Holiday History

The Pilgrims' celebration of the first Thanksgiving is a keystone of America's national and spiritual identity. But is what we've been taught about them or their harvest feast what actually happened? And if not, what difference does it make? Through the captivating story of the birth of this quintessentially American holiday, veteran historian Tracy McKenzie helps us to better understand the tale of America's origins—and for Christians, to grasp the significance of this story and those like it.

Young listeners learn about the early traditions which have led to our present-day celebration of Valentine's Day.

In recent years many claims have been made and questions asked about the origins of our Easter traditions. Was the holiday based on Pagan traditions? Was Easter created by the Roman Catholic Church at the Council of Nicaea? Where did Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny come from? How did Lent get started? Should Christians celebrate Easter, or should we be celebrating Passover? In this book we try to go back to the origins of these traditions and examine the historical evidence available to us to see where all of these traditions got started. Starting with the Bible as our guide, we work our ...

Will a little meddling from Granny Mae and a touch of mistletoe magic be enough to turn enemies into lovers in time for a merry Christmas? Meredith: Returning to Kings Valley was supposed to be simple: revive my family’s beloved café and keep our town’s traditions alive. I never imagined my biggest challenge would be Kris Knight, the smooth-talking developer with grand plans to modernize our historic inn. From the moment we met we were at odds—our visions for the future couldn’t be more different. But a surprise kiss under the mistletoe has turned everything upside-down. Suddenly, ...

Is there a festive season of the year that is complete without one of your favorite hymns? Not only do hymns connect you to great memories, but they also reveal the faith of those who lived throughout history. As Robert Morgan explored the stories behind some of the best-loved hymns, he found fascinating accounts of tribulations, triumphs, struggles, and hope—ordinary people who connected with God in amazing ways, sharing their experiences through song.

In 1815 the Battle of Waterloo brought to an end the Napoleonic Wars and the European continent opened up once again to British tourists. The nineteenth century was to be an age driven by steam technology, mass-industrialisation and movement, and, in the footsteps of the Grand Tourists a hundred years earlier, the British middle-classes flocked to Europe to see the sights. In Tourists, the voices of these travellers – puzzled, shocked, delighted and amazed – are brought vividly to life.

On Christmas Day 1914, amid the bloodily stalemated trenches of Flanders just five months into World War I, a memorable event dubbed the Christmas Truce occurred. In place of the rattle of gunfire and the crash of bursting artillery shells, familiar German and English Christmas carols floated through the frosty air. Officers and men on both sides emerged from their trenches to mingle, exchange Yuletide greetings, give one another small gifts and mementos, and discuss the fighting as language allowed.

As a genealogist, what would you give to spend one day with one of your ancestors? To witness everyday details of his or her life, whether it involved a favorite recipe, cooking methods, gardening, transportation or how children spent their day? Genealogy and stories related to major life events are often found in journals and other sources, but what about activities such as holiday celebrations or games children played on balmy summer evenings? Wouldn't you like to go one step beyond vague stories about walking four miles to school through two feet of snow or canning peaches on a woodstove...

The Christmas Tree Girls was inspired by a true story from 1912 Chicago. Captain Schuenemann and the Christmas Tree Ship is legend in Chicago. His wife Barbara, and their three daughters, Elsie and the twins Hazel and Pearl became known as The Christmas Tree Girls. First introduced in this author's last book, 'Flowers For the Season'; now go on a new adventure with Elsie, Hazel and Pearl. Will there be a Christmas miracle? Perfect for the holidays or any time of the year.

Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday’s Traditions reveals the surprising, quirky, mysterious, and sometimes horrifying stories behind the most wonderful time of the year.

When Juniper returns home for Christmas, will the magic of the season turn what starts as a fling into something more? Coming home for Christmas wasn’t part of my plan, especially not after my ex, Troy, dumped me like a hot potato for another woman. But my mom’s guilt trips are as relentless as ever, and with no flights available, I find myself on a twelve-hour drive back to the small town I left behind. Just as I’m about to reach town, my car gives up the ghost, leaving me stranded with a snowstorm approaching and no cell service. That’s when he shows up. Mason Knight. The high ...

There are two great misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo in the United States, despite the fact it has become one of the country’s most beloved days. The first misconception is that the date marks the Independence of Mexico, and the second is that the celebration was imported in relatively recent times by Mexican immigrants. In fact, May 5 does not mark Mexico's independence (which is celebrated on September 16) but the day of the most important battle in the history of the country, fought against the French.

Charming, handsome Trey Anderson balances the pressures of school popularity with a job at his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland. Quirky, creative Ariel Spencer needs tuition for the prestigious art program of her dreams, and an opening at Wonderland is the answer. When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of being shut down by a neighborhood gentrifier, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline—and embark on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever.

Three Nephites. One star. A divine quest that will shake empires—and eternity. When an angel descends with a heavenly summons, three chosen men leave behind everything—family, homeland, safety—to follow a star blazing across the sky. Their destination: the birth of the Son of God. Their path: perilous, holy, and utterly unknown. Jared, a master of the stars, can chart the heavens—but not the unraveling of his own fate. Totec, a warrior prince, must conquer the pride that threatens to destroy their mission from within. Nephi, prophet and leader, bears the sacred call of God—and a ...

When Robert Catesby, the charismatic son of a Catholic gentleman, marries heiress Catherine Leigh and inherits the rich Oxfordshire manor house at Aston from his grandmother, it seems that the future happiness of the couple must be assured. However, Robert’s deep involvement in plots to overthrow the Protestant queen Elizabeth I and his increasingly dangerous behavior threaten the lives of his wife and their young son.

History is turned inside out when off-world travelers challenge Tyson Reyes and Madi Grace to a real-life game of Temporal Dilemma. Three rounds from the opponents and Hitler takes Europe, Pearl Harbor never happens, a fascist cloud hangs over the postwar United States, and CHRONOS itself is erased from existence. Now Tyson, Madi, and a team of seasoned players must make their moves - in 1930s New York. Jazz and the blues waft from Village clubs. The World’s Fair draws assassins. Madison Square Garden hosts Nazis. And the Manhattan Project never gets off the ground.

The United States is a nation that touts its diversity, but there is one tradition that all Americans love to share. Every year on the Fourth of July, Americans celebrate the founding of the nation. Independence Day is the greatest of national traditions, but much of the inherited lore that surrounds the Fourth is myth and legend, not history.

In The First Christmas, two of today's top Jesus scholars, Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan, join forces to show how history has biased our reading of the nativity story as it appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Borg and Crossan help us to see this well-known narrative afresh by answering the question, "What do these stories mean?" in the context of both the first century and the 21st century. They successfully show that the Christmas story, read in its original context, is far richer and more challenging than people imagine.

An outdoor enthusiasts’ haven is rocked by scandal when ancient Anasazi ruins are discovered on property owned by unpopular businessperson, Calamity Joan. When Joan is suddenly, mysteriously killed, blame falls on the owner of the bed and breakfast where Tiffany and Rosie are staying. Could these Anasazi ruins have led to Joan’s death? Tiffany and Rosie find themselves in the middle of a web of dark secrets, scrambling to uncover the truth before it’s too late… Praise for A.R. Winters: "The perfect balance of being lighthearted, but still a serious page-turning mystery." - Jaycie D,...

Even by the standards of the 1970s, even compared to Jar-Jar Binks, the legendary 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special is a peerlessly cringeworthy pop-culture artifact.