Beyond the Beard - Exploring the Collective History of Santa — James Brown

Are you curious about how Santa has become connected to Christmas? Do you wonder about the origins of Santa Claus, Christmas traditions, and other characters or symbols of the season? Have you considered whether Jesus is acknowledged in these Christmas customs, or have they become purely secular in nature? Which practices and traditions continue to reflect Christian beliefs?Would you like to see how trains, planes, newspapers, and advertising mistakes have created and altered Christmas traditions? Did you know that Christmas parades and decorative store windows began as economic/marketing strategies? Are you interested in how technology has contributed to Christmas customs? Cover to cover, Beyond the Beard is packed with detailed stories, research, and timelines that take you on a comprehensive, documentary-style journey into the world of Christmas! As you travel with the author, you will venture beyond the commonly known traditions of the holiday and explore the mystery and legends surrounding the iconic character we now call Santa Claus.Author James Brown delves into how Santa Claus originated and developed into the modern Santa with this collective history. You will be drawn into the enchanting personal stories of legendary Santas, the pivotal development of the Santa community and the remarkable evolution of traditions over the last three hundred years.While facts and myths are brought to life throughout this book, you will discover the connections between Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus, the links between marketing campaigns and modern Santa, and the extraordinary impact Santa has had on American culture, including music, literature, and media/movies. Of special interest is the chronologically presented milestones of Christmas: This detailed timeline is a true gem that will intrigue readers, excite the historian, and inspire the Christmas lover in you.