{"product_id":"the-true-gifts-of-christmas-unwrapping-the-meaning-behind-our-most-cherished-traditions","title":"The True Gifts of Christmas: Unwrapping the Meaning Behind Our Most Cherished Traditions","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMegan Alexander is a national television host with nearly two decades of experience on CBS's top-rated, syndicated newsmagazine, \n\u003ci\u003eInside Edition\u003c\/i\u003e. She is the bestselling author of \n\u003ci\u003eFaith in the Spotlight\u003c\/i\u003e and two children's books, \n\u003ci\u003e One More Hug\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eThe Magic of a Small Town Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e. Visit www.MeganAlexander.com for more information.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Description\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A 25-day journey through Advent about the spiritual meanings behind cherished Christmas traditions to deepen our understanding of the true essence of the season.\"--Provided by publisher.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFestive and bright, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe True Gifts of Christmas\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e is a coffee table book about the cultural origins of holiday customs.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMegan Alexander's festive, faith-based coffee table book \u003ci\u003eThe True Gifts of Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e explores the origins of twenty-five Christmas traditions to encourage a more meaningful holiday season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConcerned with the significance of iconic Christmas traditions, the book covers topics including candy canes, mistletoe, and the poinsettia in terms of their historical origins and cultural meanings. Crafts and activities to engage with each tradition and cultivate deeper understanding are included; one involves staging a children's candy cane hunt followed by a thoughtful discussion of Jesus, and another is lighting candles in honor of deceased loved ones. Recipes for gingerbread cookies, cinnamon rolls, Christmas punch, and eggnog are included, embellished by Alexander's own Christmas memories, as of seeing \u003ci\u003eThe Nutcracker\u003c\/i\u003e for the first time, and family traditions, such as singing \"Happy Birthday\" to Jesus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA warm and informative holiday book, \u003ci\u003eThe True Gifts of Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e excavates the religious meanings and values of a bevy of Christmas traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eForeword Clarion Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fun, festive guide to Christmas traditions and their Christian significance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"It's easy to become so overwhelmed by the gifts \u003ci\u003eon\u003c\/i\u003e Christmas that we lose sight of the gifts \u003ci\u003eof\u003c\/i\u003e Christmas,\" Alexander notes in this festive debut, as she explores different Christmas symbols and their ties to Christian beliefs. To highlight the importance of the season, she offers readers 25 days of Christmas cheer, each one featuring a specific holiday tradition and its religious meaning, ranging from wreaths to Poinsettias to the red cardinals that have become beloved Christmas icons. Alexander also pairs unique activities with each symbol, providing readers with fun ways to incorporate holiday pastimes into their own family traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond the religious themes that Alexander highlights, this joyful guide draws from rich historical references as well, including the origins to \u003ci\u003eThe Nutcracker Suite\u003c\/i\u003e ballet, Wilson Bentley's first-known photographs of snowflakes, and why fruit can signal wishes for prosperity. What stands out the most are her interactive opportunities to truly make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBookLife Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlexander offers a day-by-day look at popular American Christmas traditions. The author, an actor, TV personality, and self-described lover of Christmas, here provides readers with a series of reflections on some of the season's most familiar rituals. She relates her thoughts on such things as Christmas trees, manger Crèche scenes, wreaths, and the Christmas carol \"Silent Night\"--one subject for each day of the month of December, leading up to and including Christmas Day. Accompanying these observations are dozens of bright, colorful photos of instantly recognizable holiday staples like happy children, snowy small town Main Street shops, and stills from various productions of \u003ci\u003eThe Nutcracker \u003c\/i\u003e(in addition to smiling shots of the author herself). This emphasis on the spiritual is consistent throughout the text, as when the author notes that the fruit baskets that are so popular as gifts during the season \"remind us of God's abundance and blessings.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderfully illustrated collection of thoughts about the wonders of Christmastime. --\u003ci\u003e Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e25 Traditions to Cherish!\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In \n\u003ci\u003eThe True Gifts of Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e, beloved television host and bestselling author Megan Alexander invites readers on a heartwarming journey through the deeper meaning of our most cherished Christmas traditions. With almost two decades on \n\u003ci\u003eInside Edition\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eThursday Night Football\u003c\/i\u003e, Megan has built a career centered on connecting people to the stories that matter. Her holiday special \n\u003ci\u003eSmall Town Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e celebrates small-town communities and the magic of the Christmas season, and this spirit of wonder and discovery inspires \n\u003ci\u003eThe True Gifts of Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Through 25 festive entries, readers enjoy a heartfelt countdown to Christmas that uncovers the significance behind everything from candy canes and angel decorations to mistletoe and stockings. Each tradition is presented as a daily \"gift\" with its own backstory, illuminating how these beloved symbols remind us of values like generosity, joy, light, and peace. Megan's warm storytelling style and thoughtful insights reveal the reasons for the season with her fresh perspectives on the cultural and religious origins of holiday customs. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Gather your loved ones, pour some hot cocoa, and let \n\u003ci\u003eThe True Gifts of Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e take you home to the heart of the holiday season.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 12\/30\/0001 (EAN 9780829458978, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eForeword\u003c\/span\u003e 10\/07\/2025 (EAN 9780829458978, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePW Booklife Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 11\/17\/2025 (EAN 9780829458978, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContributor Bio:\u003c\/strong\u003eAlexander, Megan\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMegan Alexander has worked as a national host for CBS television for almost two decades, regularly seen on \"Inside Edition\" and \"Thursday Night Football.\" She is the author of three best-selling books ( \n\u003ci\u003eFaith in the Spotlight\u003c\/i\u003e, and the kids' books \n\u003ci\u003eOne More Hug \u003c\/i\u003eand \n\u003ci\u003eThe Magic of a Small Town Christmas)\u003c\/i\u003e and is currently working on her fourth book \n\u003ci\u003eThe Gifts of Christmas - \u003c\/i\u003eon bookshelves Fall 2025. She produced and hosted the holiday travel show \n\u003ci\u003eSmall Town Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e which aired on UPTV. Megan has acted in films like \n\u003ci\u003eSpace Warriors, Redeemed, Gods Not Dead 3, The Church Thinks We're Dating \u003c\/i\u003eand \n\u003ci\u003eBack to the Goode Life\u003c\/i\u003e. She starred in television shows like ABC's \n\u003ci\u003eNashville\u003c\/i\u003e and CMT's \n\u003ci\u003eStill the King\u003c\/i\u003e.  She loves speaking on the topic of faith and work at church conferences and prayer breakfasts. She is a married mama of three children living in Nashville. \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alexander, Megan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Loyola Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2025-08-11\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Religion|Holidays|Christmas \u0026amp; Advent|Cooking|Holiday|General|Crafts \u0026amp; Hobbies|Holiday \u0026amp; Seasonal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/b\u003e Christmas|Manners and customs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.83 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780829458978\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9780829458978\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Loyola Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51154431934742,"sku":"SP-9780829458978","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9780829458978_spiral.png?v=1774944253","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/the-true-gifts-of-christmas-unwrapping-the-meaning-behind-our-most-cherished-traditions","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}