January 1, 2019 - Mary, Mother of God On New Years Day, Catholics will celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, with a feast. This celebration is the octave of Christmas. An octave is an eight day extension of the feast. In the modern Roman Calendar, only Christmas and Easter have an octave. This…
The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Kwanzaa
December 26, 2018 - January 1, 2019 - Kwanzaa Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January 1. It is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. The holiday was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach. He is an…
The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Christmas
December 25, 2018 - Christmas Christmas is a Christian religious holiday, and an American federal holiday observed on December 25 of each year. However, many people of other faiths celebrate Christmas in a non-religious context. Christians celebrate this day as the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God, on December 25. Eastern Orthodox Christians…
New Year, New Financial You
Do you make New Year's resolutions? One great resolution is not to spend more than you make. One way to do that is to look at all your finances, see where you can trim some extra spending, and look at ways you can save. #1 Balance Checkbook: It's good to check your statements monthly to make…
The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Yule and Shaheedi Chaar Sahibzaade
December 21, 2018 - Yule Yule is a Wiccan/Pagan holiday. As with many other pagan celebrations, it celebrates the changing of seasons. Yule happens on the winter solstice, and it celebrates rebirth and renewal. This is because the shortest day and longest night occur on the solstice. After the solstice, the days start to get…
Silent Night, 200th Anniversary
2018 is the 200th anniversary of the first performance of the popular Christmas carol “Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht”). In 1816, Joseph Mohr wrote a six stanza poem and put it aside, not giving it much thought. But in 1818, when preparing for the Christmas Eve service, this Austrian priest discovered a problem. The church’s organ…
End The Debt! Decolonize! Liberate! Scroll Project
The End the Debt! Decolonize! Liberate! scroll project is a participatory cultural response to Hurricane María that tells the story of U.S. imperialism through the lens of the current economic and environmental state of Puerto Rico and its diaspora. The scroll was developed between AgitArte and collaborators in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and is part…
The Business of Holiday and Winter Shopping
Seasons Greetings! Wondering where you can find data on holiday spending and consumer trends? The Boston Public Library offers a number of online resources to help you get the information you need. Industry Data A First Research Report from Mergent Intellect is a good place to find industry overview for publishers, toys, and candy manufacturing.…
Holiday Gift Ideas for History/Historical Fiction Fans
Are you looking for gift ideas for family and friends who enjoy historical fiction or reading about history? This list should help you get a head start on your holiday shopping. Choices range from a new history of the United States by a distinguished professor, to a graphic novel adaptation of a classic memoir. Connect…
LGBTQ+ Fiction: December 2018
Welcome to December 2018! I hope the holidays are treating you well and that you are finding good books to sink into in your spare moments. Maybe one of these will be that book for you! This month I have reviewed a “new adult” romance with an asexual character that I loved and a science…
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