Website to Visit: History.Com

With the holidays upon us, we wanted to remind you to visit History.com for information regarding Christmas (www.history.com/christmas), Hanukkah (www.history.com/hanukkah) and Kwanzaa (www.history.com/kwanzaa). The sites are filled with information to help educate kids about all the holidays, from the origins and traditions to fun facts. For example – did you know:

·A copywriter at Montgomery Ward department store created the Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer story to help lure in customers and a cartoon appearing in Harper’s Weekly in 1881 first depicted the Santa Claus we know today – from the white beard and red fur trimmed suit to the North Pole, helper elves and a wife named Mrs. Claus.

·In the days of the Maccabees, Latkes were made from cheese, vegetables, or fruits – not potatoes – as potatoes weren’t available until the 16th century.

·Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday – it was created in 1966 and celebrates family, community and culture.

We hope you will keep these sites in mind as you write about the holidays, and we wish you a very happy New Year!