Christmas
History of Charles Dickens: 214 Years Ago
Reading Time: 5 minutesHISTORY OF CHARLES DICKENS oday marks the 214th birthdate of Charles Dickens, considered by many the greatest English writer since Shakespeare – at least he was during his lifetime in the Victorian age. He enjoyed the distinction of fame and a measure of financial success during his lifetime, starting in his 20s. Many of his…
Read MoreHistory of Distaff Day: Back to Work
Reading Time: 2 minutesHISTORY OF DISTAFF DAY: BACK TO WORK istaff Day originated in medieval European traditions – where it marked the day after Epiphany (January 6) – and was an unofficial celebration traditionally observed on January 7. The Twelve Days of Christmas, a period of celebration and rest from labor, were now over. On Distaff Day, women…
Read MoreHistory of Epiphany and Twelfth Night: Ending the 12 Days of Christmas?
Reading Time: 3 minutesHISTORY OF TWELFTH NIGHT AND EPIPHANY Podcast version Twelfth Night is on January 5, the eve of Epiphany, which falls on January 6 in the Christian calendar. piphany signifies the event of the Magi, or Wise Men, visiting the baby Jesus. In some Latin cultures, it is known as Three Kings Day.
Read MoreHistory of the 12 Days of Christmas: They’re after Christmas?
Reading Time: 3 minutesTHE HISTORY OF THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: THEY’RE AFTER CHRISTMAS? Podcast version he 12 Days of Christmas are the dozen days in the liturgical (ecclesiastical) calendar of the Western Church between the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child (December 25) and the eve of the coming of the Wise Men, or…
Read MoreHistory of New Year’s Day: Why on January 1?
Reading Time: 4 minutesHistory of New Year’s Day: Why on January 1? It wasn’t always on this date. This article discusses its history.
Read MoreHistory of Auld Lang Syne: What Does the Song Mean?
Reading Time: 3 minutesHISTORY OF AULD LANG SYNE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN Podcast version hy is it that each New Year’s Eve, we sing “Auld Lang Syne,” but do we know what it means? The song contains words from a language few are familiar with, in a syntax confusing to most, and is from a poem about…
Read MoreHistory of Childermas: Feast of the Holy Innocents
Reading Time: 3 minutesHISTORY OF CHILDERMAS: FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS Podcast version hildermas, from an Old English word meaning the Mass of the Infants, is a festival in the church calendar that began in the fifth century. It is celebrated in the Western Church on December 28 and in the Eastern Church on December 29. It…
Read MoreHistory of Holiday Fruitcake
Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE Podcast version ecember 27 is National Fruitcake Day. You may be wondering: “My friendly neighborhood historian is writing an article on fruitcake? Is he as nutty as a fruitcake?” And therein begins our tale…
Read MoreHistory of the Feast of St. John: Which St John?
Reading Time: 3 minutesHistory of the Feast of St. John. Who was St. John the Apostle and what was his role in history?
Read MoreHistory of Boxing Day and the Feast of St. Stephen
Reading Time: 2 minutesHISTORY OF BOXING DAY Podcast version hile unfamiliar to many Americans, Boxing Day is a well-known holiday among the countries of the former British Commonwealth. It is celebrated on December 26 as a public holiday in the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and even Massachusetts. However, it’s not a…
Read MoreHistory of the First American Christmas: 1776
Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN CHRISTMAS: 1776 Part of the series on America 250, the US Semiquincentennial Podcast version t is called the first “American” Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially “divorcing” America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Perhaps it would be more accurate…
Read MoreChristmas Presents: When Do You Open Them?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Christmas Presents: What Day Do You Open Them? ome open presents Christmas Eve night, others open them Christmas morning. When do you open Christmas presents?
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