Illustration: a heart with “Love” in the middle

Valentines Go to War: WWII Valentines

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on February 14, 2024

In this article – to help celebrate Valentine’s Day – Gena Philibert-Ortega shows some examples of valentines our ancestors sent during WWII... (Read More)

Photo: “Happy Valentine’s Day” with hearts. Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html

Our Ancestors’ World, 100 Years Ago: Valentine’s Day 1924

By Katie Rebecca Garner on February 12, 2024

In this article, Katie Rebecca Garner searches old newspapers to find articles about our ancestors and Valentine’s Day from 100 years ago... (Read More)

Photo: “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html

Our Ancestors’ Love Stories, 100 Years Ago: Valentine’s Day 1924

By Katie Rebecca Garner on February 8, 2024

In this article – to help celebrate Valentine’s Day – Katie Rebecca Garner searches old newspapers to find love stories written 100 years ago... (Read More)

Illustration: “Love & Valentine’s Day.” Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html

Our Ancestors & Love, 100 Years Ago: Valentine’s Day 1924

By Katie Rebecca Garner on February 5, 2024

In this article – to help celebrate Valentine’s Day – Katie Rebecca Garner searches old newspapers to see what our ancestors thought of love 100 years ago... (Read More)

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)

Category: Holidays