Holidays

Christmas traditions are like snowflakes: No two are the same, and some are downright bizarre. Sure, Santa Claus squeezing down chimneys is strange enough, but the world is full of other weird Christmas traditions that make reindeer games look tame.

By Desiree Bowie

Several Christmas markets in large cities will bring about a sense of wonder this holiday season. However, if you're in the mood to step into a true winter wonderland, maybe plan to visit one of the many smaller markets in Europe for a quieter, peaceful slice of joy.

By Mitch Ryan

The holiday season is a time for hanging lights, sipping warm beverages and doing anything to stay cozy as the winter months bring that biting chill to your doorstep. One magical tradition to maintain cheer and battle seasonal depression is setting up a classic Christmas tree for all to see.

By Mitch Ryan

Follow these tips to ensure your pumpkin carvings last to the end of the month so you don't have saggy jack-o'-lanterns on Halloween night.

By Matt Kasson

The poinsettia's flame-red leaves are a staple in holiday decorations. But how did a plant indigenous to tropical climates end up on mantels in North America?

By Sam Abramson

Discover the beauty of poinsettias this Christmas season. Elevate your festive décor with vibrant colors and timeless elegance. The perfect holiday touch!

By Sam Abramson

Grab your BFFs, girls. Galentine's Day is coming and we're celebrating like Leslie Knope!

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Love bubble wrap? There's a holiday for that. And just about everything else. But who's creating them and why?

By Carrie Dennis

Every December 23rd in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico, radishes come to life, as carvers compete for cash and bragging rights in this veggie-style Christmas tradition.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

The 1800s saw the birth of many of the Christmas customs, from Santa Claus to lights, that we know and love today.

By Kate Morgan

The resolutely bipartisan White House Christmas ornament has been an annual tradition since 1981 and is a big fundraiser too.

By Alia Hoyt

Perhaps no country on Earth loves Christmas more than the Philippines. Residents there celebrate the holiday for four months solid. Here's why.

By Laurie L. Dove

Welcome to McKamey Manor, where you must sign a 40-page waiver, pass a background check and take a physical to enter. Thousands are on the waiting list.

By Kate Morgan

In 1957, a woman named Frances Kipps Spencer invented "Chrismons" to decorate her church's sanctuary and to remind parishioners of the true meaning behind the Christian celebration of Christmas.

By Carrie Tatro

Step aside, St. Nick. Butt out, Rudolph. In this special Yuletide quiz, we're saluting another beloved member of the Christmas character pantheon: the one and only Missus Claus.

By Mark Mancini

Interfaith families exist all over the world and this is the time of year when discussions focus on how to celebrate the holidays.

By Samira Mehta

The earliest biblical descriptions don't mention the presence of animals at the manger when Jesus was born. So how did those Nativity scenes evolve into what we know today?

By Vanessa Corcoran

This centuries-old Pagan holiday isn't necessarily scary. But those who celebrate are honoring the dead, believing their spirits have easy access to the world of the living during Samhain.

By Mark Mancini

More states are replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. What's prompted the switch and how you do celebrate it?

By Dave Roos

The July 14 holiday celebrated by the French is way more complicated than the term "Bastille Day" might suggest.

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

The typical manger scene features Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and an assortment of animals. But in Catalonia, Spain, there is one more character: a figure with his pants down, taking a poop. But why?

By Nathan Chandler

White elephant. Mean Santa. Yankee swap. These are the holiday parties we live for. But if it feels like yours is getting a bit tired, we've got 10 rules to liven it up this year.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

These Advent calendars give new meaning to the phrase "countdown to Christmas." Plus, where did the Advent calendar come from? And what are some of the more unusual takes on it?

By Alia Hoyt

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the largest and most popular parades in the United States. And this year is no exception. Find out what makes this annual event such a hit.

By Kathleen Seiler Neary

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City may be an iconic symbol of the holidays, but how well do you know this tree-dition?

By Laurie L. Dove