What is the “magic of Christmas” and why has it captivated even the secular world for so many centuries? We’ll explore the history of the celebration of Christmas, from the Gospel accounts of the Nativity to the banning of Christmas by the Puritans in Colonial America, to the commercialization and secularization of Christmas in modern times. Through it all, we’ll look at the depiction of the Nativity in Literature, Film and Music. We’ll examine A Christmas Carol, we’ll watch scenes from Christmas movies, we’ll read essays and poems on Christmas by G.K. Chesterton, we’ll examine the theology and wonder behind classic and modern Christmas Carols — and we’ll even explore the strange transformation of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus! But our goal through it all will be to have a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Incarnation. Note that each student will work on a Final Project that will be a story, poem or other creative work that he or she will present to his or her family during the Christmas season!