2010
First Published
3.91
Average Rating
416
Number of Pages
For poets, priests, and politicians—and especially ordinary Germans—in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the image of the loving nuclear family gathered around the Christmas tree symbolized the unity of the nation at large. German Christmas was supposedly organic, a product of the winter solstice rituals of pagan "Teutonic" tribes, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and the age-old customs that defined German character. Yet, as Joe Perry argues, Germans also used these annual celebrations to contest the deepest values that held the German community faith, family, and love, certainly, but also civic responsibility, material prosperity, and national belonging.This richly illustrated volume explores the invention, evolution, and politicization of Germany's favorite national holiday. According to Perry, Christmas played a crucial role in public politics, as revealed in the militarization of "War Christmas" during World War I and World War II, the Nazification
Avg Rating
3.91
Number of Ratings
11
5 STARS
18%
4 STARS
55%
3 STARS
27%
2 STARS
0%
1 STARS
0%
goodreads
Author
Joe Perry
Author · 2 books
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
