20 12, 2020

The Cross and Star atop Mount Penn

2021-06-04T12:09:08-04:00December 20th, 2020|Christmas, Culture|0 Comments

In 1914, the youth group of First Baptist Church, Reading, began the annual Easter Dawn Service on top of Mount Penn, Reading. Below: Easter Dawn Service at the Reading Pagoda, 1914. The first service was held at the Pagoda, drawing several hundred people [...]

4 12, 2020

Santa Banned from Annual Christmas Parade at Reading

2021-06-04T12:13:45-04:00December 4th, 2020|Christmas, Culture, Holiday|0 Comments

In 1950, Santa Claus was banned from the Reading Christmas parade. Not that the city didn't believe in Santa. But the parade sponsors, the young men of the Reading, Pennsylvania, Junior Chamber of Commerce, also known as the Jaycees, wanted the observance to [...]

3 12, 2020

Mistletoe – Christmas Customs and Traditions

2021-06-04T12:13:46-04:00December 3rd, 2020|Christmas, Culture, Holiday|0 Comments

The mistletoe Americans are familiar with -- phoradendron serotinum -- grows primarily in the Southeast and as far west as Texas and Oklahoma. In swamps, it can be plucked off low-hanging branches by hand. It can sometimes be taken by ladder or by [...]

2 12, 2020

Koziar’s Christmas Village

2021-06-04T12:13:47-04:00December 2nd, 2020|Christmas, Culture, Holiday|0 Comments

William M. Koziar, the creator of Christmas Village, began decorating his home and property in 1948 for the pleasure that he and his wife, Grace, and their four children derived from the unusual display. People appreciated and applauded the beauty of the Koziar's [...]

6 11, 2020

More People Are Decorating for Christmas Early This Year

2021-06-04T12:13:53-04:00November 6th, 2020|Christmas, Culture|0 Comments

Perhaps because people are spending more time at home, they'll take any excuse to brighten things up in this crazy year. Getting ready for the holidays is happening earlier this year, perhaps because people are spending more time at home and they'll take [...]

9 06, 2020

Reading, PA: A Slovak Christmas

2020-06-09T18:06:41-04:00June 9th, 2020|Christmas, Churches, Culture|0 Comments

Around 1880, the first Slovaks arrived in Reading, PA. They came from Saris, Spis and Zemplin, areas in Czechoslovakia, and later from Trencin, Orava and Nitra, also in Czechoslovakia. During their first years in Reading, they attended Mass at St. Paul's Roman Catholic [...]

5 06, 2020

Richards’ Toy Corner Reading, PA

2020-06-05T08:40:58-04:00June 5th, 2020|Christmas, Holiday|0 Comments

Richards' toy corner, located on the northeast corner of Front and Buttonwood, was probably the largest store devoted to toys ,year round, in the city. No "youngster" of whatever age, passing by 101 Buttonwood Street, could resist the enormous temptation to go inside [...]

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