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Phnom Penh Cmbidia, on April 17, 1975, the gates of Phnom Penh swung open to a “smiling army.” After years of civil strife and the encroaching shadow of the Vietnam War, Cambodians cheered in the streets. They thought the nightmare of war was over.
Continue reading Phnom Penh 1975: Embracing ‘the Warmth of Collectivism’
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Ridgewood NJ, Every April 1st, the world collectively agrees to trust nothing and no one. From tech giants launching fake products to that classic “your shoelaces are untied” gag, April Fools’ Day is a global phenomenon. But here is the real kicker: the true origin of the holiday is one of history’s greatest mysteries.
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Maastricht, Netherlands,The line between legend and reality just got a lot thinner. For centuries, the final resting place of the man who inspired Alexandre Dumas’ most famous protagonist was a mystery. Now, a skeleton discovered beneath a church in Maastricht, Netherlands, might finally bring the “Fourth Musketeer” home.
Continue reading Beyond the Novel: Did Archaeologists Just Find the Real d’Artagnan?
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Ridgewood NJ, Every year on March 17th, the world turns green. From Chicago dyeing its river to parades filling the streets of New York, St. Patrick’s Day has become a global phenomenon. But beneath the shamrocks, festive parades, and spirited celebrations lies a history that is far more complex—and often more surprising—than most people realize.
Continue reading More Than Just Green Beer: The Surprising True History of St. Patrick’s Day
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Ridgewood NJ, Some say the day is named after a bishop named Valentine, who was stationed in the Roman Empire. Claudius II or Claudius Gothicus was the Emperor at that time.Claudius II’s short reign was vulnerable to internal as well as external attack. There may have been a revolt in 269-270 led by a Censorinus. Claudius received the title Gothicus in recognition of his major triumph over the Goths. He thought that unmarried men made better soldiers, so he decided to make it a law that young men could not marry. Around 270 A.D., Valentine took pity on the ostracized soldiers who were not permitted to marry or see their sweethearts.
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Ridgewood NJ, February 14 is Valentine’s Day. Although it is celebrated as a lovers’ holiday today, with the giving of candy, Valentine flowers, or other gifts between couples in love, it originated in 5th Century Rome as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Long before today’s debates over the national debt and fiscal policy, America’s first Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, laid the foundation for a strong financial future by harnessing the power of tariffs to pay down debt and unify a young nation.
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Ridgewood NJ, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” These three words fueled one of history’s most iconic revolutions—but behind the rallying cry of the French Revolution (1789–1799) lies a darker truth. What began as a revolt against tyranny spiraled into a ruthless regime that silenced dissent, guillotined its critics, and replaced monarchy with militant absolutism. Sound familiar?
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Ridgewood NJ, Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is one of the most important religious holidays in the Christian calendar and is celebrated by Christians all over the world.
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Ridgewood NJ, the tradition of the Easter bunny has its roots in pre-Christian fertility myths and festivals. In many ancient cultures, rabbits and hares were associated with spring and fertility because of their rapid reproduction cycles. As Christianity spread, the Easter bunny became intertwined with the Christian celebration of Easter.
Continue reading Whats Up Doc, Where did the Easter Bunny Come From?
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Ridgewood NJ, Saint Valentine was a Catholic priest who had also worked as a doctor. He lived in Italy during the third century AD and served as a priest in Rome. His birth year unknown, died 270 AD in Italy,
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Ridgewood NJ, what do Neil Armstrong, tortoises, and jelly beans have in common? Why, they’ve all been to space, of course. President Ronald Reagan was known for being a connoisseur of the chewy candy, so much so that he provided the astronauts aboard the Challenger shuttle with a bag full of them in 1983 — a gift that resulted in charming footage of them tossing the jelly beans in zero gravity before happily eating them. Reagan was also known to break the ice at high-level meetings by passing around jelly beans, even commenting that “you can tell a lot about a fella’s character by whether he picks out all of one color or just grabs a handful.”
Continue reading Jelly Beans have been associated with Easter for well over a Century
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the tradition of the Easter bunny has its roots in pre-Christian fertility myths and festivals. In many ancient cultures, rabbits and hares were associated with spring and fertility because of their rapid reproduction cycles. As Christianity spread, the Easter bunny became intertwined with the Christian celebration of Easter.
Continue reading Whats Up Doc, Where did the Easter Bunny Come From?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is one of the most important religious holidays in the Christian calendar and is celebrated by Christians all over the world.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Some say the day is named after a bishop named Valentine, who was stationed in the Roman Empire. Claudius II or Claudius Gothicus was the Emperor at that time.Claudius II’s short reign was vulnerable to internal as well as external attack. There may have been a revolt in 269-270 led by a Censorinus. Claudius received the title Gothicus in recognition of his major triumph over the Goths. He thought that unmarried men made better soldiers, so he decided to make it a law that young men could not marry. Around 270 A.D., Valentine took pity on the ostracized soldiers who were not permitted to marry or see their sweethearts.
