History

Santa Claus, now a familiar figure clad in red and known for delivering gifts on Christmas Eve, has origins that stretch back more than 1,600 years. The modern image of Santa is the result of centuries of storytelling, cultural exchange and commercialization.

Christmas, now marked by lights, music and gift-giving across much of the world, began as a quiet religious observance rooted in early Christianity. Over centuries, the holiday evolved through layers of faith, culture and tradition, becoming both a sacred celebration and a global cultural event.

Thanksgiving is a time when millions of families across the United States come together to celebrate everything they’re grateful for. Some might argue that the real star of the holiday is the food, featuring fan-favorite sides such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and, of course, the highly sought-after wild…

Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth” and also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, commemorates the moment in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and enforce the freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved people. Their arrival came two and a half years…

This year features just one Friday the 13th, falling in June — making it the only appearance of the famously unlucky day in 2025. Next year will see a triple threat, with Friday the 13th occurring in February, March and November.

RICHMOND COUNTY — This week, we set our clocks forward one hour, sacrificing an hour of sleep in exchange for longer daylight in the evening. The concept of shifting an hour of sunlight from morning to evening is often credited to Benjamin Franklin, who, after noticing he was wasting daylight…

March marks the arrival of Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the contributions of women throughout history. What started as a local celebration in California in the 1970s grew into a national observance, first as Women’s History Week under President Jimmy Carter and later as a month-long recognition declared…

When you picture Valentine’s Day, you likely think of chocolate boxes at the grocery store, children exchanging cards in school or the cherub-like baby with an arrow. But the holiday has a dark history, one that has yet to be depicted in a rom-com.

RICHMOND COUNTY — From eating 12 grapes at midnight to breaking plates at a friend’s door, New Year’s Eve traditions around the world offer unique ways to ring in the year with good fortune and joy.

ROCKINGHAM — Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday have slowly morphed into a ‘Black November’ with sales commencing earlier, the origins of the cyber event date back to the Y2K days.