History of Charles Dickens: 211 years Ago

Young Charles Dickens

HISTORY OF CHARLES DICKENS Today marks the 211th 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…

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History of Auld Lang Syne: What Does It Mean?

Auld Lang Syne

HISTORY OF AULD LANG SYNE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN Why do we sing “Auld Lang Syne” each New Year’s Eve, but do we know what it means? The song contains words from a language that few are familiar with, in a syntax that is confusing to most, and is from a poem about friends recalling…

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History of Childermas: Feast of the Holy Innocents

Childermas

HISTORY OF CHILDERMAS: FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS Childermas, from an Old English word meaning the Mass of the Infants, is the festival in the church calendar begun in the fifth century — celebrated in the Western Church on December 28 and in the Eastern Church on December 29. It is also known as Bairn’s…

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History of Holiday Fruitcake

Fruitcake one

HISTORY OF HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE December 27 is National Fruitcake Day. You may be wondering: “Why is my friendly neighborhood historian is writing an article on fruitcake? Is he as nutty as a fruitcake?” And therein begins our tale…     The Phrase “Nutty as a Fruitcake” Nutty as a fruitcake was first recorded in 1935,…

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Christmas Traditions Podcast

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS PODCAST Catch my 45-minute podcast segment where I talk about the history of Christmas traditions. It starts at 59:00 and goes to 1:45:15. https://spoti.fi/3Wi8F1U

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History of Christmas Eve and the Battle of the Bulge: 78 Years Ago

Snow Fighters

HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS EVE AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: 78 YEARS AGO On Christmas Eve, 1944, my father, Staff Sergeant John Petro, arrived in Strasbourg with the 42nd “Rainbow” Infantry Division. Eight days earlier, the Battle of the Bulge had begun. The 42nd Division and others supplied much-needed reinforcements to the most extensive and…

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