For students, teachers and the curious, Holiday Fires offers notes and queries on the origins of our holiday traditions
Thanksgiving
The Creation of the Thanksgiving Holiday
Presidential Pardon of Turkeys
Christmas
The History of the Christmas Tree
When Oliver Cromwell Banned Christmas
Valentines’ Day
The History of Valentines’ Day
The History of Valentine’s Day Cards
The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
Halloween
The History of Halloween (external site)
All material is copyright 2010 by John Retzer