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Holidays
Why 250 Million People Celebrate Christmas in January
By Solcyre Burga
Why We Say 'Merry Christmas.' The Surprising Origins of 5 Christmas Traditions
By Olivia B. Waxman
Read Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation
By Olivia B. Waxman
Where This Labor Day Fits Into American History
By Olivia B. Waxman
More in
Holidays
The History Behind the Ukrainian Easter Egg Tradition
Decorating a 'pysanka' has become a gesture of peace, as war has brought new meaning to an old tradition that dates back to pre-Christian times
By Olivia B. Waxman
April 14, 2022
How Tribe That Fed Pilgrims Spends Thanksgiving
It’s been 400 years since the meal known as the first Thanksgiving took place in Patuxet, the area now known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Two prominent figures in the Plymouth Colony described it as a three-day...
By Olivia B. Waxman
November 23, 2021
How Columbus Day Became Known as an Italian-American Holiday
How Columbus Day became a U.S. holiday and a source of pride for the Italian-American community
By Olivia B. Waxman
October 8, 2021
Soviets Banished Santa, Then Brought Him Back
Around the world there are different versions of the jolly, bearded man who gives gifts to children in December or, in some countries, January. Unlike the bloated, red-coated father Christmas of the West, Russia’s Santa...
By Madeline Roache
December 24, 2020
Lessons From 1918 on Holidays Amid COVID-19
Then, as now, spikes occurred after small family holiday gatherings
By Olivia B. Waxman
December 21, 2020
How People Celebrated Halloween During the 1918 Flu Pandemic
The cancellation of costume parties and street celebrations makes Halloween 2020 eerily similar to an earlier celebration: Halloween 1918
By Olivia B. Waxman
October 28, 2020
The Push to Make Juneteenth a National Holiday
In the mid-20th century, amid a widespread push to raise awareness of Black history, many felt that the American calendar ought to reflect that past too
By Olivia B. Waxman
June 17, 2020
The Overlooked Black History of Memorial Day
Historians like the Pulitzer Prize winner David Blight have tried to raise awareness of freed slaves who decorated soldiers' graves in 1865
By Olivia B. Waxman
May 22, 2020
Here's Everything You Need to Know About Holi
Holi has come to symbolize the vivid, colorful joy of Indian festivals
By Abhishyant Kidangoor
March 9, 2020
104-Year-Old WWII Veteran Is Asking People to Send Him Valentines
"I'll save every one of them"
By Megan McCluskey
January 14, 2020
Don Lemon, Tipsy and Tattooed, Won New Year’s Eve on Twitter (Again)
Commenting on the CNN anchor's antics has become an annual tradition
By Melissa Locker
January 1, 2020
See How 2020 Is Celebrated Around the World
From Sydney, Australia to Hong Kong
By Rachel E. Greenspan
December 31, 2019
Here's Everything Open and Closed on New Year's 2020
Including coffee shops, banks and grocery stores
By Rachel E. Greenspan
December 25, 2019
People Are Really Into Celebrating Festivus on Twitter Because There's No Better Place to Air Grievances
Celebrants include political leaders, airports and even the dictionary
By Melissa Locker
December 23, 2019
50 Cent Bought His Son an Unlimited Toys ‘R’ Us Shopping Spree for Christmas, So Top That Santa
The rapper shared a video of their trip on his Twitter account
By Melissa Locker
December 23, 2019
Here's Everything Open and Closed on Christmas
Everything to know about Target, Walmart and Starbucks holiday hours
By Rachel E. Greenspan
December 22, 2019
The Real Reason American Jews Give Gifts During Hanukkah
The history actually has a lot to do with Christmas
By Rachel E. Greenspan
December 20, 2019
The 20 Best Holiday Gifts Under $100
From a self-cleaning water bottle to a handy pasta maker
By Cady Lang
December 19, 2019
The 20 Best Holiday Gifts Under $50
From a luxe lip mask to a delightfully unpretentious cookbook
By Cady Lang
December 19, 2019
A Future King Named Prince George Has Drafted His List of Demands for Christmas 2019
The little prince is also showing off a bit of a rebellious streak
By Melissa Locker
December 17, 2019
Casual Holiday Legend Asked to Bring Potato Dish Rolls Up With McDonald’s Fries
And just like that a new holiday tradition was born.
By Melissa Locker
December 16, 2019
It Appears the Perfect Snowy Holiday Decoration Scene Has Been Compromised By Mischievous Cat
Hide your elves, hide your flour
By Megan McCluskey
December 12, 2019
How Christmas Trees Became a Holiday Tradition
The modern vision of a Christmas tree has a very specific origin
By Olivia B. Waxman
December 5, 2019
'E.T.' and Elliott Reunite For Holiday Commercial
Easter eggs from the 1982 film are sprinkled throughout the ad—can you spot them?
