Yellow text around a smiling figure holding a hat on a blue background

The billiken (pictured here smiling and waving a hat) is not a figure from native Alaskan myth, and likely dates only as far back as the early 1900s. Florence Pretz, an art teacher in Missouri, patented the design and sold it to the Billiken Company of Chicago in 1909. The creature, which she had not named, took its name from the company and took the country by storm. The supposedly lucky dolls and statuettes were a brief fad in most places, but the billiken is still the mascot of Saint Louis University and a popular knickknack for travelers to Alaska. It is difficult to trace exactly when the billiken arrived in Alaska, or how it became incorporated into indigenous ivory crafts, but it has become an iconic souvenir.

Illustration of two people in a roller coaster car on a blue wave with red white and blue text

Tidal Wave was a shuttle loop type of roller coaster that premiered at Marriott’s Great America amusement parks (located in Santa Clara, California and Gurnee, Illinois) in 1977 and 1978.  The ride would continue to operate until 1991 in Illinois and 2002 in California.

Blue, yellow and pinkish red background with black text and an illustration of a building with bushes and a person in front

Founded in 1909 by the State Building Trades Council, the Union Orphanage in San Lorenzo, California was a home for children with ties to the emerging California construction industry. By 1910, there were 27 children in the home - 14 males and 13 females living in three cottages with six paid employees. Unlike other California orphanages at the time, the Union Orphanage accepted children of color and children of different religions. Similar to other orphanages during this time period, children living at the Union Orphanage had relatives and friends whose families could not afford to support them.

White, black, yellow, and red text over an illustration of a Santa and traffic

Silent Night is a carol traditionally sung by Christians for the Christmas holiday, which celebrates the birth of messianic figure Jesus Christ.

Illustration of Santa carrying a bag of toys with a pipe and a blue background

Santa aka Santa Claus aka Kris Kringle aka Saint Nicholas aka Father Christmas is a kind old man of Western Christian culture who goes around the world giving well-behaved children gifts the night of Christmas Eve. Hailing from Santa Claus Village, located in the Arctic Circle and more specifically, Rovaniemi in Lapland Finland, Santa works in his toy shop with his wife, Mrs. Claus, and a team of elves and reindeer. Santa has been around for 100s of years and is so popular, he's been featured in songs, books, movies, comic strips, pictures, statues, Coke commercials, just about every incarnation one can think of. Santa is known to come down your chimney when delivering gifts but if you don't have a chimney don't fret! Santa will find a way to bring you gifts. 

Blue and white image of a woman's face with blue text around the outer edge on a white background

Rizal Day is a national holiday in the Philippines celebrated on December 30th. The holiday was established in 1898 to commemorate Jose Rizal, a Filipino nationalist executed by the Spanish colonial government after the Philippine Revolution, along with all of the victims of the Spanish colonial rule of the Philippines. On Rizal Day in the Philippines, ceremonies are held in the capital city of Manila, but they are also held abroad. In Chicago, starting in the 1910s and 20s, the Filipino student community led Rizal Day celebrations as a way to foster national identity. Though originally a somber event in the Philippines, the Chicago celebrations evolved to include lavish banquets, cocktail parties, music and dancing, and a Rizal Day Queen Contest.

Illustration of two pierogi's as characters dancing with red text above and black text below on a white background

Pierogi Fest is a festival held in Whiting, Indiana and draws almost 300,000 visitors each year.  The festival is a celebration of Eastern European heritage through food and music. Pierogi are dumplings that can be both savory or sweet with fillings including potato, onion, sauerkraut, or berries. They can be pan-fried or boiled and are eaten any time of day. Pierogi Fest features many unique characters and cosplaying attendees including Mr. Pierogi, buscias (grandmothers), Pieroguettes (similar to the Rockettes but pierogi themed), Miss Paczki (named after the jelly-filled doughnut), and more.

Illustration of a blue globe with a yellow outline of Wisconsin and black text on a white background

The first gathering for the Model A Restorers Club (MARC) and the Model A Ford Club (MAFCA) occurred at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 1986. Membership for MARC and MAFCA was on the incline and their gathering for the World Meet gave them an opportunity to meet new and existing members and to discuss new club standards for their Model A vehicles.

Blue text on a white background

The North Carolina Medical Society was first established in 1799 and their first Annual Session was held in 1849. There have only been four years since then without a Session, three years during the Civil War and one year during World War II. Annual Sessions are held in different locations across North Carolina each year. In 1849, only 25 doctors were in attendance but many more attend the Sessions today and the Association has over 12,000 members.

Blue text on a white background

The North Carolina Medical Society was first established in 1799 and their first Annual Session was held in 1849. There have only been four years since then without a Session, three years during the Civil War and one year during World War II. Annual Sessions are held in different locations across North Carolina each year. In 1849, only 25 doctors were in attendance but many more attend the Sessions today and the Association has over 12,000 members.