Denis Cummings

Most Recent Articles by Denis Cummings

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  Q&A: The History of the Christmas Celebration
  Find out why we celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, when the holiday became popular in America, and from where the traditions of Santa Claus and the Christmas tree are derived.
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  The Origins of Christmas
  Since the mid-fourth century, Western Christians have celebrated Christmas on Dec. 25 to honor the birth date of Jesus Christ. The date is not supported by Biblical evidence, however, and the true origins of the celebration may lie in secular festivals centered around the winter solstice.
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  On This Day: President Truman Declares State of Emergency During Korean War
  On Dec. 16, 1950, President Harry Truman proclaimed a national state of emergency in order to fight “Communist imperialism,” a reference to Chinese forces fighting against U.S.-led UN forces in the Korean War.
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  On This Day: Gay Activist Harvey Milk Murdered
  On Nov. 27, 1978, openly gay San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk was murdered, along with Mayor George Moscone, by former Supervisor Dan White.
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  On This Day: D.B. Cooper Hijacks Plane
  On Nov. 24, 1971, a man hijacked a Boeing 727 and, after receiving a $200,000 ransom, parachuted out over Washington state. The identity and the whereabouts of the man, who became known as D.B. Cooper, remain unknown.