The origins of many beloved American Christmas traditions can be traced back to the Gilded Age. This year’s Christmas at Whitehall program will feature a lecture by Patrick Sauer, history correspondent for Smithsonian Magazine, about O. Henry’s story, The Gift of the Magi, first published in 1905. The story with a timeless, ironic twist, a common feature of O. Henry’s work, reminds readers of the true meaning of Christmas. See website for ticket price details.