How did Valentine’s Day become connected to February 14th? Several resources point to ancient church leaders replacing the Roman festival that celebrated spring and fertility with the feast day to remember the martyrdom of one or possibly two men named Valetinus. People would travel from all over to the churches holding their bones looking for […]
It is getting chilly. It is getting dark early. It must be October! Happy Halloween!!! Here are my top picks of the scariest Maplewood Press Blog Articles; Number One: Field Guide to Early American Gravestones in New England. There is nothing spookier than taking a stroll through a very old graveyard late in the day […]
I will not lie, planting a garden and watching it grow is very rewarding. Now more than ever during the Covid-19 pandemic we need to see that life goes on and is beautiful. Also, we are stuck at home and that yard or patio should serve a purpose, and what if the food chain supply […]
What gets this history geek excited? Random mysteries that need to be investigated. Here is one that fell into my lap. The backstory: I found a stash of vintage postcards in my old house. I started sending them to family and friends. Who wouldn’t want to receive a 1950s motel advertisement postcard? I soon ran […]
It is believed that Halloween originated from the Festival of Samhain, an ancient Celtic celebration that was held each year near November first. It is an end of summer festival marking the beginning of the long dark winter, and could run for two nights and three days. It was also thought to be the time […]
There is no secret why I named my blog Maplewood Press: I adore maple trees. Even as a young child I was fascinated by these magical trees. Why do I think Maple Trees are magical? Beautiful Leaves: When you conjure up the perfect romantic vision of New England, […]
You are living in the 1600s and someone comes to your house and hands you a pair of gloves. Do they think your hands are cold? No, it’s an invitation! Time for the annual Halloween post about those unique Puritans and their odd death rituals. If you have been playing along the past couple years, […]
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I will tell you…I adore the illustrations in old children’s books. The woodcuts are fantastic. The images can be creepy and fun. Most of all they are just plain beautiful. Ahh, but what about the stories that they highlight? Recently I have been paying more attention to […]
Here we are, its March, so why am I not talking about the coming of spring? Because here in New England, Mother Nature likes to tease us. Just when we think we can put away our mittens and warm hats because it was 50 degrees out yesterday, the sky clouds up, cold wind blows down […]
Heere Lyeth ye Body of….. With Halloween right around the corner, take time to stroll through an old cemetery or two! If you want to learn more about the old graveyards, visit my previously posted article: “How to Discover art in Old New England Graveyards” ( http://maplewoodpress.com/how-to-discover-art-in-old-new-england-graveyards/ ) There are many spooky cemeteries in […]