When Ana first arrived in the United States from Hungary, she was taken aback when someone greeted her with the idiomatic expression How’s it hanging?. She was also puzzled by the expression trim the tree meaning to “adorn a Christmas tree with...
Alice in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, says her Sicilian husband’s family enjoys a kind of sausage bread called binulata, which is made from dough rolled up with sausage, cheese, onions, and olives. Names for versions of this traditional dish...
Christmas Fooling, the Norwegian tradition of dressing up and visiting folks around Christmas time, was once popular among young Wisconsinites. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Christmas Fooling” You know what a Christmas fool is...
Finding that special bottle of wine can be tough, and even tougher if you’re not fluent in winespeak. “Strawberries, rhubarb, and hints of leather are present in the nose.” Say what? Plus, many folks wish each other “Merry Christmas.” But why don’t...
Why must Christmas be merry, but no other holiday? What if you want a merry birthday? While merry‘s heyday was the 1800s, you still see the term, meaning “exuberant” or “joyful,” in phrases like go on your merry way or even merry-go-round. This is...
sugar hat n.— «The key is to find a sugar cone (also known as a “sugar hat”) which is a solid piece of white sugar that you can flame.» —“Feuerzangenbowle (Christmas Flaming Mulled Wine)” Celtnet Recipes Jan. 5, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued...