You won’t find richer Christmas history than in the many regions of Upstate New York. From the origins of beloved holiday traditions to pop-culture connections, the region has played a surprising role in shaping the season.

Did you know a favorite Christmas candy tradition traces back to a small pink sugar pig? Or that one of Hollywood’s most iconic Christmas movies was set in Upstate NY? Discover the story of the Candy Cane King of the Catskills, where the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began, who sold the first commercial Christmas trees on the streets of New York City and, believe it or not, where the child actor who played Charlie Bucket in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” now lives (hint: north of Syracuse).

And just what is a “Tom and Jerry” drink, anyway?

In Upstat

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