and for me facts, figures and the like, so that Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained has also been a text of very much personal enlightenment for me and with the detailed notes and bibliography being the icing on the cake so to speak). But yes, I equally and specifically wanted and desired a copy of Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained because of Foley's text reputedly (according to critical reviews I have encountered online) being first and foremost academic and with lots and lots of information dumping, well, this actually is right up my proverbial non fiction reading alley, so that the negative musings regarding Michael P. Foley's writing style for Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained actually became something both positive for me and also something to want to experience, that this in fact made me ask for a copy of Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained as a Christmas present, and that I have indeed not at all been disappointed and have greatly enjoyed and am in fact still hugely enjoying Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained and the manner in which Foley is featuring his Christmas themed facts and details.

Now I do wish I could be giving five stars to Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained (and yes, what Foley has textually provided does indeed rate five stars for me). However, I do wonder why Michael P. Foley does not present Middle Eastern and Coptic Christmas traditions in Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained (from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Ethiopia etc.) and that this not being featured and that the book title, that Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained does not really point the latter our either (for I certainly but wrongly was assuming that Foley would not just limit himself to Europe and to the USA) this does mildly reduce my reading pleasure and thus also makes me lower my rating for Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained from five to four stars (although yes, I still highly recommend Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe: Christmas Traditions Explained, well, as long as potential readers do not mind academics and a rather dry style).

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This non-fiction book methodically details numerous Christmas traditions from around the world, providing their biblical background, origins, and the way they have evolved over time until today. Foley covers a plethora of topics from the Biblical origins of Christmas, decorations, gift giving, Santa Claus, food, music, and much more.

This was a very dry text and read almost more like an encyclopedia of Christmas facts rather than a narrative history of Christmas traditions. I went in expecting it to be more a lighthearted description and history of Christmas celebrations, but the text spent a lot of time speaking about Biblical technicalities and grounding in historical context.

Sometimes I felt like the author tried too hard to include contemporary references. For instance, portrayals of Christmas on the show The Office were described as a modern-day interpretation of Christmas traditions. It just seemed unnecessary when this was supposed to be more a of a historical overview.

I did learn some things from reading this book, but it was rather large in scope and reads more like a bulleted list of facts rather than a narrative history of Christmas.

[Scott Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Working through the chapters was difficult, and I eventually had to give up because there was no central story pushing the reader on. Instead, it was more like a reference book of Christmas traditions throughout the centuries. It could be useful to Christian workers who might insert an anecdote into homilies or sermons. But for the general reader, it was not at all gripping and seemed instead pedantic. I usually finish books cover-to-cover, but this one was not worth the effort, at least from the first seven chapters.

[Nilah Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cool book! It felt more like an encyclopedia, though. One that you might look through the headings and see what you’re interested in. Not like a sit down book. I heard about this book on a podcast with Janet Parshall and was hooked by the topics. Great way to understand the history of the traditions of Christmas and the beauty of celebrating (almost any) holiday with Christian perspective.

[Meredith Hooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the information that this book was able to pull together. Clearly well researched, there was such a depth to the content discussed, and yet I felt it all was covered so well and with brevity. I found it a little repetitive, but that seemed intentional for people who use the book as a reference for information about a particular tradition etc. rather than reading it all through like I did. I feel the other comments are correct in that it is more an encyclopedia/bullet list of information but based on the title and introduction it was exactly what I expected. I dont know how or why he would have attatched a narrative to this. I liked that it introduced the reader to so much and yet left room for further research in the reader's part. Foley does a good job of bringing in humor/modern comparisons and bringing together facts, stories, and history so beautifully and pulling from a wide array of sources.

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and exciting book! I read it in one sitting and learned so much!

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting a fairly light read here but this actually went quite deep and thorough. Very enjoyable!

[Kristy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great listen. So many facts may be dry reading. I found it very entertaining to learn about the traditions all over the world

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much trivia. Loved it

[Katherine Helm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting information! However, it was read more like a textbook, so it wasn’t the easiest to get through.

[Emily at Reaching While Rooted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun and informative information of Christmas traditions around the world. Ever wonder why animal crackers have a string on the box? They used to be hung on the Christmas tree as a treat.

[tapewitch · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of the Christmas books I’ve read. It was more overtly Christian and less kitschy. Includes the myth that enslaved people in the US were granted vacation time while the Yule log burned, plus romanticization of slavery in Ancient Rome on Saturnalia. I’d instead recommend Brian Earl’s book for better research and more fun.

[Emily Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. There were nuggets that were interesting, but overall, I was counting down the minutes until it was over. I regretted my decision to start this book almost immediately. The last several chapters seemed very repetitive.

[Anna Zemek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but reads more like a dissertation than light read.

[Deedee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to audio on my Kindle.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative. I feel like a learned a lot. Didn't love how the author wrote as only Christian Americans were reading it as I'm neither, but ignoring that a solid little Christmas book.

[Rose Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extensive compilation of everything Christmas: all customs from how they began to how they are celebrated in different countries.