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Let the good times roll down in New Orleans! Read the secrets and origins of the beloved Mardi Gras.

New Orleans practically owns Mardi Gras, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who would deny it. The wild celebration brings thousands of tourists to Louisiana each year, but none of it would be possible without the carnival krewes. The backbone of this Big Easy tradition, different krewes put on extravagant paries and celebrations to commemorate the beginning of the Lenten season. Historic krewes such as Comus, Rex, and Zulu date back generations and have become part of New Orleans' greater history, but today, what was once an exclusive position has widened their reach and new krewes are inaugurated regularly to enrich the flavor of Louisiana's cultural melting pot. Through careful and detailed research of over three hundred sources, author and New Orleans native Rosary O'Neill explores this storied institution, its antebellum roots, and its effects in the twenty-first century.

Spirituality, last Ceremonies and the afterlife shaped New Mexico's culture in many unique ways.

New Mexico’s harsh terrain, countless wars and epidemics were a challenging and fascinating environment for the many cultures and peoples who settled there. When tragedy struck, their faith and religious rituals allowed them to mourn, celebrate and commemorate their dead. From Pueblo Indians and Spanish colonists to Jewish immigrants and American veterans, many old traditions have endured and blended into modern society. The area is also home to many unique death sites, including the graves of Smokey Bear and Billy the Kid, and the largest contemporary collection of human bones in the world. Author Ana Pacheco guides you through the history of Christmas death rituals, roadside descansos, communal smallpox graves, Civil War memorials and more.

Cape Cod, one of the nation's oldest regions, can claim many firsts, but not as many as some want you to believe.

Boastfulness, tall tales and plain stretching the truth about history is widely practiced in this tourist mecca. Even esteemed institutions such as churches and historical societies are nimble in the art of gilding the lily. Discover where The Wizard of Oz /film really premiered, whether Mercy Otis Warren had a hand in writing the Bill of Rights and who invented the hole in the doughnut. Along the way, you’ll find out where the country's oldest Congregational meetinghouse is located, and whether Mad Jack was a thieving scoundrel.

Local author and historian James Ellis separates fact from fiction. 

It was a different time. Ladies wore gloves, hats and nice attire to luncheons at the Woman's Exchange.

Shillito's provided a cosmopolitan environment for its patrons, while Mullane's was the perfect place to sip and socialize. The popular Good Morning Show radio program hosted by charming Bob Braun, and later Nick Clooney, was broadcast from McAlpin's Tea Room. Women gathered at Pogue's and Mabley & Carew tea rooms to celebrate birthdays, as well as wedding and baby showers, over dainty tea sandwiches. Author Cynthia Kuhn Beischel brings the Queen City's bygone downtown tea rooms back to life and shares more than one hundred beloved recipes.

Revel in the festive history of the Land of Enchantment.

The beautiful red and blue skies of New Mexico have been the perfect backdrop for centuries of celebration, from the venerable Fiestas de Santa Fe to the world famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Ageless folk music and dance intermingle with innovations in rock and salsa. Ray John de Aragón issues an invitation to the profound traditions and captivating performances that accompany New Mexico’s Fiestas.

Scots helped found Lake Forest, and hundreds of native-born Scots settled there.

The Scottish influence is evident in town names along Chicago’s North Shore like Glencoe, Bannockburn, Milburn, and Dundee.The Keith family theater chain became RKO Studios with Scots-born J.J.Murdock as president.James Simpson was CEO of Marshall Field and Company and oversaw the building of the Merchandise Mart.After Simpson, a series of Scots ran Fields: John McKinlay, James McKinsey, and Hughston McBain.Scots partnered to form Carson Pirie & Scott.They also founded Douglas and Stuart Oats, which became Quaker Oats.Hugh Robertson was president of the Zenith Corporation, and the Armour family operated one of the largest meatpacking companies in the world.Only slightly smaller was Wilson Meats, which later spun off Wilson Sporting Goods.This book tells the story of these Scots and many others.