The Months: History of January
January is the first month of the year on both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The first day of the month of January is New Year’s Day. January is also the first month of the year to have 31 days. … Continued
January is the first month of the year on both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The first day of the month of January is New Year’s Day. January is also the first month of the year to have 31 days. … Continued
The Tournament of Roses Parade is held every New Year’s Day in Pasadena,California. The parade includes floats covered with flowers, marching bands and equestrian units. The parade first began on January 1, 1890 when members of the Valley Hunt Club … Continued
We celebrate the beginning of the New Year, but when did this begin? New Year’s Day was celebrated on January 1 for the first time in 45 B.C. when the Julian calendar took effect. New Year’s Day celebrations fell out … Continued
Every New Year’s Eve, at least a million people crowd into Times Square in New York City to watch the New Year’s ball drop. This is a tradition dating back to 1907/1908 and is watched by millions of people around … Continued
We sing “Here we come a-wassailing“, but what does it mean? The term was used as a simple greeting and toast. The term has evolved over the centuries. The word ‘wassail’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘waes hael’, which means … Continued
Today we use nativity scenes as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. But, how did they begin? A nativity scene depicts the birth of Jesus as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Saint Francis of Assisi … Continued
Eggnogg is a popular Christmas drink. But, how did it originate? By the late 13th Century, monks were known to drink a posset of eggs and figs. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, posset was “a drink made of hot … Continued
We know that Jesus was not born on December 25th, so why do we celebrate his birthday on this date? The exact birthday of Jesus is unknown. Scholars believe that he may have been born sometime in either spring or … Continued
Making gingerbread, whether it is cookies or houses, has become a popular Christmas past time for many families. According to Rhonda Massingham Hart’s Making Gingerbread Houses, the first known recipe for gingerbread came from Greece in 2400 BC. An Armenian … Continued
Christmas crackers are part of the Christmas celebrations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the commonwealth countries. “Crackers were originally called ‘cosaques’ and were thought to be named after the ‘Cossack’ soldiers who had a reputation for riding on their … Continued