Friendly Neighborhood Historian

On March 14, what's the science, math, history, and the music behind this geek holiday? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-pi-day #PiDay #Geek

Backstory of the Jewish holiday celebrating the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation by Esther, Queen of Persia. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-purim #Purim #Ester #Persia

What is Starkbierfest, which begins in Munich, Germany, and how did it start with Lent? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-starkbier-festival #Starkbierfest #Munich #Beer

How the faith of Christian Roman Legionnaires inspired others by their courage and bravery. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-40-martyrs-of-sebaste #40MartyrsOfSebaste #ChristianHistory

What are the benefits of Daylight Saving Time ? Is the reason it was purportedly started still valid? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-daylight-saving-time-starting #DaylightSavingTime

What is the origin, relevance, and relation to other Lenten holidays of Ash Wednesday? What churches celebrate this holiday? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-ash-wednesday #AshWednesday #Lent

What are the traditions of Fat Tuesday, how does it relate to Lent, and how do Catholic and Protestant churches differ in observance? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-mardi-gras #MardiGras

What is the backstory, meaning, and tradition around this pre-Lenten holiday? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-shrove-monday #ShroveMonday #Shrovetide

The month that may come in like a lion and leave like a lamb hosts several holidays going back to Roman days. What are its origins and how is it the 1st month? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-march #March

More than just Washington & Lincoln ? The history of both for a combined holiday honoring all American Presidents. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-presidents-day #PresidentsDay #GeorgeWashington #AbeLincoln

What is the sacred and secular background to this ancient holiday, observed since the early Christian church? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-st-valentines-day #StValentine #ValentinesDay #History

On February 7, 1964, The Beatles landed in NYC, marking the beginning of Beatlemania and the legacy of the soundtrack for the Boomers. The Ed Sullivan Show, Carnegie Hall, Beatlemania, and the British Invasion. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-beatles-50-years-ago-today #TheBeatles #Music #RockAndRoll

Is it Just Another Religious Holiday? A humorous look at the ancient history, rites, rituals, foods, and impact of this annual observance. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-super-bowl #SuperBowl #TaylorSwift

Why are avocados, especially guacamole dip, a required food for Super Bowl Parties? What’s the background? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-avocado #Avocado #SuperBowl

The story of the boy who never grew up , a favorite of Walt Disney and children of all ages around the world. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-peter-pan-disney-classic #PeterPan #WaltDisney

What's the history behind Don McLean's popular ballad " American Pie ," who was involved, and when did it happened? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-day-the-music-died #AmericanPie #DonMcLean

What pagan, Christian, and secular roots have made Groundhog Day a popular holiday? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-groundhog-day #GroundhogDay #Candlemas #StBridget's Day #History

The month we love to misspell or at least mispronounce. What is the history and significance? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-february #February

What are the customs, practices, traditions, popularity, and festivities in Asia, the US, and worldwide for the largest human migration on the planet? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-chinese-new-year #ChineseNewYear #SpringFestival #China

The history of Apple's iconic personal computer that changed how we think about computing. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-macintosh #Macintosh #Apple #TechTrends

How have Presidential Inaugurations changed throughout American history, what’s the official oath of office, where is it done, and what have been some novel Presidential Inaugurations? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-presidential-inaugurations #Presidents #Inaugurations

How a Baptist minister changed the course of the civil rights movement. His life, his dream, his legacy. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-martin-luther-king-jr #MartinLutherKingJr #MartinLutherKing

How Tolkien's book, Beren and Luthien, parallels the love he had for his wife and is the foundational romantic myth of Middle-earth. Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-jrr-tolkien #JRRTolkien #LordOfTheRings

Celebrated more in the East than the West, how does this end the Christmas season and what does it have to do with Twelfth Night? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-epiphany-12th-night #Epiphany #TwelfthNight #Christmas

Contrary to popular belief, they follow Christmas; Advent precedes Christmas. Was it originally a pro-Catholic catechism memory aid? What would all the items in the song cost? Blog: https://billpetro.com/history-of-12-days-of-christmas #12DaysOfChristmas #Christmas