About Howard Kramer

The celebration of Carnival is a tradition that dates back many centuries.  It has gone from being a simple season of feasts in the Middle Ages to the massive public celebrations we now know in the 21st century.  Observed in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, Carnival parties can be found in many places, especially … [Read more...]

The tradition of African churches in the American South goes back to before the American Revolution.  In fact, it may come as a surprise that oldest home-grown African churches in America, perhaps the world, arose in a place and time where Africans were brutally oppressed and for the most part enslaved.  Early African Baptist congregations came about in two waves: the first … [Read more...]

Of all of the movie genres that have emerged from Hollywood over the years, none are as enduring, or beloved, as the holiday film.  While other movies are slowly forgotten, a good Christmas movie does not fade over time, but returns year after year, becoming an integral part of the holiday tradition.  Some films have become cult classics, creating a strange cottage tourist … [Read more...]

The Christmas Market is a holiday tradition that has long been a part of the Christmas season in Europe, especially in Germany.  Over the last few decades, this tradition has been working its way into American cities and towns, and now there are dozens of such markets from coast to coast.  Every year lists are compiled of America’s best Christmas Markets, and these invariably … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, with this year marking the 399th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.  2020 will mark four centuries of the American experience, at least as counted since the founding of the Plymouth colony.  In anticipation of this, major events are being planned for next year across the United States, … [Read more...]

America has fought in many battles and in many wars. And like its European counterparts during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, America commemorated its military history with countless memorials.  The United States is packed with them.  Tens of thousands of monuments, from life-sized statues of heroes in the town square to immense obelisks that overlook aging … [Read more...]

On October 31st of last year, Lutherans in Germany and Protestants everywhere celebrated the 500th anniversary of one of the most pivotal events in world history: Martin Luther nailing his fabled 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.  This unassuming action inadvertently kicked off what later became known as the Protestant Reformation, fracturing the power … [Read more...]

There are few beings in theology or literature that have engendered more dread, and fascination, than the Devil.  Called by many names, the Devil, or Satan as he is most commonly referred to in the western world, has played a role in pop culture almost since the beginning of time, especially among the Abrahamic faiths.  The Devil was mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments … [Read more...]