CHRISTMAS

A Brief History of Whamageddon—the Game that Forces You to Avoid Hearing Wham!’s “Last Christmas”

“Last Christmas” is now the centerpiece of a growing holiday tradition based around ... not listening to it.

Hershey Kisses Christmas Commercial 2021

7 Classic Christmas Commercials Guaranteed to Fuel Your Holiday Nostalgia

Hershey's Kisses’s “Christmas Bells” is one of the longest-running Christmas commercials.

18 Fascinating Facts About Charles Dickens

Dickens’s unprecedented celebrity made him the most popular novelist of his century—but the author of Great Expectations, Bleak House, A Christmas Carol, and dozens of other works was more than just a writer.

Bob Geldof (L) and Midge Ure (R) outside a London recording studio while working on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" on November 25, 1984.

Band Aid: The Charitable—and Controversial—History of “Do They Know It's Christmas?”

Band Aid's charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" enlisted everyone from Sting to Bananarama, but its efforts to help the Ethiopian famine didn't go exactly as planned.

There’s hope for your New Year’s resolution past January.

1 Misconception About 9 Major Holidays

We celebrate the same holidays every year, but how much do we actually know about these annual traditions? And how much of what we think we know is actually true?

Margaret O'Brien and Judy Garland in 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (1944).

How “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Went From Morbid Omen to Holiday Mainstay

The original “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” implied that you’d never have a merry Christmas again.

Macaulay Culkin, Daniel Stern, and Joe Pesci in 'Home Alone.'

Watch More Than 15 Minutes of Deleted Scenes From ‘Home Alone’

These deleted scenes shed more light on Harry's motivations, Kevin's siblings' feelings, and more.

Lindsey Whitney Barry and Larry Drake have themselves a scary little Christmas in 'Tales from the Crypt' (1989).

“And All Through the House”: When ‘Tales From the Crypt’ Gifted Viewers With a Killer Santa

In 1989, the HBO anthology series 'Tales From the Crypt' resurrected a killer idea: a homicidal Kris Kringle.

Make the Holidays Extra Cozy—and Entertaining—With Our 100-Fact Fireplace Video

YouTube has countless cozy fireplace videos. But how many of them boast 100 fun facts?

What Are Frankincense and Myrrh, Anyway?

Frankincense and myrrh are a fragrant part of traditional Christmas celebrations, but what exactly are these pebble-like perfumes?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Letters From Father Christmas.’

When J.R.R. Tolkien Posed as ‘Father Christmas’ for 23 Years

The Middle-earth author spent some imaginary time in the North Pole for an audience of just four people: his children.

Ho, Ho, No: The Reason So Many Kids Cry When Meeting Santa

Some children love meeting Santa. Others believe they're meeting the devil himself. Why?

How quickly can you spot the hidden holiday terms?

Can You Spot the Five Holiday Words in This Festive Scene?

How well do you know your Christmas vocabulary?

In Iceland, Christmas Eve is one for the books.

The Christmas Book Flood: Iceland’s Literature-Loving Holiday Tradition

Jólabókaflóðið, Iceland's long-running Christmas tradition, involves books, bed, and chocolate—all our favorite things.

How Did The McCallisters Afford That Palatial House In ‘Home Alone’?

What do Kevin McCallister’s parents do for a living to afford the family such a lavish lifestyle?

IKEA’s 10-Pound Meatball Belongs on Your Holiday Menu

Lingonberry jam and cream sauce are included, naturally.

Your gift may mean more than meets the eye.

20 Traditional Gift-Giving Superstitions

If you want to avoid bad luck this holiday season, don't give knives, hankies, or peacock feathers, but do give coal.

Paul McCartney is simply having a "Wonderful Christmastime" ... but are you?

Why People Hate Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,“ According to a Musicologist

Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime“ is both a song people love to hate and a song people love to love. Musicologist Nate Sloan has some ideas as to why the song is so polarizing.

Watch a Master Woodworker Make a Christmas Ornament

In this 11-minute video, woodworker Frank Howarth makes what he calls an “inside-out Christmas ornament,” complete with a mini-Christmas tree inside.

10 Ways to Say “Merry Christmas” Around the World

’Tis the season to learn how to say “Merry Christmas” in many languages.

The Royal Ballet's Steven McRae and Roberta Marquez as the Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy in 2012.

8 Magical Facts About ‘The Nutcracker’

Peek behind the curtains of ‘The Nutcracker,’ Tchaikovsky’s famous Yuletide ballet.

There's a single red nose hiding in the scene above. Can you spot it?

Spot Rudolph Among All of the Other Reindeer in This Holiday Brainteaser

Rudolph is famous for standing out, but his red nose blends into this holiday-themed brainteaser.

Recreate Buddy the Elf’s Iconic Breakfast Spaghetti With This Meal Kit

Buddy the Elf tops his spaghetti with syrup, marshmallows, and Pop-Tarts. You can, too.

There's a reason we favor these hues around the holidays.

Why Are Red and Green the Colors of Christmas?

While there may be no definite consensus on how red and green became the official colors of Christmas, there are a few interesting explanations.

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