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Posted by: Heather Thomas
Thanksgiving is the one American holiday defined by its cuisine. Here is a brief history (and recipes!) of some of the dishes that have come to represent a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Holidays, Newspapers, Recipes
Posted by: Mike Queen
Halloween is almost here! For a real fright on all hallows’ night, let’s delve into horror comics. I’ve always wondered what titles might make Batman’s Halloween reading list, so I decided to take a stab at it by combing through the depths of the Library of Congress’ vast comic book collection and came up with …
Posted in: Comic Books, Halloween, Holidays
Posted by: Joanna Colclough
Check out some ice cream soda fountain history in Chronicling America with some at-home recipes to keep cool in the summer heat.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Holidays, Recipes
Posted by: Amber Paranick
The deaths of former U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, the day of the Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, was an extraordinary and eerie coincidence.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Holidays, Newspapers, U.S. Presidents
Posted by: Malea Walker
Do you know how to bring yourself good luck in the New Year? From saying "rabbits" to walking backwards up stairs, these tips from our historic newspapers will tell you what to do, what to say, what to eat, and even what to wear to bring yourself good fortune in the New Year.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Holidays
Posted by: Heather Thomas
Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël, Sheng Dan Kuai Le, ¡Feliz Navidad! Christmas celebrations take place around the world and can vary greatly from country to country with traditions that reflect differing cultural history and national customs. Test your knowledge and learn more about how this holiday is celebrated around the globe!
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Holidays, Newspapers, Trivia
Posted by: Heather Thomas
Thanksgiving has long been celebrated at the White House, but in addition to giving thanks, the presidency has a long history with the holiday.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Holidays, Newspapers, U.S. Presidents
Posted by: Heather Thomas
Carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and wearing scary costumes are some of the time-honored traditions of Halloween. Yet, the Halloween holiday has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced "SAH-win"), a pagan religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor saints. Soon after, All Saints Day came to incorporate some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before All Saints Day was known as All Hallows Eve, and later, Halloween. Here is a look at the origins of some of the classic Halloween traditions we know today.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Halloween, Holidays, Newspapers
Posted by: Amber Paranick
Presenting feel-good news stories to round out our posts for the year and say farewell to 2020 on a positive note! Hopefully, these uplifting, heartfelt, funny, and touching stories from yesterday’s news in Chronicling America* serve as a diversion from the darker news of this year… In 1947, after scouring newspaper stories around the country, …
Posted in: African American History, Digitized Newspapers, Holidays, Newspaper Comic Strips, Newspapers, Sports, Women's History