The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift-Giving (American Social Experience Series) Book PDF, ePub eBook

Join our eBook service for unlimited books & audiobooks. Get a free 7 day subscription! ↓↓↓↓↓


Book Descriptions:
Christmas was a relatively modest occasion in the English-speaking world, celebrated by the exchange of modest handmade gifts, until the Victorians invested the holiday with immense significance as part of a larger effort to celebrate home, family and a mythic past of well-ordered communities. By the late 19th century, Christmas had become a major American festival. Today, it is a multi-billion dollar industry and easily the most important seasonal event of the year. In this survey of the modern American Christmas, William Waits shows how this holiday emerged, tracing its evolution from the days prior to 1880, when people presented one another with simple crafted presents, to the turn of the century, when industrialisation brought with it waves of inexpensive, tawdry gimcracks. In the early 20th century, reform-minded Americans reflecting on the new Christmas prompted a backlash against this cheapening of the Yule tradition, and the Christmas card was born. Henceforth, family members and close friends exchanged useful, costly items, while cards were sent to acquaintances and distant relatives. These reformers also persuaded retail stores to keep their regular hours of business during the holiday, rather than lengthening them, to give trade workers the opportunity to join in the celebration. They also rationalised the collection and distribution of holiday charity, resulting in the Christmas celebration we have today. Waits' book aims to illustrate the notion that "Christmas is uncontrollable" is simply untrue. "The Modern Christmas in America" also examines the differing traditions of giftgiving among friends, employees, the poor and entire communities.

The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift-Giving (American Social Experience Series) by William B. Waits

From reader reviews:

Ruth Nicholson:

What do you ponder on book? It is just for students because they are still students or it for all people in the world, what the best subject for that? Simply you can be answered for that query above. Every person has various personality and hobby per other. Don't to be compelled someone or something that they don't desire do that. You must know how great as well as important the book The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift-Giving (American Social Experience Series). All type of book are you able to see on many options. You can look for the internet sources or other social media.

Maria Freeman:

Now a day individuals who Living in the era where everything reachable by talk with the internet and the resources inside it can be true or not require people to be aware of each data they get. How a lot more to be smart in getting any information nowadays? Of course the answer is reading a book. Studying a book can help men and women out of this uncertainty Information especially this The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift-Giving (American Social Experience Series) book as this book offers you rich data and knowledge. Of course the info in this book hundred per cent guarantees there is no doubt in it as you know.

Martina Lassiter:

Would you one of the book lovers? If yes, do you ever feeling doubt while you are in the book store? Attempt to pick one book that you never know the inside because don't determine book by its cover may doesn't work is difficult job because you are frightened that the inside maybe not seeing that fantastic as in the outside look likes. Maybe you answer is usually The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift-Giving (American Social Experience Series) why because the excellent cover that make you consider with regards to the content will not disappoint a person. The inside or content is usually fantastic as the outside or perhaps cover. Your reading sixth sense will directly show you to pick up this book.

Jeffrey Cooks:

As we know that book is very important thing to add our expertise for everything. By a book we can know everything we really wish for. A book is a set of written, printed, illustrated or blank sheet. Every year seemed to be exactly added. This guide The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift-Giving (American Social Experience Series) was filled in relation to science. Spend your extra time to add your knowledge about your technology competence. Some people has several feel when they reading the book. If you know how big benefit from a book, you can experience enjoy to read a book. In the modern era like right now, many ways to get book which you wanted.