Tag: Christmas

Merry Christmas!

In all the hubbub of traveling, shopping, wrapping, and cooking, I have neglected to look up any interesting facts for Fun Fact Friday. However, I didn’t want this Friday to go by without at least a little something. Mainly, I wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. May you all be overflowing with love and joy this holiday season, and have a refreshing celebration with friends and family. May your 2018 find you healthier, happier, and more blessed than your 2017.

From the Mahoney Team to you: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Heritage – Fun Fact Friday

A World of celebration

Christmas is just 10 days away! While I’m excited for Christmas to come, I can hardly believe December is already halfway over! Where does the time go? Anyway, because Christmas is so close, I wanted to look into some of the holiday traditions that make up our Christmas heritage.

  • Norway – You may be familiar with Christmas time being called Yuletide. This term is derived from the Norwegian tradition of the yule log. On the winter solstice, the people of Norway would light the yule log to symbolize the sun’s recurrence. Therefore, because December 21st is so close to December 25th, Christmas is called Yuletide.
  • Germany – Christmas trees hail from Germany. The Germans began decorating trees as a winter tradition before making it specifically a Christmas tradition by the 1600’s. During the 1700’s, these “Christmas trees” became popular throughout Germany. England and America eventually adopted the tradition as well in the 1800’s.
  • Mexico – The country of Mexico produces the holiday-favorite poinsettia plant. Joel R. Poinsett, for which the plant is named, brought the poinsettia over to America in the early 19th century.
  • England – The English made sending Christmas cards a common tradition with the work of such like John Calcott Horsley. The English also established the traditions of kissing under the mistletoe, Christmas caroling, and hanging stockings.

Reading over the history of our traditions, I find it fascinating that so many cultures make up our Christmas heritage. Traditions – some centuries old! – from all over the world have blended together to make Christmas how we celebrate today. Do you have any family- or culture-specific traditions that aren’t listed here? Tell us about them! We’d love to hear how you celebrate Christmas!

Source: History.com – Christmas Traditions Worldwide

Pensacola Lighthouse – Fun Fact Friday

A Pensacola Landmark

Pensacola’s historic lighthouse has been in existence since 1859. Well, actually, there was another lighthouse that was first lit in 1824. So then why does the sign say it was established in 1859 if there has been a lighthouse in Pensacola since 1824? That’s because there were two lighthouses built. The one that we see and can tour today is the latter one. Take a look at the timeline to see the changes:

  • 1823 – The idea of building a lighthouse was brought forward for consideration.
  • 1824 – Construction was completed and the first keeper, Jeremiah Ingraham, was stationed.
  • 1850 – Grievances arose stating that the lighthouse was not adequately lit.
  • 1856 – A different location was chosen for a new lighthouse and construction began.
  • 1858 – Construction of the improved 159-foot lighthouse was completed.
  • 1859 –  On New Years day, the light was lit in the new lighthouse.

Today, tourists and locals can still visit the historic 1859 lighthouse, walk up its 177 steps, and look out over the Gulf of Mexico. If you haven’t seen the lighthouse yet or are planning to visit, this Saturday would be the perfect time to go! Saturday, December 2nd is the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum’s Christmas Gala. From 2 – 5 P.M., enjoy free admission, refreshments, Christmas decorations, and more! Santa will even be there for the kids!

Have you been to the lighthouse yet? Did you climb all 177 steps? If you go this Saturday, let us know how it was! We’ll be getting our Christmas tree, otherwise; we’d go too.

Source: PensacolaLighthouse.org

Black Friday – Fun Fact Friday

Kicking off the holiday shopping season

The turkey has been devoured, the pie – all but gone, and now it’s time to look towards another holiday – Christmas. With just weeks to go before December 25th, doubtless we all still have much to accomplish. I mean, let’s be honest: have any of us really started our Christmas shopping yet? For the over-achievers who started back at the Labor Day sales, more power to ya. But for those of us who have been busy and put it off, there is still hope. Hope in the form of Black Friday shopping. Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving that begins the holiday shopping season when countless deals can be snagged. But do you know how far back Black Friday’s origins go?

Black Friday as we know it earned its name nearly 60 years ago in Philadelphia. Philadelphia police officers were daunted by the crowds of people visiting family for Thanksgiving, getting started on their Christmas shopping, and attending the Army vs. Navy college football game. Because of the increased traffic, crowding, and even shoplifting brought on by the hoards of people, the police dubbed that Friday after Thanksgiving “black”.

However, Black Friday as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season began largely thanks to Mr. Macy. In the early 20th century, department stores, like Macy’s, were the places to shop. Before shopping malls, they were the one-stop stores to get most of your shopping done. In an attempt to drive more shoppers to his department store for the holiday season, Mr. Macy began his Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924. The result has become the Black Friday we are familiar with today.

And that’s a brief look at the history of Black Friday! For a more detailed read, take a look at the sources below.

Have any Black Friday deals that you’ve scored or are looking forward to getting? Comment below!

Source: MoneyCrashers.com , TheBalance.com