Christmas

The holiday season in Russia holds a rich blend of faith, folklore, and festivity. Russian Christmas traditions reflect the deep roots of Orthodox Christian customs, folk beliefs, and even Soviet-era influences.

By Lena Thaywick

Ever wonder where the jolly man in the red suit came from? The origins of Santa Claus are a mix of myth, history, and marketing, all rooted in an ancient saint and reshaped by centuries of Christmas customs and commercial imagination.

By Lena Thaywick

When you say "Merry Christmas," you're tapping into a holiday with roots deeper than a pine tree's. The origins of Christmas stretch across centuries, cultures, and calendars, blending Christian beliefs with ancient customs to form one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world.

By Lena Thaywick

When people celebrate Christmas today, they’re often following customs that long predate Christianity. Many pagan Christmas traditions evolved from ancient winter solstice festivals, adapted by early Christians as they spread their faith through Europe.

By Lena Thaywick

In Argentina, Christmas comes at the height of summer. That flips many traditional winter holiday expectations on their head.

By Lena Thaywick

According to legend, whoever finds the hidden pickle on the tree gets an extra present or good luck for the next year. But is this festive scavenger hunt really an age-old German custom, or just a clever way to sell more glass ornaments?

By Lena Thaywick

Christmas is often considered a Christian holiday, and Jehovah's Witness is considered a branch of Christianity, but do Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate Christmas?

By Lena Thaywick

The story of Black Peter (Zwarte Piet) is one of the most debated traditions in Dutch society today.

By Lena Thaywick

After catching a holiday-themed anime episode, you may wonder, does Japan celebrate Christmas? While Christmas isn't a national holiday in Japan, the country embraces the season with a unique blend of festive cheer, romantic traditions, and commercial flair.

By Lena Thaywick

The Krampus legend isn't your typical Christmas tale. This half-goat, half-demon figure from Alpine folklore puts a chilling spin on the holiday season.

By Lena Thaywick

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

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

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

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

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