Illustration: “Twelfth Night Merry-Making in Farmer Shakeshaft’s Barn,” from Ainsworth’s “Mervyn Clitheroe,” by Phiz, c. 1850. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Traditional Celebrations for ‘Little Christmas’

By Melissa Berry on January 5, 2024

In this article – to celebrate the traditional end of the Christmas season – Melissa Berry describes the history and traditions of “Little Christmas.”.. (Read More)

Photo: Christmas at the Annunciation Church in Nazareth, 1965. Credit: Israel Press and Photo Agency (I.P.P.A.) / Dan Hadani collection, National Library of Israel / CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons.

Christmas Celebrations – Some Other Opinions

By Katie Rebecca Garner on December 21, 2023

In this article, Katie Rebecca Garner writes about how some of our ancestors c. 1800 were opposed to Christmas celebrations... (Read More)

Illustration: “Nativity of Christ,” medieval illustration from the “Hortus Deliciarum” of Herrad of Landsberg, c. 1180. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Our Ancestors, Religion, and Christmas

By Katie Rebecca Garner on December 20, 2023

In this article, Katie Rebecca Garner writes about how some of our ancestors c. 1800 were concerned there wasn’t enough Christ in Christmas... (Read More)

Illustration: “Merry Old Santa Claus” by Thomas Nast, from the 1 January 1881 edition of “Harper's Weekly.” Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Christmases Past: What Toys Did They Wish For?

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on December 18, 2023

In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to find ads for toys, to see what was popular in past Christmases... (Read More)

Illustration: “The Christmas Tree” by Albert Chevallier Tayler, 1911. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Christmas Memories – and Changing Celebrations (part 2)

By Jessica Edwards on December 11, 2023

In this article, Jessica Edwards describes Christmas traditions in her family, including a creche and some very special cookies... (Read More)

Christmas Memories – and Changing Celebrations (part 1)

By Jessica Edwards on December 6, 2023

Jessica Edwards writes about her mother’s descriptions of celebrating Christmas when she was a child, showing how the family celebrations have changed... (Read More)

Illustration: “Snap-Apple Night,” painted by Irish artist Daniel Maclise in 1833. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Halloween Love: Divination and Magic

By Melissa Berry on October 31, 2023

Melissa Davenport Berry writes about ways our female ancestors told their fortunes on Halloween, especially trying to discover their future husband... (Read More)

Photo: North Texas Agricultural College party with students bobbing for apples, c. 1930s. Credit: University of Texas at Arlington Photograph Collection; Wikimedia Commons.

Our Ancestors’ Halloween Fun: Bobbing for Apples

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on October 30, 2023

In this article – to help celebrate Halloween – Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about a Halloween game our ancestors played: bobbing for apples... (Read More)

Photo: Father’s Day sign at the strawberry farm in Queensland, Australia. Credit: Kgbo; Wikimedia Commons.

A Look Back at Father’s Day in America

By Melissa Berry on June 16, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry searches old newspapers to see how Father’s Day has been celebrated in the past... (Read More)

Category: Holidays