Jordan Smith
Jordan Smith is a freelance writer, editor, and author with 10 years of experience reporting on health, wellness and news infused with pop culture trends. She’s interested in how history shapes today’s trends, which she explored in a book she authored for students on the origins, and deception, of reality TV. Her work has also appeared in Biography, Self, Peloton, and Runner’s World, among others.
Latest from this author
The traditional Bavarian festival began in the early 19th century.
The Jewish harvest festival is similar to Thanksgiving.
The solemn Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur falls in September or October depending on the year.
Fasting is one of the essential traditions of the Jewish holiday.
The September holiday commemorates Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain.
The date of the Jewish new year changes annually, and its two-day observance is the product of ancient customs.
Americans have been celebrating workers since the late 19th century, but exactly who is responsible for the holiday is debated.
Victory over Japan Day ushered in peace after the devastation of World War II.
More people flock to the Great Smoky Mountains than any other national park.
People worried about USA’s ability to host a World Cup in 1994.
A century after the first observances, Juneteenth faced the possibility of becoming a forgotten tradition.
Enslaved people in Texas did not gain their freedom under the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation until June 1865.
For decades, the iconic American symbol was simply called the State House Bell.
The landmark on the National Mall sank about a foot over several decades.
For Muslims, the new year preserves a foundational moment of religious history.
A day dedicated to Old Glory picked up steam in the 19th century.
Here’s how the Cinco de Mayo holiday began and how its meaning has evolved since the 1862 Battle of Puebla.
Discover the origin and history of Cinco de Mayo and the battle that inspired the May 5 holiday.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates an 1862 Mexican battle victory, but it’s not a federal holiday in Mexico.
Local celebrations include parades and reenactments as well as hatchet burials, horse races and barbecue competitions.
St. Patrick is not a canonized saint, despite his well-known honorific. Still, he is known as the patron saint of Ireland and Nigeria.
The spiritual meaning of St. Patrick’s Day dates back to the Middle Ages. The holiday largely emphasizes Irish culture today.
St. Patrick is said to have chased snakes out of Ireland, but in truth, he might never have seen one there.
Unlike the rest of the United States, the two states haven’t changed their clocks in decades.
The holiday was preceded by an ancient Roman festival, though two medieval poets and a Catholic pope are credited with its invention.
St. Valentine is thought to be the patron saint of lovers. The truth is more complicated.
The TV show “Parks and Recreation” launched the once-fictional February holiday in 2010.
Among the states with alternate Presidents’ Days, Indiana has long celebrated George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at the end of the year.
The religious origins of the holiday don’t stem from the Bible.
The Roman Empire regularly persecuted Christians like St. Valentine.
Unscripted television has captivated audiences for some 80 years.
The anti-consumerism holiday, made popular by “Seinfeld,” is inspired by one of the show writer’s childhood traditions.
