Christmas & Advent

The Christian year begins with the birth of a baby. No one knows the exact day Jesus was born, but the date of December 25th was specifically chosen and introduced to Christian believers in order to counter the pagan feast of the "sun god," which was a popular winter solstice festival held in Rome. Instead of trying to coax the sun to return North again, this Christian theological corrective was meant to celebrate the source of true light in our dark world: the Son of God.

It was not until the fourth century that people began to celebrate Christ's birth. In keeping with Old testament feasts and festivals, it was designated a feast day called the Feast of the Nativity. The celebration began with a special Mass in honor of the remembrance of His coming, first called "Christ's Mass," later simply "Christmas." It was Christ being celebrated, not the day!

Later, the four week period before December 25th was declared a sacred and holy season. It was called "Advent," which comes from the Greek through the Latin and means "to come." It was a special time, designed to remind us that the Old testament saints had anxiously awaited the Messiah for centuries, and to provide a period of preparation that would allow time for reflection before the celebration of His birth. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas day, our actions and activities should remind us of our need for Jesus.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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Is Christmas Christian? Here's a list of articles to discuss the topic.
Readings for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
from the pastors of the CREC
Truth in the Tinsel
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62 Items found Print
Active Filters: Hardcover, In-Stock Books & Materials
A B C is for Christmas
by Jane Werner Watson, illustrated by Sally Augustiny
from Golden Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Annotated Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
Deluxe from Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Apple Tree Christmas
by Trinka Hakes Noble
from Sleeping Bear Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$14.41
Babar and Father Christmas
by Jean De Brunhoff
1st edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.14
Better December
by Steven Estes
from New Growth Press
for Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$15.99
Book of Christmas
from Reader's Digest
for 6th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Carols for Christmas
by David Willcocks
from Metropolitan Museum of Art
for 6th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Children's Theatre
by Franz Bonn
from Viking Press
for Preschool-4th grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Christmas Alphabet
by Robert Sabuda
from Orchard Books
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
from Bantam Books
for 6th-10th grade
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$3.95
Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, illustrated by P.J. Lynch
Unabridged from Candlewick Press
Fantasy for 6th-10th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$16.99
Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Robert Ingpen
Unabridged from Palazzo Editions Limited
Fantasy for 6th-10th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$24.99
Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti
Unabridged from Creative Editions
Fantasy for 6th-10th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$35.00
Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
from North-South Books
for 9th-12th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$21.24
Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books
by Charles Dickens, introduction by Margaret Atwood
from Everyman's Library
for 8th-Adult
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$24.00
Christmas Is Here
by Lauren Castillo
from Simon and Schuster
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$11.04
Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P. J. Lynch
20th Anniversary from Candlewick Press
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$15.29
Christmas Story
by Jane Werner
from Golden Books
for Preschool-1st grade
in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD)
$1.60 (1 in stock)
Christmas Trees
A New True Book
by Kathy Henderson
from Children's Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$5.60 (1 in stock)
Come Let Us Adore Him
by Paul David Tripp
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$19.99
Esther's Gift
by Jan Karon
from Viking Press
for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Expected One
by Scott James
from B&H Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$12.99
Gift
by R. Kent Hughes, Illustrated by Ron DiCianni, Calligraphy by Timothy R. Botts
from Crossway Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Gift of the Magi
by O. Henry, illustrated by Kevin King
from Simon and Schuster
for 4th-10th grade
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Gift of the Magi and Other Stories
by O. Henry, illustrated by P. J. Lynch
from Candlewick Press
for 4th-10th grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$15.29
Golden Christmas Treasury
by Rick Bunsen (editor)
from Golden Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Harold at the North Pole
by Crockett Johnson
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.20 (1 in stock)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
Christmas Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$14.44
I Spy Christmas
by Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick (Photographer)
from Cartwheel Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Look and Find Books (Location: PIC-LOOK)
$12.74
Legend of Saint Nicholas
by Demi
from Margaret K. McElderry Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Letters from Father Christmas
by J. R. R. Tolkien, introduction by Bailie Tolkien
Centenary Edition from William Morrow & Company
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$27.20
Little Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Joe Sutphin
from Moody Press
for 3rd-Adult
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$25.49
Littlest Angel
by Charles Tazewell, Illustrated by Sergio Leone
Reprint from Ideals Publications
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Mary Did You Know? - Book and CD
by Mark Lowry
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Mary Engelbreit: Christmas Ideas
by Mary Engelbreit
from Meredith Press
for 9th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Miracle on 34th Street
by Valentine Davies
from Harcourt
Realistic Fairy Tale for 6th-9th Grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$16.99
Morris's Disappearing Bag
by Rosemary Wells
from Dial Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Night the Toys Came to Life
by Enid Blyton, Illustrated by Shirley Willis
from Gallery Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Nutcracker
by E. T. A. Hoffmann
from Gramercy Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Nutcracker
by ETA Hoffman & Don Daily
from Running Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER)
$12.95
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
by Jonathan Gibson
from Crossway Books
for 6th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$29.99
One Foggy Christmas Eve
by Kerilyn Wilson
from Greenwillow Books
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.14
One Wintry Night
by Richard Jesse Watson
from Baker Books
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
from Houghton Mifflin
for Preschool-2nd grade
1986 Caldecott Medal winner
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.00
Prancer
by Stephen Cosgrove
from Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Prepare Him Room
by Marty Machowski
from New Growth Press
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Purpose of Christmas
by Rick Warren
from Howard Books
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Red and Lulu
by Matt Tavares
from Candlewick Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
by Robert L. May, Barbara Shook Hazen (Adapter), illustrated by Richard Scarry
"I" Printing from Golden Books
for Nursery-1st grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Santa Mouse
by Michael Brown, illustrated by Elfrieda De Witt
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Santabear's First Christmas
by Barbara Read, illustrated by Howard B. Lewis
from Santabear Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Savior is Born
by Patti Rokus
from Zondervan
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$16.99 $9.60 (2 in stock)
Skipping Christmas
by John Grisham
First Ediition from Doubleday & Company
for Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Holly and Ivy
by Rumer Godden, Illustrated by Barbara Cooney
from Viking Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$16.14
Tell Me About Christmas
by Mary Alice Jones, illustrated by Marjorie Cooper
from Rand McNally
for 1st-5th grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Tell Me the Story
by Max Lucado, Ron Dicianni, Timothy Botts
1st edition from Crossway Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Thirteen Days of Yule
by Nonny Hogrogian
from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift
by Ann Voskamp
from Tyndale House
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$26.99 $13.50 (2 in stock)
When Christmas Comes
by Doris Whitman, illustrated by David K. Stone
from Holt, Rinehart and Winston
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
When Joy Came
by Pauline Palmer Meek; illustrated by Shannon Stirnweis
from Golden Books
for Preschool-3rd Grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect
by Richard Schneider
from Abingdon Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$12.74
Winter Fire
by Ryan Whitaker Smith, excerpts from G.K. Chesterton
from Moody Press
for 9th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$24.99