Author Archive for: Editor
Entries by Jeff Westover
History of the American Santa
Santa Claus, much like Christmas itself, is a symbol of all things sacred and secular related to Christmas. From classic Coca Cola ads from early 20th century print still remembered and revered today to modern Hollywood creations like Bad Santa that we’d rather forget, the American evolution of Santa Claus just never seems to be […]
New Music: Christmas to Me by Don Murdock
Don Murdock is a country singer/songwriter who loves Christmas! Don was raised a Catholic and as a youngster has memories of attending Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, of caroling door to door, and of Christmas concerts at school. Like many Canadians he grew up with traditions of decorating Christmas trees and spending time with family […]
Christmas for the American Slave
Christmas for the American slave was a time of hope and irony. Slaveholders and white landowners, as many Americans do today, deviated from their routines during the holidays for the celebration of Christmas and the New Year. It was a time of festivity and gift giving. Slaves looked forward to Christmas because it meant a […]
Realities of the New Black Friday
Christmas lands on December 25th. That is the constant — the north star of retailing and the deadline on the mind of every Christmas shopper. In an age where confusion reigns of when to get the best deal and where to get it the simple fact remains that Christmas is unchangeable. That seems to be […]
The Art of Stuffing
Only in America could something as unromantic sounding as stuffing be classified as an art. For many, the star of the show during a Thanksgiving feast is not the turkey and it is not the pumpkin pie – it is the stuffing. Stuffing is the one food element of Thanksgiving that seems to have multiple […]
The Story of Black Peter
By Mac Carey Before elves and eight tiny reindeer, St. Nicholas had a much more menacing assistant. Named Black Peter, this companion was the physical opposite of St. Nicholas. Tall and gaunt with a dark beard and hair, Black Peter was associated with the punitive side of Christmas. Traditionally St. Nicholas would hand out presents […]
The Christmas Pickle
It is a quaint tradition that nobody wants to claim. And its story would not be the first tradition of Christmas born of a total fabrication. It is the little-known tradition of the Christmas pickle. The Christmas pickle is not really a pickle at all. It is a pickle-shaped ornament that is the last one […]
Grumpy Cat Could Be the Most Painful Christmas Preview Ever
So the Grumpy Cat movie appears to be about a girl who just wants a friend for Christmas. That is as good as the preview gets. From there, this movie appears about as obnoxious and boring as could be. It’s so bad, it could be good:
