Researching the forgotten, overlooked, and slightly strange corners of everyday history.
The little things that make each season feel like itself. Seasonal Traditions looks at the foods, decorations, habits and rituals we come back to year after year—and the sometimes surprising stories behind them.
Bubble lights turned Christmas trees into tiny glowing science experiments. Here’s how they worked, why they became a mid-century favorite, and why people still love watching them bubble.
Why are hayrides associated with fall? The tradition grew from old-fashioned wagon outings, harvest gatherings, Halloween customs, and later farm attractions that turned a simple ride through the countryside into…
The Twelve Days of Christmas don’t lead up to December 25—they begin on Christmas Day. Here’s when they really happen and why the season once lasted into January.
How did a humble farm crop become the star of the fall porch? Here’s how pumpkins went from harvest staple to Halloween lantern to autumn tradition.
In the 1800s, Halloween partygoers really did try to bite an apple from one end of a spinning stick while a lit candle swung from the other. Here’s how the…
Those unsettling old Halloween masks made from sacks weren't just something dreamed up for a horror movie. Flour sacks really were used for masks — and the reason makes perfect…
What exactly was Cabbage Night? Discover why kids once tossed cabbages, soaped windows, moved gates, and turned the night before Halloween into a regional tradition.
Apple cider doughnuts feel like an old-fashioned fall tradition, but their rise owes plenty to doughnut machines, roadside farm stands and some clever 1950s marketing.
Why is it called a Yankee Swap, and is it really the same as a White Elephant gift exchange? The answer goes back further than the Civil War and includes…
Why did old Thanksgiving tables always seem to have celery, olives, pickles, and a relish tray? The answer goes back to seasonal food, formal dining, and a time when celery…