Have you ever wondered where the stories of Christmas come from? Are they rooted in our cherished family traditions? Surprisingly, many of the beloved customs surrounding this holiday were invented—yes, made up! In her fascinating book, Christmas: A Biography, critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Judith Flanders dives deep into the history of Christmas, tracing its evolution from ancient festivals to the modern traditions we know today. Did you know Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has Chicago roots? The iconic character was created by Robert L. May in 1939 as part of a promotional campaign for Montgomery Ward. “In the mid-20th century, Montgomery Ward—a major department store chain—distributed a children’s book as a holiday gift for customers,” Flanders explains. “It was the story of Rudolph, which we now know so well.” But that’s not the end of the story...