The Gingerbread House

The Gingerbread House is as central to Xmas in the USA as the Bûche de Noël in France.

Its origin seems to date back to the early 1800s in Germany, after the Grimm Brothers published their tales. The story of Hansel and Gretel seems to be at the core of this baking tradition which was brought to the USA by the 19th century North European settlers.

Black Friday

Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the US.
Shops offer huge promotional sales to kick off the Christmas shopping season.
Major retailers used to open at 6am on that day but in the 2000s they started opening earlier and earlier. And last year, several retailers opened at midnight for the first time.
It is not unusual for people to queue or camp in front of the shops.

Grateful

Thanksgiving is the time when you acknowledge all the things you are thankful for.
So, what are you grateful for this year?

Halloween

All you've ever wanted to know about Halloween: its origins, its meaning, its traditions, its importance in America.