What About Christmas?

Dora Flack

Review

What About Christmas? is a charming family storybook for December.

The author, Dora D. Flack, combines historical research concerning the origin of Christmas customs and traditions with a variety of fresh new stories for young and old. She asks, "What About . . . Bells, Christmas Trees, Lights, Poinsettias, Santa Claus, Gift-giving, Shepherds, Carols, Angels, and Stars," and then provides interesting facts concerning the origin of these Christmas symbols.

Her original stories have appeal for those of all ages. Young people will be delighted by The Legend of the Foolish Fir Tree, How Christmas Came To Be, The Angel's Voice, and Joel, the Shepherd Boy. The older children will enjoy The Legend of the Flaming Flower, The Christmas Intruder, Christmas Appointment, and Amy's Awakening. Some of the stories are based on true incidents, such as Scout Sub, which tells of a scout who subs for Santa. Others relate customs from foreign lands, such as Finnish Lights, A Swedish Lucia, and Belgian Bells. There are stories of interest to the entire family.

Attractive illustrations throughout the book add to its Christmas flavor. They have been skillfully prepared by Adell Palmer.

What About Christmas? is an outstanding collection of information and stories for the Christmas season that will make Christmas brighter in the home, school, church, and library.

Table of Contents

About the Author, 3

Preface, 6

The Biblical Account of the Nativity, 8

What About Bells?, 11

Belgian Bells, 13

What About Christmas Trees?, 19

The Legend of the Foolish Fir Tree, 22

The Christmas Intruder, 25

What About Lights, 29

Finnish Lights , 31

A Swedish Lucia, 35

What About Poinsettias?, 39

Joel Roberts Poinsett, 40

The Legend of the Flaming Flower, 41

What About Santa Claus?, 43

How Christmas Came To Be, Written by Vonna Noyes, 45

Scout Sub, 47

What About Gift-giving?, 51

Amy's Awakening, 53

What About Shepherds?, 55

Joel, the Shepherd Boy, 57

What About Carols, 61

Silent Night, 62

O Little Town of Bethlehem , 65

Christmas Appointment , 67

What About Angels, 71

The Crippled Angel, 73

The Angel's Voice, 76

What About Stars?, 79

The Star in the New World, 81

Bibliography, 84

Sample Page

What About Gift-giving?
As related in the Gospel according to St. Matthew, the wise men followed the star to Bethlehem where they found the Christ Child living in a house with Mary and Joseph. This event is supposed to have taken place twelve days after the birth of the Savior, and is called Epiphany.
A legend in Italy states that Befana 2 sat inside her little cottage toasting her shins before her cozy fire. Outside the wind howled, and a storm was blowing up. How happy she was that she didn't have to go out on such a night. Suddenly she was surprised by a knock at her door. As she opened her door a crack and peeped out, she saw three men in fine robes and turbans.
"Can you tell us the way to Bethlehem? We are trying to find the Christ Child. Will you go with us and help us find the way?"
Befana refused to go with them. After all, what could an old woman do in the storm? So the Wisemen continued on their way.
Befana returned to her cozy flame, but at last her conscience got the best of her and she set out to find the Wisemen. And, in turn, the Christ Child. However, she never caught up with them. At Ephiphany she flies from house to house on a broomstick. Legend says that she goes into the houses dressed in shabby clothes and looks at the faces of the children, trying to find the right one. As she goes, she rewards good children by leaving gifts in their stockings. She is the gift-giver in Italy. But for the bad children, she leaves a switch and a piece of coal.
The Russians have an old Grandmother very much like Befana, whom they Call Baboushka. The same legend is told to Russian children about her.
In Holland, wooden shoes are placed by the fireside to receive the gifts from Sinterklaas on December 6th.
In France, before going to bed on Christmas Eve, the children set their shoes by the fireside, hoping for a gift from Pére Noel. Many years ago peasants wore wooden shoes, called sabots. So they put out wooden shoes as the Dutch did. Today ordinary shoes are used. But the pastry shops make chocolate wooden shoes and fill them with candies, which recalls the old wooden-shoe custom.
Christmas stockings became a part of the English tradition because one Christmas Eve Father Christmas dropped some gold coins down a chimney. Ordinarily the coin would have dropped into the grate. But this time it dropped into a stocking which had been left by the fireside to dry. Ever since then, Father Christmas is expected to fill the stockings which have been hung up for him.
This custom of hanging stockings was carried to America by the English immigrants.

	Order Information

Title: What About Christmas? Author: Dora Flack Retail Price: $8.98 Available: Now ISBN: 0-88290-000-5 Order Number (SKU): 1974 Pages: 88 Size: 8.5" X 11" Binding: Paperback