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Zusatztext The book has its delights and surprises ... and it lights the fuse of many an odd train of thought. Informationen zum Autor Daniel Miller is also the author of: Ideology, Power, and Prehistory (co-ed. with C. Tilley, CUP, 1984) Artifacts as Categories (CUP, 1985) Material Culture and Mass Consumption (Blackwell, 1987) Domination and Resistance (ed. with M. Rowlands and C. Tilley, CUP, 1989) Klappentext In an age of secularization and the decline of ritual! Christmas has emerged as the most promising candidate for the first global festival. It is celebrated in the Christian West as well as in many countries with either a minority or no Christian population. How is it that Christmas is notmerely surviving! but actually gaining in importance? Unwrapping Christmas is the first comparative study of the Christmas phenomenon! based on direct observation of how the festival is actually celebrated in diverse social contexts. It begins by presenting general theories of Christmas and includes the first full English translation of "FatherChristmas Executed" by Claude Levi-Strauss. The focus then turns to two controversial issues: the relationship between Christmas and materialism! and the debate over the place of the family in Christmas celebrations. Both of these issues are examined and interpreted in a variety of culturalcontexts; including the USA! Japan! Britain! Sweden! and Trinidad. Christmas is rapidly becoming the focus for a constellation of activities including gift-giving! the marking of the seasons! and the celebration of extended family networks. This collection! the first systematic analysis of Christmas! represents a fascinating and significant contribution tounderstanding how and why this holiday has developed into the global festival celebrated today. Zusammenfassung This is an investigation of the current expansion of Christmas at a time of decline in other festivals. It compares the Christmas phenomenon to other celebrations and includes discussion of Christmas and materialism, Christmas and the family, and Christmas in the context of various cultures....
