Why Do We Eat Turkey On Thanksgiving?

We eat nearly 50 million turkeys each Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was made a national holiday in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln but there had been hints of that day being a holiday in prior years. George Washington declared Thursday, Nov. 26, 1789, to be “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” Today, about 50 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving.

Continue reading “Why Do We Eat Turkey On Thanksgiving?”

Halloween History

The first Halloween celebrations can be traced back to the ancient Celts.

Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain was celebrated in the British Isles, particularly in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, allowing spirits to roam the Earth.

Continue reading “Halloween History”

Halloween Candy

As a child, did you always remember which houses gave out the best candy?

What was your favorite Halloween candy as a child trick or treating? I always hoped for Snickers bar, with those straws full of colored sugar, Pixy Stix’s coming in second. I wouldn’t pass up a Payday bar, Hershey’s Kisses, or M&M’s either.

Continue reading “Halloween Candy”

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ is one of the oldest Christmas carols there is, and one of the most popular.

“God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” (or “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”) is an English traditional Christmas carol, and is also known as “Tidings of Comfort and Joy”. An early version of this carol is found in an anonymous manuscript, dating from the 1650s.

Continue reading “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen”

The Top Christmas Toys of the Sixties

Which toys would you have asked Santa for?

I was born in 1958 which made me 2 to 11 years old in the sixties, the perfect age for these Christmas toys. Many homes in America had a Sears catalog with pages that had been dog-eared in hopes of receiving a toy from that very page. Barbie was 1 year old in 1960 and all the girls wanted one. The Ken doll was released by Mattel in 1961.

Continue reading “The Top Christmas Toys of the Sixties”

My Favorite Albums – The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection

What if ribbons and bows didn’t mean a thing?
Would the song still survive without five golden rings?

“The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection”, originally released under the title “Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection”, is a Christmas-special extended play (EP). The album was originally released as a Target exclusive on October 14, 2007, by Big Machine Records. It was released to other retailers on December 2, 2008.

Continue reading “My Favorite Albums – The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection”

Newtonmas

Some ideas to help you celebrate the day: Place a Newton ornament on the tree. Discuss the merits of calculus over the dinner table. Use a telescope to view the night sky. Drop some unwanted gifts off the top of a tall building to test the theory of gravity.

If you don’t celebrate Christmas or want an additional holiday, I might suggest Newtonmas. Sir Isaac Newton was born on December 25, 1642. This would be perfect for public schools that don’t allow religion-based ideas. I mean, look at that hair, he looks like he’s ready to start partying!

Continue reading “Newtonmas”

My Favorite Albums – A Partridge Family Christmas Card

“A Partridge Family Christmas Card” is the fourth studio album for the Partridge Family. The sitcom stars released this album in November of 1971 with a Christmas card signed by the whole family. It was the best-selling Christmas album in the United States during the Christmas season of 1971 on Billboard magazine’s special Christmas Albums sales chart.

Continue reading “My Favorite Albums – A Partridge Family Christmas Card”

My Favorite Albums – Christmas with The Chipmunks

Uh Alvin, you were a little flat
Watch it, Alvin—Alvin? Alvin?!
Okay!

Christmas with The Chipmunks was released in 1962 on Liberty Records[1]. Mother bought this record for me, I was 4 years old, and I loved it. It is now referred to as Volume 1 since there have been 3 more releases with the same name, in 1963, 2007, and 2008. The tracks from this and its follow-up album, Christmas with The Chipmunks Vol. 2 have been in continuous circulation since their original releases.

Continue reading “My Favorite Albums – Christmas with The Chipmunks”