The Genealogy of the Jewish Deli
The Jewish deli is a New York City tradition that has spread far beyond the city's limits. It's a tradition worthy of its own history.
How Anxiety Got Rebranded As Depression
Depression diagnoses have skyrocketed over the past 50 years, but not necessarily as result of underlying changes in our mental health.
How Irish Holidays Blend Catholic and Pagan Traditions
Many Irish holidays blend the Catholic faith with ancient Celtic tradition and mythology. Some original pagan holidays are still practiced in Ireland today.
How Hanukkah Became “Jewish Christmas”
For most of the Jewish world, Hanukkah is a minor holiday. What happened in America?
Celebrating Solstice the Ancient Greek Way
The winter solstice Festival of Poseidon was epic.
What Santa Claus Looks Like
Where does the figure of Santa Claus come from? Turns out the answer is not "the North Pole." And he's not just about Christianity, either.
School Choice Since 1800
Donald Trump is putting forward a plan to massively increase the use of public money to pay students’ ...
Teaching Trump: The Rise of the Crowd-Sourced Syllabus
With the rise of the crowd-sourced syllabus, such as the #FergusonSyllabus or #TrumpSyllabus, the digital age has expanded the scope of online learning.
Hasty Pudding: The Original American Comfort Food
Puddings can be surprisingly nationalistic.
Thanksgiving Is a Feast of Things Forgotten
Thanksgiving is a feast so complex and semiotically dense that things are very often forgotten and rarely go according to plan.