Triangle, Virginia Because toys have become such an integral part of Christmas, it is not surprising that many charitable organizations are involved in the collection and distribution of toys throughout the holiday season. The greatest and best known of these is the Toys for Tots Foundation, whose mission is to “collect unwrapped toys… and distribute those toys as Christmas … [Read more...]
SALVATION ARMY INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE CENTER
London, England If the true spirit of the holidays is charity, than no organization better exemplifies the Christmas season than the Salvation Army. Founded by a Methodist minister in London’s East End in 1865, the Salvation Army has since become the most prominent Protestant missionary organization and one of the most effective charitable organizations in the world. Their … [Read more...]
NATIONAL CHRISTMAS CENTER
Paradise, Pennsylvania The National Christmas Center is a unique Christmas attraction: a year-round museum dedicated to the holiday itself. More specifically, the museum and its surprisingly large collection of Christmas memorabilia offers a look back on centuries of holiday traditions in an effort to evoke Norman Rockwell images of Christmas past, a mission in which it is … [Read more...]
HAWAII BOWL
Honolulu, Hawaii There are many sporting traditions associated with the holiday season, but few of these hold a candle to the American obsession with football. From Thanksgiving through New Year, no holiday celebrated in America is complete without at least one football game; in 2002, even Christmas succumbed with the establishment of the Hawaii Bowl. Although professional … [Read more...]
BOXING DAY TEST
Melbourne, Australia From football in America to ice hockey in Canada and Europe, team sporting events have become a major part of festivities on the day after Christmas. In the Commonwealth countries of the old British Empire, the sport dejeur of Boxing Day is Cricket. The most famous of these Christmas cricket matchups, and the world’s largest annual Christmas sports … [Read more...]
KING GEORGE VI CHASE
Sunbury-on-Thames, England The English love of horses and horseracing is prominently expressed during the holidays at the annual King George VI Chase. A Grade One National Hunt Chase, it is second only to the Cheltenham Gold Cup in terms of prestige, at least in terms of English horse chases. Since its inception in 1937, it has also become one of the most enduring … [Read more...]
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN
Tokyo, Japan Fried Chicken & Christmas Cake For the ultimate experience in misinformed Christmas feasts, nothing tops the Japanese holiday tradition of KFC. Yes, you read that correctly. Kentucky Fried Chicken, followed by a traditional western-style Christmas cake, is the standard Christmas dinner in Japan. Although barely two percent of the Japanese population is … [Read more...]
SPANGLER CANDY FACTORY
Bryan, Ohio Of all the treats associated with the holidays, nothing comes more readily to mind than the humble candy cane. Candy canes have been the definitive Christmas candy since at least the 17th century, and though they have perhaps been surpassed in popularity by chocolate, candy canes remain the holiday icon. Children draw pictures of them. Christmas trees are … [Read more...]
CLAXTON BAKERY
Claxton, Georgia There are many sweet treats that have become closely associated with the holiday season. But few specialties have such an undeservedly bad reputation as the often maligned fruitcake. Despite this, huge numbers of fruit cakes are produced, and consumed, by officianados around the world every year. For those people who indulge in the odd treat in North … [Read more...]
CAFE NIEDREGGER
Lubeck, Germany One of the holiday season’s most popular traditional treats, especially in central and southern Europe, is marzipan, which may be the oldest classic Christmas confection. Marzipan, a candy-paste derived from almonds and sugar, either originated in the Middle East or passed through there on its way to Europe at some time during the Middle Ages. It was likely … [Read more...]
