Department store Santas are a staple during the holiday season. Where did this tradition start, though? Who was the first department store Santa?
Category: Life
Step Inside Eiffel Tower’s Speakeasy-Style Apartment
There is a lot more to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, than meets the eye. When he designed the world-famous tower, Gustave Eiffel also included a special, secret apartment on the third floor.
How ‘Sati,’ a Once Funeral Ritual, Became Banned in India
Self-immolation is a practice associated with many different types of religions. And the common principle unique to each association is the aim of nobility, heroism, and protest. The act of “sati” began as such a gesture. Until its history took a darker, more sinister turn. But what is sati? Why did it flourish–and what led to it being banned throughout India?
‘Citizen Scientists’ Can Now Join a Tour of Titanic Wreckage
Starting in 2021, “citizen scientists” will have an opportunity to take a deep dive (literally) into the Atlantic Ocean. The tour, which takes place more than two miles below the ocean’s surface, will allow attendees to experience the wreckage of the RMS Titanic firsthand.
Visit the Exact Spot Where JFK Was Assassinated in Dallas
On the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository (now known as the Dallas County Administration Building), located in downtown Dallas, Texas, you’ll find The Sixth Floor Museum. Everyone who is visiting Dallas ought to check out this museum, which overlooks Dealey Plaza at the intersection of Elm Street and Houston Street.
Take a Virtual Tour of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Have you ever wondered about Orchard House, the property that inspired “Little Women” author Louisa May Alcott? Why not take a virtual trip to Concord, Massachusetts, and visit it for yourself?
La Calavera Catrina: Mexico’s Lady of the Dead
Often referred to as the Grande Dame of Death, La Calavera Catrina (the “elegant skull”)—or, simply, La Catrina—is frequently seen throughout the streets of Mexico during the Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, celebrations. You’ve likely seen the face before: an eerie meld of macabre and charm; fear and poise. But from where did this deathly figure emerge? What does she stand for? And why has she become such a ubiquitous part of Mexican culture?
New Mattel Barbie Doll Honors the ‘Day of the Dead’
To celebrate Mexico’s Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos), Mattel is releasing a second special-edition Barbie doll. With her traditional calavera (English: skull) face-paint, floral-updo, and skull-and-flowers-patterned lace gown, this gorgeous doll encapsulates the celebrations of this time.
Tips for Visitors To U.S. National and State Parks During COVID-19
As we adapt to a new normal to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, outdoor enthusiasts are finding ways to get back outside safely. Being outside isn’t just good for your physical health, it can help combat feelings of anxiety, stress, and worry brought on by the uncertainty of the global pandemic. As long as we’re following guidelines set out by local governments and keeping the wellbeing of ourselves and our neighbors in mind, it’s possible to get your much-needed fix of mountain air.
Alice Liddell: The Little Girl Who Helped Launch a Literary Icon
When searching the centuries for suitable examples, Alice Liddell is perhaps not the most likely of literary muses. Few children are. But it was her natural charm and, most significantly, her wondrous sense of curiosity that endeared her to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll. In fact, little Alice proved to be such an inspiration to the budding English writer and mathematician, that had the two not been introduced during the mid-1800s, the world of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” might never have come to be.