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Santa Claus

Holiday Humor: Regional Letters to Santa from Long Ago

December 24, 2022 by Lawrence P. Gooley Leave a Comment

Plenty of laughs are scattered throughout this year’s collection of letters (unedited) to Santa. Check out the first two for an idea of what to expect.

Enjoy! [Read more…] about Holiday Humor: Regional Letters to Santa from Long Ago

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, History Tagged With: Adirondacks, Christmas, Holidays, Santa Claus

Blue Coal for Christmas: 1930s Glens Falls Radio

December 5, 2019 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

View down Glen Street toward Boxers Drug Store on the intersection of Glen and Warren Streets in late November 1968Are you getting Blue Coal for Christmas?

You might have asked Santa Claus that question, when he took to the air on WBGF radio 1370 of Glens Falls at 6:30 pm Dec. 6, 1930, sponsored by Merkel & Gelman department store.

But to be certain, you would have wanted a second opinion, because only “The Shadow knows!” [Read more…] about Blue Coal for Christmas: 1930s Glens Falls Radio

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Christmas, Glens Falls, Holidays, Media, Pop Culture History, Radio History, Santa Claus

How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats

January 2, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

ben_franklins_worldHave you ever wondered where the Christmas traditions of stockings, presents, and cookies come from?

What about jolly, old Saint Nicholas? Who was he and why do we often call him Santa Claus?

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World: A Podcast About Early American History Peter G. Rose, culinary historian of Dutch foodways in North America and author of Delicious December: How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats (SUNY Press, 2014) joins us to discuss the origins of Santa Claus and edible goodies such as cookies in the United States. You can listen to the podcast here: www.benfranklinsworld.com/218 [Read more…] about How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats

Filed Under: Books, History Tagged With: Christmas, Dutch History, Early America, Early American History, Food, Holidays, New Netherland, Podcasts, Santa Claus

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