History
Fifties Flashback: It’s a Mad World After All
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
In Lewis Carroll’s 1865 classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice remarks to the Cheshire Cat, “I don’t want to go among mad people.”
March Used to Be the First Month of the Year
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Before the ancient Roman calendar was updated to include the winter months of January and February, the year started with March.
Women’s History: France’s First Female University Graduate
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During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of women in America.
Fifties Flashback: The Cat with 10 Million Lives
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
“Write me a story that first-graders can’t put down.”
Fifties Flashback: Fame and Fortune from Midwestern Mud
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
In 1982 Eddie Murphy returned the nearly forgotten Gumby character to popularity.
Dessert on the Ceiling (and Other Kooky Christmas Traditions)
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
More than 160 countries around the world celebrate Christmas. Overseas and elsewhere, some holiday traditions may seem wonderfully weird — and maybe even a bit bizarre. For some chuckles, let’s check out the yearly happenings in:
Día de los Muertos Not a ‘Spanish Halloween’
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The Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is often mistaken for a Spanish version of Halloween. It is actually a way for families to honor loved ones who are no longer living.
No Pie at Original Thanksgiving
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The first Thanksgiving didn’t feature pies or cakes, because the Plymouth pilgrims had no ovens and a limited supply of sugar.
Different Cultures Celebrate Columbus Day
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Columbus Day became a federal holiday in the United States in 1934, but Christopher Columbus’s landing in the Americas was celebrated across the country long before that.