THE AMERICAN CHRISTMAS

Some sober research on the character of Christmas, from its development here in the 19th century, by a Professor of Sociology at Connecticut University, this substantiates the argument that Christmas is ""responsive to the dominant currents of American life"". Its antecedents, religious and pagan, and its variations down through the years; its observation in the church, the family and the school; its exploitation- commercially- and the acquisitive tone of much of Christmas giving- and getting; Christmas art, folk and popular, plays, music, cards- even comic books; Santa Claus- and Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer- all this forms a composite portrait of spiritual, social and cultural significance. But the handling is anything but festive.