…Bald Eagle The Bald Eagle became a national emblem of the United States on June 20, 1782, the day the design was chosen for the Great Seal of our country. The magnificent creature can now be found with outstretched wings on coins, bills, and stamps. Eagles have long been a symbol of Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…The Name “Christmas” By the Middle Ages, Christians were celebrating the remarkable event of Jesus’ birth with an extended season that began with Advent (four Sundays before Christmas) and continued for the 12 Days after Christmas (up until Epiphany on January 6th). The time preceding Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…Christmas Every Day Author: William Dean Howells, 1837-1920 Genre: Fairy Tale, 19th Century Reading Time: approx. 13 minutes Audio Recording: This audio is part of the Christmas Every Day and Other Stories Told for Children on Librivox. To download this audio from Librivox, click right on the link: Christmas Every Day and select “save link as.” Or, you can listen Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…Good King Wenceslas Genre: The Life of a Saint, 907-929/935 AD Reading Time (for story text): approx. 5 minutes Audio Recording: Note that this audio link for the story does not correspond to the text below. It is a retelling of the famous carol “Good King Wenceslas” in story form (approx 18 minutes). A link Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…In the Great Walled Country Author: Raymond Macdonald Alden, 1873-1924 Genre: Fairy Tale, 20th Century Reading Time (for story text): approx. 12 minutes Background: Raymond Macdonald Alden was born in New York to Gustavus Rossenberg Alden and Isabella Macdonald, both committed Christians. His Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…History of the Advent Wreath Though there is evidence to suggest that Christians in the Middle Ages may have used lighted wreaths as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas, the first clear association with Advent is generally attributed to German Lutherans in the 16th century. Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…Liberty Bell Most people have grown up believing that immediately following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, news of freedom was proclaimed by the ringing of the Liberty Bell in the steeple of the Philadelphia State House. This legend has been traced back to a 1847 Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…Easter Colors Have you ever wondered how the colors of Easter came to be associated with the holiday? If so, you can learn the Christian history, meaning and symbolism of Easter colors here! Purple (The Color of Lent) The color most commonly associated with the Easter season (or more specifically the Read more . . …. Read more . . .

…Heraldry Many of our most significant American symbols can be found on the Great Seal – the bald eagle, the star, the colors of red, white and blue, etc. The Great Seal is sometimes referred to as the United States Coat of Arms. The term “coat of arms” originated from the fact that Read more . . …. Read more . . .