The Philosophy of Christmas
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(Author) Caroline TaggartTake the Roman festival of Saturnalia, the gift-giving Norse god Odin and the Pagan habit of bringing evergreen plants into the house at Midwinter. Add a benevolent fourth-century bishop, some drunken medieval singing and a nineteenth-century American poem. Sprinkle with the Christian tradition of Jesus being born on 25 December and stir well. Allow the mixture to absorb other influences over hundreds of years and serve with a plum pudding that may or may not have plums in it. Drawing on these multifarious ingredients and more, Caroline Taggart takes a fascinating and quirky look at why we celebrate Christmas the way we do. Illustrated in glorious full colour with images from the British Library Collections, this is a joyful journey through distant lands and ancient customs, finishing with a few thoughts on what our future traditions might be.
Caroline Taggart
Caroline Taggart is a British author known for her engaging and accessible approach to non-fiction writing. She has written several popular books on a wide range of topics, including language, history, and trivia. Taggart's writing style is characterized by its clarity, wit, and ability to make complex subjects easily understandable to a broad audience.
One of Taggart's most notable works is "I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School," a collection of facts and information aimed at refreshing readers' memories on a variety of subjects. This book, along with others in Taggart's bibliography, has made a significant impact in the literary genre of popular non-fiction, helping to make learning fun and accessible for readers of all ages.
Overall, Caroline Taggart's contributions to literature have helped to make complex subjects more engaging and enjoyable for readers, cementing her reputation as a skilled and influential writer in the field of non-fiction.
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