Christmas In Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan is written by Clement A. Miles in the English Language. Christmas: how many images the word calls up: we think of carol-singers and holly-decked churches where people hymn in time-honoured strains the Birth of the Divine Child; of frost and snow, and, in contrast, of warm hearths and homes bright with light and colour, very fortresses against the cold; of feasting and revelry, of greetings and gifts exchanged; and lastly of vaguely superstitious customs, relics of long ago, performed perhaps out of respect for use and wont, or merely in jest, or with a deliberate attempt to throw ourselves back into the past, to re-enter for a moment the mental childhood of the race." The book shows how Christmas is or has been kept in various lands and through out the ages, to trace as far back as possible to the origin of the pagan elements that have mingled with the Church's feast of the Nativity, Christmas. The book goes into great depth of the Christmas Calendar and all it's traditions, with the book including conclusion, notes, bibliography and index. Christmas In Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan has also included original illustrations from frescos of Madonna; and some of the first drawings featuring the Child to the Adoration of the Shepherds and the holy night itself of the birth of Christ. If you enjoy a good read with a great learning attributes whilst enjoying an excellent book, this is perfect for you