Christmas is a traditional season of peace but even Santa straps on the uniform of a soldier when called to duty. Over time Santa has been “enlisted” in the cause of one side or another in periods of war. Not surprisingly, most of the images of Santa associated with war are American and date from […]
The “spooky season” of Halloween has more connection to Christmas than many people realize. It comes in the form of the Christmas ghost story. In the end, both holidays at their core are a celebration of life over death, of explorations into themes of light and dark. Even the Nativity Story, innocently told through the […]
A 1929 newspaper article from Boston tells the story of a boy named Alfred Shurtleff, who in 1893 began a tradition in his Boston neighborhood that reads a lot like the spirited Christmas enthusiasts of our day who festively decorate their homes with lights each season. What did Alfred do? On a snowy Christmas Eve […]
Recording artist and YouTube star Peter Hollens is releasing a new Christmas album, titled A Hollens Family Christmas. The album is a follow-up to his hit video cover of Mary, Did You Know? released last December and presently sitting at better than 5 million views (the song also appears on this new album). Hollens has […]
I recently engaged in conversation with one of our international members who observed, “You Americans ruin Christmas every four years”. Her reference, of course, was to the rancor of this particular election and how divisive it has been for everyone – even those out of the country. I had to laugh but she had a […]
The anticipation of Christmas is considered by many one of the great joys of the season. These days there are websites and social media groups dedicated to counting down days to Christmas and cable television channels have adopted a countdown to Christmas as a way to get all their new holiday content shown during the […]
Kacey Musgraves has announced both a new Christmas album and a Christmas tour to support it. The album drops on October 28th. Kacey’s album features guest artists Willie Nelson, Brandy Clark, and Leon Bridges. A Very Kacey Christmas is a mix of traditional and new Christmas songs. Fans can look forward to classics like “Have […]
The Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803 to explore the lands acquired through the Louisiana Purchase. It began in St. Louis and traveled over the continental divide to the Pacific Ocean, gathering information and introducing the world to the wonders of the American West. Over roughly […]
Christmas memes have become not only a staple of each holiday season online but they have found a place year round. Christmas, it seems, has memes for every season. There is an entire generation – or two – that does not understand the idea of memes at all. And there is yet another generation that […]
For more than a century trains were the center piece of mass transportation. This time in culture also saw the rise of the industrial revolution and, as well, the media-driven mass popularity of the secular Christmas. The real connection of trains to Christmas was born of the fact that going over the river and through […]
Sarah McLachlan joins the parade of artists bringing out new Christmas albums this year. On October 21 she will release Wonderland, her first Christmas album since her hit holiday album of 2006 titled Wintersong. “I love everything about Christmas and this record was a joy to make,” said McLachlan of “Wonderland”. Fans will enjoy such […]
