The Fourth of July is a proud, joyous American holiday wherein the domestic populace and various others can celebrate the so-called birth of our country.   It can also be considered the start of the summer vacation season. Some means of celebration such as fireworks, the rockets red glare, have become... read more

Karen Amato Schwartz, Me Her Daughter A photographic collage, Christmas eve, December 25, 2007  view post

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I wrote “New Year’s Eve Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be” and here it’s that time once again. This year it seems to have arrived even sooner since I was away for a few days and I’m just now getting back into the swing of real life. Well, my holiday trip... read more

I intend to have a quiet New Year’s Eve.  While I live in New York, I have never seen any need to stand out in the cold and wind and watch a lighted ball drop from the top of The Times Tower.  I do not even watch this on television.  I think it is boring to say the least. I did have a nice Christmas... read more

Well, here it is, Christmas Eve-the kingpin of all holidays, to many people. This is the event that stores have been preparing us for since October. Within about one hour after stepping out of bed, all the excitement will begin to subside, perhaps replaced hours later as company comes and all sit down... read more

As I sit here, typing and dunking my cookies into tea at the same time (as voiced by my articles in “A Love/Hate Affair with Tea” early this month and “It’s Always Somethin” n October) I found myself wondering about people’s favorite Christmas or Holiday cookies. My mother... read more

For some years, I’ve noticed that no sooner have Thanksgiving leftovers been refrigerated, entrepreneurs start hawking freshly cut trees. In my city, no fewer than 3 such businesses set up shop within 5 minutes of my house. I view them with conflicting feelings. Those tree-selling outposts provided... read more

My neighbor asked me to come over to her house next weekend to take a look at her Christmas decorations. This will be something to see, as she paid someone to design a theme, do her shopping, and then put it all together. She said she has 39 strings of garland, with 100 lights each-and her tree isn’t... read more

Last December, I wrote a piece here, “Is Hanukkah becoming a Jewish Christmas?” and this year, I must say that it doesn’t seem as it is, after all. Then again, this year I’m not working at a temple school. But even while browsing through the stores, I have not noticed as much commercialism-although... read more

You know, growing up we never called it “Thanksgiving Eve”, but the term appears to be becoming more prevalent these days. Do you have any special recollections of past Thanksgiving Eves? Unfortunately, for women, it’s usually a day of cleaning, cooking, baking, last minute shopping, and dining... read more