Yule-tide in Many Lands: Mary P. Pringle, Illustrated by L.J. Bridgman, Authored by Clara A. Uran

As early as two thousand years before Christ Yule-tide was celebrated by the Aryans. They were sun-worshipers and believed the sun was born each morning, rode across the upper world, and sank into his grave at night. Day after day, as the sun's power diminished, these primitive people feared that he would eventually be overcome by darkness and forced to remain in the under world.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the origins of Christmas, or how Christmas is celebrated in different countries? This turn of the century book offers a great introduction to Christmas.
Certainly Yule-tide was a very merry season among the ancient people who feasted, drank, and danced in honor of the return of the sun, the god of light and new life.
When messengers went through the various countries bearing tidings of a new religion and of the birth of a Son who brought light and new life into the whole world, they endeavored to retain as many of the established customs as possible, but gave to the old-time festivals a finer character and significance.
As the fact of Christ's birth was not recorded and there was no certainty as to its date, the early Christian Fathers very wisely ascribed it to Yule-tide, changing the occasion from the birthday of the sun to that of the Son. For a while the birth of Christ was celebrated on dates varying from the first to the sixth of January; on the dates of certain religious festivals such as the Jewish Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles; but the twenty-fifth of December, the birthday of the sun, was ever the favorite date.
Pope Julius, who reigned from 337 to 352 A. D., after a careful investigation, considered it settled beyond doubt that Christ was born on or about the twenty-fifth of December, and by the end of the fifth century that date was very generally accepted by Christians. The transition from the old to the new significance of Yule-tide was brought about so quietly and naturally that it made no great impression on the mind of the masses, so nothing authentic can be learned of the early observance of Christmas.

Beginning with the Yuletide festivals of the ancient world, The Celebration of Christmas In Europe and America: Yuletide Traditions From Many Lands shares a history of Christmas across Europe, exploring the Holiday customs of England, Germany (true source of the Christmas Tree!), Scandinavia (Lapland, Holland, Denmark), France, Italy, Russia and Spain. The chapter on Yule in Russia is especially poignant, as its writing predates the Bolshevik Revolution, offering a unique glimpse into that country's pre-Communist Christian roots. The final chapter is a surprising history of Christmas in Colonial America. First published in 1916, and reproduced in this quality reprint edition with all of the charming original illustrations intact, The Celebration of Christmas In Europe and America: Yuletide Traditions From Many Lands opens a wondrous window on the magic and beauty of the Christmas Season as it was understood and observed during the Victorian era.