Did you know? Collected from our Newsletters
- Alaska has over 6,600 miles of coastline, is 2,700 miles from side to side, has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the country, is the largest state and has the lowest population density in the country. There are 22 different native languages spoken in Alaska!
- Alaska, home of the town "North Pole" is experiencing a Santa shortage. No joke! Read more at Alaska Daily News. (But don't worry. Santa always visits the Wild Berry Theater!)
- Bing Crosby once said, “Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it ‘white’.”
- The earliest representation of Santa Claus on his reindeer-drawn sleigh is a patriotic 1863 Harper's Weekly cover by the great political cartoonist Thomas Nast. "Santa Claus in Camp" shows Santa delivering wooden boxes of gifts including toys and socks to American Civil War soldiers.
- Reindeer were originally introduced to Alaska by Dr. Sheldon Jackson in the late 1800s as a replacement food source for native people after widespread whale harvests devastated their traditional way of life.
- One legend says that Valentine's Day dates back to 270 AD. The Roman Emperor Claudius II decreed that his subjects could no longer marry. The emperor wanted the men to fight his wars, not stay home with their families. A priest named Valentine defied the law by performing marriages. Claudius had him executed and every anniversary is celebrated as a monument to love.
- The earliest known Valentines messages were penned by Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was held captive after the battle of Agincourt in 1415. During 25 comfortable but tedious years he wrote at least 60 love poems to his wife, many referring to "Seynt Valentine" and bemoaning his loneliness.
- It's thought that the word "Easter" derives from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre. Or maybe the origin is the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. Between the name, the rabbit, the egg, and even the symbolism of hot cross buns, the mythologies of many ancient religions are wrapped up together in our modern holiday.
- The 1990s Emmy-winning television series Northern Exposure celebrated life in a small Alaskan town that some think was modeled on Talkeetna a few hours north of Anchorage. For 6 seasons an odd mix of characters explored the unique experience of living far away from the comforts – and constraints – of civilization.
- The modern Mother's Day dates back to 1870, but worldwide there have been many different special times for honoring mothers. The ancient Romans celebrated a three-day festival for the Egyptian mother goddess Isis. They also revered a Phrygian and Hittite goddess, Cybele who they called "Magna Mater" (The Great Mother). Hindus in India celebrate Durga Puja for 10 days in October. The Japanese celebrate haha no hi and Mexicans celebrate Día de las madres. In 1600s England, a more familiar ritual for everyone's mother was called "Mothering Day." Just remember, everyone has a mother!
- Father's Day is overshadowed by its more celebrated cousin, Mother's Day. Maybe this is because of deep societal traditions surrounding a mother's importance. Or perhaps we believe the patriarch doesn't need an organized affirmation of gratitude. Nonetheless, whether you recognize your father's contribution through a card, chocolates, or a simple heartfelt phone call, you should know it began when Sonora Dodd, the "Mother of Father's Day", listened to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909 and realized something was missing.
- Isn't it odd that the fireworks we use to celebrate Independence Day in the U.S. were invented and are mostly manufactured in China?
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We collect these tidbits from our email newsletter. If you liked them you might also like:
Alaskan Reindeer
"Santa Claus in Camp" by Thomas Nast
