Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide @ richardeward.com

Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide
by Christian Rätsch, Claudia Müller-Ebeling
from Inner Traditions

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Pagan christmas
  This book is somewhat informative but not formatted in a very likable way. Overall, it does give good information about the way that the holiday is carried out and a couple of recipes, so it is helpful but not focused.

• Impeccable reserach - a must have
  Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide. By Dr. Christian Rätsch & Dr. Claudia Muller-Ebeling, 2003/2006.
  This is by far the best book on the Christmas traditions that I've yet read. Rätsch, the famed ethnopharmacologist, has written more than 40 books in German, and I hope to see all of them one day translated to English, because I would buy every one. I have all of the English translations of their books, and they are two of my favorite authors.more info

• Mystical and Academic Book
  First, this book is written by two German anthropologists and was only recently translated into English. The research is very thorough and objective. I'm sure someone would argue with this assertation, but I don't think I'd want dispute anthropologists who study ethnobotany and art history as well. They are more qualified than I am.
  Second, the book is not really a how-to book as far as rituals and such. This is more about the traditions and symbolism which we believe to be Christian and part of... more info

• anti-christmas? no, just anti-marketing of a religion...
  "the author's approach sound rather "anti-Christmas" as if the book is some sort of an indictment against Christmas due to its many pagan origins." - If you (not you but general "you") are a christian, the thought of Christ's birthday being set on a date that is not only NOT his birthday but also has a basis in paganism is disconcerting. the marketing of a religious holiday is sacrilegious and we do it all the time. (look at easter!)this is a common problem. christmas is a personal and spritual time for all... more info

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