How Charles Dickens Set the American Christmas Dinner Table
How did a religious celebration turn into a holiday that is all about home, family, and Christmas dinner? Turns out Charles Dickens has a lot to do with it.
How Hanukkah Became “Jewish Christmas”
For most of the Jewish world, Hanukkah is a minor holiday. What happened in America?
What Poinsettias Have to do with U.S.-Mexico Relations
Poinsettias were named for the first US diplomat to Mexico. The flower was more successful than he was. How it went from Aztec dye to Christmas decoration.
How Women Finally Broke Into the Sciences
Women finally broke into the sciences in sex-segregated jobs in the years between 1880 and 1910.
The Pledge of Allegiance’s Creepy Past
Seventy-four years ago today, lawmakers passed an amendment to the U.S. Flag Code.
Rory Gilmore: The New New Woman
Recently, Netflix brought us the Gilmore Girls revival–Rory, Lorelei, and Emily 10 years on, able to “end” the show as its creator intended.
Suggested Readings: Fascism, Crime Forecasting, and Old Saint Nick
Extra Credit: Our pick of stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
The American Counter-Narrative of Ledger Drawings
Plains Indian ledger drawings offer a rich counter-narrative to the often-glamorized, or forgotten, history of the American West.