Barbara Miller Beem >p? Maybe it’s rediscovering the boxes of ornaments stored in the attic for the past 11 months, or the chance to mail a greeting card to friends not seen nor heard from since last year this time. Perhaps it’s the knotted strings of lights, the Christmas china, or the abundance of Santa gewgaws. Oh, and the gifts. There are lots of reasons people love Christmas. Whether Dec. 25 is celebrated as a secular holiday, spent in church, or a combination of the two, there’s no denying that this one day, and the season surrounding it, elicits widespread enthusiasm, from subdued to way over the top. But when all is said and done, the one thing that makes this holiday so universally appealing is the fact that it’s all about tradition. Now, at a time when many of us are searching for something warm and fuzzy, the familiarity of Christmas is particularly comforting. And so, for that reason, during this unpredictable time, I’m recommending Christmas:1960 - Present (A collector’s guide to decorations and customs) by Robert Brenner. From the start, I enjoyed my copy of Christmas as I flipped through and looked at the pictures (more about them later). And I kept seeing recurring themes (“Our Trees,” “Our Cards,” “Under Our Trees,” and so on). I was a bit confused. That’s when I got smart and turned back to the “Contents” page and realized that there is method to this madness. Poor Robert might easily have filled five volumes, but he crammed it all into one. Each chapter (after the introduction) covers a decade. Once I saw how he had organized a ton of information, I began to appreciate the fact that he’d taken a rather unwieldy subject and tied it up with a bow. Bless him. Nothing is perfect. The print is on the small side. Just saying, those of us who feel nostalgic about Christmases dating from the second half of the 20th century might feel visually challenged. To you I say, get out your “readers,” turn on an extra reading light, and enjoy. Within the pages of this softbound text, Brenner dives into great detail on just about everything you need to know about collecting Christmas. Curious about bubble lights, silver trees, the Elf on the Shelf? It’s covered here. The Swingin’ Sixties, Bicentennial days, the time when we got nostalgic or thought we were all Martha Stewart? Read on. I’ve written about Christmas collectibles over the years and befriended those who are majorly addicted. And I love picking through my own holiday accumulation. Little wonder, then, that I consider this book to be a treasure trove. Even though some of the information presented is a bit too deep to match my interest at this point in time (there’s a lot of information about European ornament makers, for instance), it is still a good resource to have on the bookshelf. On the other hand, if Christmas decorations were a college major, this would no doubt be the best text for the 101 survey course. About the images: They’re wonderful, fun, and quirky, all at the same time. And they offer a pictorial overview of a wide range of Christmas collectibles, from Golden Books and nutcrackers to vintage gift wrap and cookie tins. Not surprisingly, there is a good representation of ceramics in the image of Santa, elves, and snowmen. Of course, decorations for the tree (tree toppers and tinsel, lights and ornaments) are well represented. And then there are the various family photographs: I’m sure most readers will find them very similar to ones in their own family albums. Looking to coordinate a mid-century modern tree with your mid-century décor? Trying to figure out what that inherited family stash of decorations is all about, or hoping to recreate Christmas Past (with apologies to Charles Dickens)? This is your book. Even if you already know 90 percent of what’s inside its covers, it’s good to have it all in one place. For writers (that would be me) or people looking to understand and learn more, this book is a great springboard. And for those who love all things Christmas, this is a “must.” |