Kara L. Kirby

A Curiouser Christmas

Revisado: 12-13-22

The world of Christmas traditions is a far more strange, dark, and utterly delightful realm than I ever imagined. As a convert to Catholicism, my awareness of the range and depths of the holiday was, I thought, already greatly expanded from my sweetly simple childhood understanding of the Nativity story and cultural indoctrination in material gluttony and hollow nostalgia that all good Americans possess. I had NO IDEA what I was in for when I started this book.

First off, the charming cover and title are somewhat misleading. This is a through-the-looking-glass book where you meet so many odd, delightful, and disturbing characters (real and imagined), historical events, and funny practices that began innocently enough, but spun and whirled out of all recognition, it is a wonder the history is traceable at all! Barbara branches, the Devil's Funeral, the Gavle Goat, Dickensian goblins, cannabalistic Christmas werewolves, Chestertonian illuminations, Shakespearian explications, and encyclopedia of Christmas carol origins and another of foods, Miracle plays, and yes, the mistletoe... it's all here to sample or read right through. Untangling origin stories is Foley's strong suit and drink, and he delivers them with his signature flair, wit, attention to detail, and delight in storytelling. While I must admit I rather hoped Foley would be the reader for the audiobook, the narrator does a wonderful delivery.

This is not the flattened Christmas you've seen on TV. It's a bullseye shot straight through to its true heart. It is living, glorious, earthy, mould-laden, fire-sparking, piercing light, pure joy in fullness.

A thousand thanks, Michael Foley, and a Merry Christmas.

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