"A Visit From Saint Nicholas" or as it is routinely referred to "Twas the Night Before Christmas" was written by Clement Clarke Moore on Christmas Eve 1822. A newly minted professor of Greek and Hebrew literature at General Theological Seminary, he was hosting a holiday gathering at his home in and at some point in… Continue reading Twas the Night Before Christmas
Category: History
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is believed to have been based on St. Nicholas, a 4th-century clergy in the Mediterranean port city of Myra, part of modern-day Turkey. It is said that St. Nicholas gave away all his wealth to help the poor and the sick. By the Middle Ages in the Netherlands, the Feast of Sinterklaas in early… Continue reading Santa Claus
The Twelve Days of Christmas
One of the most popular Christmas songs we have is "The Twelve Days of Christmas". The song we know today was written by Frederic Austin in 1909 but was secular in nature. However there is a historical Christian Twelve Days of Christmas that is unrelated to the song but rather related to the day of… Continue reading The Twelve Days of Christmas
Christmas Gift Wrapping
Wrapping Christmas gifts in holiday colors and themes is one of the most endearing traditions of the season. But how did it start? It can be dated back at least to the 1600's with Japan's reusable wrapping cloth for gifts, which is still around today. In the West, the mid-1800's saw people begin sending paper… Continue reading Christmas Gift Wrapping
Empire of the Summer Moon
"Empire of the Summer Moon" is a book written by S. C. Gwynn primarily about the Comanche Indian nation. The book also discusses the story of Cynthia Anne Parker and her son Quanah Parker who was one of the last chiefs of the Comanches. The book describes the history of the warlike and vicious Comanches… Continue reading Empire of the Summer Moon
Good King Wenceslas
"Good King Wenceslas" is a favorite Christmas carol often sung during the Christmas season loosely based on a real person named Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia. The carol tells of him going on a journey, braving harsh winter weather to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (celebrated on December… Continue reading Good King Wenceslas
Candy Canes
Candy Canes are closely associated with the Christmas season but how did that come about? A common folkloric story is that in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to quiet the children's noise at Christmas Eve service asked a local candy maker for some "sugar sticks" for them. In order to… Continue reading Candy Canes
Sarah Hale
Sarah Hale was a women that is widely credited with being the individual most responsible for the establishment of a Thanksgiving holiday in America. Throughout early American history some leaders issued Thanksgiving proclamations but it was not consistently celebrated. Hale was a young widow with five children and a millinery shop. She was a writer,… Continue reading Sarah Hale
Lizzie Atwater
Lizzie Atwater, along with her husband, was one of the 8,000 missionaries working at any one time in China between 1830 and 1949. In 1900 an anti-Christian group known as the Boxers waged a war against the foreign powers that had seized their land by military might and in particular the Christians who came along… Continue reading Lizzie Atwater
The Last Emperor of Mexico
The "Last Emperor of Mexico" is a biography of Maximilian I, the last emperor of Mexico and an Austrian Hapsburg Archduke, written by Edward Shawcross. Maximilian, born in 1832, was a member of the Austrian ruling Hapsburg family, with his brother, Franz Joseph, becoming Emperor in 1848. Maximilian became head of Austria's navy in 1854… Continue reading The Last Emperor of Mexico
Fort Sumter For Virginia
In 1861 newly elected President Abraham Lincoln was faced with how to keep the country together, something he earnestly desired. Despite his repeated assurances that he would never bother slavery in the States where it was already in place and his support of a Constitutional amendment that would state that slavery could never be disturbed… Continue reading Fort Sumter For Virginia
The First 13th Amendment
Juneteenth Day is approaching which celebrates the abolition of slavery accomplished by the 13th amendment to the Constitution. However, few people today remember the first proposed 13th Amendment which was never ratified. In December 1860 as the Southern states were starting to succeed the Senate quickly formed a "Committee of Thirteen" to investigate possible legislative… Continue reading The First 13th Amendment
God’s History of Grace
The World seems fixed on death and evil. However, God’s grace and lovingkindness to His creation is marked in history. The greatest single event being the incarnation of Yeshua Messiah, His life, death, resurrection and subsequent redemption of all who believe upon Him. Untold numbers of books could be written upon the ramifications of this… Continue reading God’s History of Grace
Heart of a Tiger
"Heart of a Tiger" by Herschel Cobb is a book about the summers spent by the author with his grandfather Ty Cobb at his home in Lake Tahoe in the 1950s and 1960s. The purpose of the book was to give another viewpoint of Ty Cobb, one of the greatest baseball players to ever play… Continue reading Heart of a Tiger
Desert Fox
"Desert Fox" by Samuel Mitcham is a biography of German General Erwin Rommel. Rommel is widely considered, along with American General George Patton, as one of the two best generals of World War II. The book covers his his entire life, including his impressive exploits as a junior officer in World War I, but concentrates… Continue reading Desert Fox
Robert E Lee: A Life
"Robert E Lee: A Life" is the newest biography of the Confederate general written by historian Allen C. Guelzo. Guelzo is a self-described Yankee partisan but presents a fairly even-handed portrait, but more negative than some better biographies such as by Emory Thomas or Douglas Southall Freeman. While critical of Lee for his view on… Continue reading Robert E Lee: A Life
Paine’s Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet, “Common Sense", with a third edition published February 14, 1776. It was very influential to the Revolution and Paine donated his profits to the American war effort. The following points are well made and generally unequivocal: 1. Government is the most common persecutor of mankind, but "a necessary evil" against human vice.… Continue reading Paine’s Common Sense
Amy Carmichael
Amy Carmichael was one of the most famous Christian missionaries in history, serving 55 years in India. Raised in Belfast in Northern Ireland, Amy studied music, singing and painting and found the Savior while in boarding school. Following her conversion she had a longing to learn how to live a holy life, pleasing to God.… Continue reading Amy Carmichael
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Written during the Civil War it tells of the narrator hearing Christmas bells but despairing that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to… Continue reading I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Charles Dickens and His Christmas Carol
One of my favorite stores is "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. It tells the story of the redemption of Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, someone who was enslaved by his desire for money and profits and who had distain for virtually everything and everyone else. He was visited by three spirits from the past, present and… Continue reading Charles Dickens and His Christmas Carol
Christmas 1972
I was recently reflecting on my most memorable Christmas at 13 years old, from a standpoint of the gifts I received, almost a half century ago now. My folks were fairly frugal and Christmas was my greatest opportunity for games/toys for the year. Mom would generally get me two or three "fun" gifts I could… Continue reading Christmas 1972
Our Thanksgiving Harvest Festival
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. On the eighth… Continue reading Our Thanksgiving Harvest Festival
Franco
"Franco" by Stanley Payne and Jesus Palacios is a biography of Francisco Franco the dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975. Although a right-wing dictator who supported Hitler in his war against Communism, Franco survived World War II in power and, after a long reign, bequeathed Spain an increasingly prosperous society that would transform into… Continue reading Franco
Nimrod
Nimrod is an interesting character mentioned in the Bible. We know from the Bible that he was the grandson of Noah and son of Ham whose people settled primarily in Africa. He built the cities of Babel (later known as Babylon), Erech, and Accad in Shinar and then went on to build Nineveh and Caluah… Continue reading Nimrod
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was one of the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution. A philosopher, political theorist and revolutionary Paine authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the Revolution, "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis". His ideals reflected Enlightenment-era Humanistic ideals including believing in the ability of people to govern themselves. A total… Continue reading Thomas Paine
