Cody And Grandpa S Christmas Tradition

On Christmas Eve, Cody helps Grandpa, a Vietnam War veteran, carry out a Christmas tradition in remembrance of his unit.

Film plays a vital role in the celebration of Christmas. For decades, it has taught audiences about what the celebration of the season looks like – from the decorations to the costumes and to the expected snowy weather – as well as mirrors our own festivities back to us. Films like It’s a Wonderful Life and Home Alone have come to play key roles in real-life domestic celebrations: watching such titles has become, for many families, every bit as important as tree-trimming and leaving cookies out for Santa. These films have exported the American take on the holiday far and wide and helped us conjure an image of the perfect holiday. Rather than settling the ‘what is a Christmas film?’ debate – indeed, Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are discussed within – Analyzing Christmas in Film: Santa to the Supernatural focuses on the how Christmas is presented on the deluge of occasions when it appears. While most Christmas films are secular, religion makes many cameos, appearing through Nativity references, storylines involving spiritual rebirth, the framing of Santa as a Christ-like figure and the all-importance of family, be it the Holy family or just those gathered around the dining table. Also explored are popular narratives involving battles with stress and melancholy, single parents and Christmas martyrs, visits from ghosts and angels, big cities and small towns, break-ups and make-ups and the ticking clock of mortality. Nearly 1000 films are analyzed in this volume to determine what the portrayal of Christmas reveals about culture, society and faith as well as sex roles, consumerism, aesthetics and aspiration.

“The cadence of Rominger’s narrative style is soundly evocative of the world she brings to life in The Rangity Tango Kids. Growing up on a California farm riding horses and motorcycles, Rominger figured out where her heart was. The rich story of how to be a great family, to overcome challenges together, and to win in the end is one you won’t want to miss.” —ROBERT REDFORD “From the ground it looks like a falcon flies in circles. It actually rises flying over the same territory to a new, higher level. Rominger’s life and charming book are like this. She was born to a traditional, religious, farm family with the kind of old-fashioned values and principles politicians rant about and rarely practice. Lorraine’s story melds the best of true conservatism, neither Right nor Left, with a huge human heart. I loved this book.” —PETER COYOTE The Rangity Tango Kids is the story of a fifth-generation, German Catholic farm family in 1950s and 1960s California, narrated by the eldest of 17 grandchildren. Born into a loving, hard-working, highly competitive family, and united by a strong faith, every day was an adventure growing up on a bucolic American farm, a way of life that is rapidly disappearing. The land provided her, her siblings and cousins with a sense of place, an upbringing steeped in rituals and traditions that was in stark contrast with the values and preoccupations of the outside world. When the Rangity Tango Kids’ coming-of-age rebellion ran wild, they were often tangled up in the family’s strict morals and values. Regardless of the situation or conflict, the kids were surrounded by a swarm of loving relatives who put their arms around them and stuck together, no matter what.

Including chapters on food, garlands, games, cards, carols, the crib, Boxing Day, New Year and Twelfth Night, this book covers British, European and American customs and folklore during the season of goodwill.'

From the manger of Jesus Christ to the 21st century, this encyclopedia explores more than 2,000 years of Christmas past and present through 966 entries packed with a wide variety of historical and pop-culture subjects. Entries detail customs and traditions from around the world as well as classic Christmas movies, TV series/specials and animated cartoons. Arranged alphabetically by entry name, the book includes the historical background of popular sacred and secular songs as well as accounts of beloved literary works with Christmas themes from such noted authors as Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Hans Christian Andersen, Pearl Buck, Henry Van Dyke and others. All things Christmas are available here in one comprehensive volume.

Romance—the Western way! Harlequin Western Romance brings you a collection of four new heartwarming contemporary romances of everyday women finding love. Available now! This box set includes: A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS Forever, Texas by Marie Ferrarella Four years ago, Amy Donovan left Forever, Texas. Now, forced to flee an abusive marriage with her child, she’s found herself in the arms of Connor McCullough, the man she left behind. TEXAS REBELS: ELIAS Texas Rebels by Linda Warren Elias Rebel is the lone bachelor in the Rebel family. But how long can that last when Maribel McCray returns to Horseshoe, Texas, and informs Elias he has a son? ROPING HER CHRISTMAS COWBOY Sapphire Mountain Cowboys by Rebecca Winters Rodeo champion Toly Clayton has a huge crush on Nikki Dobson. Spending time together during the National Finals Rodeo is both pleasure and torture—because, as his best friend’s sister, Nikki is off-limits! MONTANA MISTLETOE BABY Hope, Montana by Patricia Johns Barrie Jones needs a Christmas miracle. Five months pregnant, she’s already the talk of Hope, Montana, because she won’t identify her child’s father. And no one’s more curious than Barrie’s ex, retired bull rider Curtis Porter…

Like Down Under in Henn Boo this book is comprised of the e-mail messages sent to family and friends while on a ten month journey around Australia. The messages tell of the people, places and things encountered along the way and some of the tribulations that were experienced. The trip began with a test run of the vehicles around Victoria and New South Wales so that at the end of thirty days all warranted repairs could be made back in Melbourne. Then it was off to find the best beaches, the best golf courses and the best scenery that Australia could provide.

Since the early 20th century, animated Christmas cartoons have brightened the holiday season around the world--first in theaters, then on television. From devotional portrayals of the Nativity to Santa battling villains and monsters, this encyclopedia catalogs more than 1,800 international Christmas-themed cartoons and others with year-end themes of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year. Explore beloved television specials such as A Charlie Brown Christmas, theatrical shorts such as Santa's Workshop, holiday episodes from animated television series like American Dad! and The Simpsons, feature films like The Nutcracker Prince and obscure productions such as The Insects' Christmas, along with numerous adaptations and parodies of such classics as A Christmas Carol and Twas the Night before Christmas.