By Madeleine Carlisle
November 28, 2019
The Turkey Has Been the Subject of Thanksgiving-Day Arguments for Longer Than You Probably Think
A Thanksgiving menu featuring “mock turkey” made entirely from vegetarian ingredients was published as early as 1894
By Adrienne Bitar
November 28, 2019
Sneaky 'Grinch' Hilariously Strikes Terror in the Hearts of These Kids at Holiday Photoshoot Gone Awry
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
By Megan McCluskey
November 22, 2019
Remember That Guy Who Accidentally Got Invited to a Random Grandma's Thanksgiving in 2016? Here's How They're Still Celebrating the Holiday Together
"Time kind of just flies"
By Megan McCluskey
November 22, 2019
‘I Was Teaching a Lot of Misconceptions.’ The Way American Kids Are Learning About the 'First Thanksgiving' Is Changing
The typical Thanksgiving lesson reflects neither the 17th century truth nor the 21st century understanding of it
By Olivia B. Waxman
November 21, 2019
The Medieval History Behind Our Halloween Fascination With Skeletons
A fascination with our bodies’ bones goes back much further than modern Halloween merch—all the way to the Middle Ages
By Jack Hartnell
October 30, 2019
How 'Fun-Size' Halloween Candy Became a Thing
Mars registered a trademark for the term “fun size” in Illinois, and sued a competitor over use of the term. Here's how the case came about
By Kat Moon
October 29, 2019
The Best Meme-Inspired Costumes Absolutely Winning Halloween 2019
From Area 51 to Kylie Jenner singing
By Megan McCluskey
October 28, 2019
Feast Your Eyes on the Spooky Green Tentacles Emerging From This Restaurant That's Already Winning Halloween
Who you gonna call? Angelo's II
By Megan McCluskey
October 7, 2019
The History of Citizenship Day Is a Reminder That Being an American Has Always Been Complicated
“We welcome you,” President Truman declared, “not to a narrow nationalism but to a great community based on a set of universal ideals.”
By S. Deborah Kang
September 17, 2019
What's Open and Closed on Labor Day 2019
Missing ingredients for your barbecue? Here's where to shop
By Rachel E. Greenspan
August 31, 2019
The Maryland 400 Lost a Battle But Helped Win a War. On the 4th of July, We Should Remember Their Sacrifice
Heroic young men from Maryland bought the time needed for George Washington to escape annihilation—and a probable end to the revolution
By Chris Formant
July 4, 2019
'What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?'
Biographer David Blight calls it the greatest speech Frederick Douglass ever delivered
By Olivia B. Waxman
July 3, 2019
Here's Everything That's Open and Closed on July 4th 2019
For many Americans, the 4th of July is a holiday filled with backyard cookouts, visits to nearby bodies of water, block parties and most importantly, fireworks. These summertime festivities require plenty of preparation and shopping,...
By Wilder Davies
July 3, 2019
Here's Your New Fourth of July Summer Party Playlist
Fourth of July means it's the height of summer, and it's weekends of pool parties or backyard hangs. Much of the U.S. will spend this weekend out at a barbecue of some kind, and will...
By Raisa Bruner
July 2, 2019
How Arlington National Cemetery Became the Resting Place for America’s ‘Heroic Dead’
And what to know about the origins of Memorial Day ceremonies there
By Olivia B. Waxman
May 24, 2019
How One Woman's Story Led to the Creation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The observance is in May to commemorate two key anniversaries
By Kat Moon
May 23, 2019
Your Complete Guide to Ramadan Traditions
What you need to know about Islam's holiest month
By Kamakshi Ayyar
May 6, 2019
Royal Family Gathers for Easter, Queen's Birthday
Talk about a double header. Members of the royal family joined Queen Elizabeth for Easter service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Sunday, and it also happened to be her 93rd birthday. Prince...
By Ashley Hoffman
April 21, 2019
Meet ‘Mr. Earth Day,’ the Man Who Helped Organize the Annual Observance
An organizer of the first Earth Day explains the real reason Earth Day is April 22, how it got its name and where it's going next
By Olivia B. Waxman
April 19, 2019
Did the 10 Plagues of Egypt Really Happen? Here Are 3 Theories
Scientists have looked for evidence that could be linked to the Exodus story
By Olivia B. Waxman
April 18, 2019
Here's What's Open and Closed on Easter 2019
Wondering where to get eggs on Easter Sunday 2019? Don't worry, we know!
By Elaine Selna
April 18, 2019
What to Know About the Origins and Meanings of the Major Holy Week Rituals
From carrying branches on Palm Sunday to visiting the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, here are the stories behind Holy Week rituals
By Kat Moon
April 12, 2019
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