A Very Native American Christmas
For some Native Americans, Christmas has been a time for decorated trees, Santa Claus and lots of old traditions.
History
For Australian Christmas, Everything's Overturned But The Pudding
Cooking in 100-degree weather is no fun, which is why many Australians ditched roasts and other holiday mainstays long ago. Except for Christmas pudding, a tradition steeped in history — and alcohol.
Pride And Prejudice: For Latinos, Tamales Can Taste Of Both
Tamales are a Christmas Eve tradition throughout Latin America, but there are hundreds of different versions. Whose is best? That's a question likely to elicit a fiercely partisan response.
Japan's Beloved Christmas Cake Isn't About Christmas At All
The Japanese Christmas cake takes its name from the Christian holiday, but it actually symbolizes building a life of prosperity from nothing. And it's ubiquitous (it's even in your smartphone).
A Holy Land Christmas Porridge Honors A Damsel In Distress
Some Christians in Israel and the West Bank celebrate Eid el-Burbara on Dec. 17. The feast honors St. Barbara, an early convert to Christianity whose story is echoed in the Rapunzel tale.
Between World Wars, Gay Culture Flourished In Berlin
In Gay Berlin, Robert Beachy describes the rise of a gay subculture in the 1920s and '30s, how it contributed to our understanding of gay identity and how it was eradicated by the Nazis.
Hanukkah History: Those Chocolate Coins Were Once Real Tips
Many Jewish families celebrate the holiday by handing out gelt, chocolate coins covered in gold and silver. These days they're treats for kids. But the practice began as a way to thank labor.
150 Years Later, A Formal Apology For The Sand Creek Massacre
The Sand Creek Massacre of December 1864 left nearly 200 people dead. Now, hundreds of Cheyenne and Arapaho are returning to the Colorado site to mark the 150th anniversary of the tragedy.
Forced To Seat Blacks, Ala. Restaurant Complied With History
Fifty years ago Sunday, the Supreme Court told Ollie's Barbecue in Birmingham, Ala., that the government had a right to order it — and all restaurants — to seat African-Americans.
Hanukkah's Real (And Imagined) History
Robert Siegel speaks with Simon Schama, author of The Story of the Jews, about the political history of Hanukkah.