 |
MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH, Thomas, Nancy Smith ~~~ $29.95 NO LONGER CARRY 200 pgs., 128 illus., 2007, index Upper elementary, middle school, high school The Moravian Church was one of the earliest Protestant religious groups in the United States. In 1752 the church bought 100,000 acres in Piedmont North Carolina, calling the tract “Wachovia” because the land reminded them of the Wachau valley of Austria. Christmas customs practiced by the Moravians reflect their Germanic roots, Nancy Smith Thomas explains. This abundantly illustrated volume explores the many facets of traditional Moravian Christmas celebrations, including decorations (such as the idiosyncratic “Putz”), food and beverages, gifts, services, and music. Thomas discusses how these traditions evolved over time, within and outside the Moravian communities, as well as how certain non-Moravian Christmas traditions were incorporated into the Moravian customs. Curriculum Applications: 4th, 8th, 11th Grade Social Studies |