The Secret History of Christmas Audiobook By Bill Bryson cover art

The Secret History of Christmas

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Secret History of Christmas

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $12.01

Buy for $12.01

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

A cornucopia of Christmas delights from the bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything and Notes from a Small Island.

Christmas is the single biggest annual event on the planet, a time for merry-making, over-indulgence, peace, goodwill, and the occasional family row. It’s as comfortable and familiar as a pair of old shoes and yet still glittery and exciting. But what do you really know about it? It’s stuffed full of traditions and rituals that most of us have been observing all our lives without having the slightest idea of where they come from.

Why is it called Boxing Day, for example? Why do we sing about Good King Wenceslas – who wasn’t a king and possibly not even good? What’s the story behind Christmas crackers? Who would have guessed that one of our most popular Christmas carols began as a kind of semi-pornographic Welsh folksong? And how did St Nicholas, a bishop from the dawn of Christianity, turn into the plump and jolly figure of Santa Claus with a flying sleigh and a home at the North Pole?

Christmas, and how it got that way, is full of surprises. Join Bill Bryson to reach into this Christmas stocking and pull them out – along with the inevitable tangerine.

©2022 Bill Bryson (P)2022 Audible, Ltd
History Political Science Celebration Winter Christmas Funny Witty Christmas Nonfiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Secret History of Christmas

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    966
  • 4 Stars
    318
  • 3 Stars
    86
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    959
  • 4 Stars
    216
  • 3 Stars
    56
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    898
  • 4 Stars
    265
  • 3 Stars
    71
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Oh Come All Ye Faithful Bryson Fans

Only Bill Bryson could come up with and weave together so well so many fascinating yet little-known facts about something we thought we knew so well: Christmas.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Classic Bill Bryson

Enjoyable classic bill Bryson with his quintessential British humor mixed with lots of Christmas trivia

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So interesting

This was a great quick listen. Learned so much about the different Christmas traditions I had never heard of.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sweet

Sweet. Chatty. Funny. Filled with historical details. A well spent listen for those who love trivia.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good over all

I learnt some new things about Christmas traditions and where they came from. I enjoyed hearing his perspective as an American married to a British wife and the experiences that that brings. As I am in the same situation.
The author made it pretty clear his thoughts on Christianity at the beginning and how it related to Christmas. It seems his research into that only confirmed his own personal anti Christian beliefs.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it!

Bill Bryson’s books are always very informative and highly entertaining! Thank you, Bill, for another wonderful book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Reality appreciated

Interesting insights into how Christmas has evolved over time and worldwide. Curious as to what the holidays will look like in the future!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun

An interesting, if somewhat circuitous, picture of the many paths that let us to our current Christmas holiday.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book by beloved author

Everything about this book was fabulous. Interesting handling of a popular subject. This book was written for a British not American audience. That made it all the more interesting. Perfect length for half a day’s drive.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love Christmas even more now

Bill’s voice and expression, his depth of research with wit and humour that keeps you interested in every word. I love Christmas even more now 💕 thank you Bill!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!