Stories New & Old

In this episode Alyssa shares the story of Thanksgiving in the United State of America.

You’ll learn about the presidents who were involved in deciding when Thanksgiving would be celebrated, the women who influenced the entire process, and how consumerism is at the heart of so many decisions.

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In this episode Alyssa shares the story of Halloween. From a pagan holiday in Ireland, to a crime filled holiday in America, to an adult costume heavy holiday in Japan, it has certainly evolved over the years.

You’ll learn about long forgotten Halloween traditions, like matchmaking, and how a woman in a small town in America introduced a new way to celebrate Halloween that still impacts us today.

Mentions:

Samhain - Ancient Celt holiday

All Saints Day - Introduced by Pope Gregory III

Elizabeth Krebs - Woman in Kansas who started Halloween festivities to stop vandalism

Kawasaki Halloween Parade - Popular costume parade in Japan

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In this episode Alyssa shares the story of the Academy of Music versus the Metropolitan Opera House, which could otherwise be known as the feud between Old and New money in Gilded Age New York City.

You’ll learn about the construction of a new opera house when the New money crew found there wasn’t room for them in the Academy of Music and how the Metropolitan Opera House lives on today.

Mentions:

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

New v. Old Money: The NYC Opera Scene blog post

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In this episode Alyssa shares the top books you should add to your fall reading list!

You’ll learn about novels that will make you feel spooky and cozy, and that will make you long to curl up on the couch and dive in.  

Mentions:

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Piranesi and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

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How to get free Kindle books from the library blog post

Reading blog posts

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In this episode Alyssa shares the story of how seeing the painting The Ameya by Robert Frederick Blum in the Metropolitan Museum of Art led her to researching the Centennial Exhibition. 

You’ll learn about the first World’s Fair, the money that went into the project, and how America reflected on the Declaration of Independence’s anniversary. 

Mentions:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Back In Time: The Centennial Exhibition blog post

Back In Time (Bonus!): Forney In Europe blog post

Back in Time blog posts

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Welcome to Stories New & Old with Alyssa J Cori! 

Alyssa has been blogging since 2014 at alyssajcori.com about history, books, and personal development. 

This podcast is a companion to the blog where you’ll hear about history you probably didn’t learn in school, the best books Alyssa recommends, and new stories that are fun and interesting.  

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Contact

alyssajcori.com

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