<p>How does something go from an annual tradition to a mandated day off? Who decides to make a holiday official?  Our guides to the holiday season are Jeff Bensch, author of History of American Holidays, and JerriAnne Boggis, Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.</p>
<p><ul><li><a href="https://www.civics101podcast.org/">CLICK HERE:</a> Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!</li><li>To see Civics 101 in book form, check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Users-Guide-Democracy-America-Works/dp/1250751845/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MHIKY3OunXfvpudoPTddQ-tVeZG3cOGWMrqF9w7HyVFGT8cmOZ6PUUVubeuMqdr65yJ7M6ymxHK4R9yuSc0RV9q19ru7Bkxjzv7q1hJr1BsF3wmr8r-_cv773DD-8cFoPNmnG2oPeA-WfH2E1IXk5owYSaFO5_ozB5ildK__oNNhfozl0EPVdDwpiJQ1UbrszU-gV4ZTnupzh9kEv4AEpX7jHVhvqqXVSZmOAryjrgo.MKpOMk22W8ZBn4vph5XOhdkQKfDGhDHp_JT2GsIHBws&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=a+user%27s+guide+to+democracy&amp;qid=1730151470&amp;s=audible&amp;sr=1-1-catcorr">A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works</a> by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.</li><li>Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast,<a href="https://outsideinradio.org/" target="_blank"> Outside/In</a> - we think you'll love it!</li></ul></p>

Does Santa Break The Law?

How do landmark Supreme Court decisions affect our lives? What does the 2nd Amendment really say? Why does the Senate have so much power? Civics 101 is the podcast about how our democracy works…or is supposed to work, anyway.