Latest Story

Bûche de Noël

Thursday, February 11, 2010
By InfoGatherer

Back in Napoleon’s time, winter drafts were thought to cause disease. So Napoleon mandated that all chimneys be closed in the winter to prevent drafts. The French were no longer able to celebrate with a Yule Log in their hearths. French bakers instead created a chocolate frosted, sponge cake that literally looked like a... »

Yule Log

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
By InfoGatherer

The Yule Log most likely began as part of pagan ritual related to the Winter Solstice. It was felt that burning a log would keep evil spirits away, over the extended period of darkness. As Christianity became more commonly adopted, it simply became associated with... »

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Sunday, February 7, 2010
By InfoGatherer

The origins of the Pineapple Upside Down Cake cannot be definitively traced. But a myth surrounds the cake that states that James Dole (of Dole Pineapple) opened up a contest in 1925 for the best use of his canned pineapples. The top 100 recipes... »


Christmas Bonus

Friday, February 5, 2010
By InfoGatherer

Although the Christmas Bonus seems to be a very contemporary facet of the Christmas holiday, it actually began as a practice at the turn of the 20th century. The... »

The Vacuum

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
By InfoGatherer

The emergence of home appliances as gifts, directly marketed to women, has its roots in the 1920’s with the rise of the middle class. Advertisements from that era were... »

Gift Certificates and Gift Cards

Monday, February 1, 2010
By InfoGatherer

Today the idea of a gift certificate is nothing groundbreaking. However, in the 1930’s, the gift certificate was a revolutionary tool for consumers. It alleviated fears of getting the... »

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