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15 Festive Facts About Christmas Lights
From Thomas Edison’s ingenious marketing strategy to Carson Williams’ viral “Wizards of Winter” display, here are some facts about fairy lights to keep you warm throughout the season.
CHRISTMAS
Why Is Rudolph the Red-Nosed ‘Reindeer’ Actually a White-Tailed Deer?
Since the character's inception, Rudolph has more closely resembled a white-tailed deer than the reindeer that live near the North Pole.
Can You Spot Santa’s Hidden Presents in This Holiday Brainteaser?
This puzzle should satisfy your urge to snoop for presents until the holidays arrive.
7 Christmas Songs Banned in the Past
The debate about banning “Baby It’s Cold Outside” rages on, but it’s not the only problematic Christmas carol to land on the do-not-play list.
Smash Knit: How Ugly Christmas Sweaters Took the Holiday Season by Storm
How did we get from one ugly Christmas sweater party in Vancouver to … here? It’s quite a yarn.
The Reason So Many Movies Open on Christmas Day
Christmas is one of the most profitable times of the year for film studios, who count on people desperate to get away from their families for a couple of hours.
4 Dickens Christmas Stories You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Such was the success of 'A Christmas Carol' that the four festive stories Dickens published after it—some overlooked classics, others critical flops and missteps—have since largely become eclipsed by their better-known predecessor.
8 Decidedly Unromantic Facts About Mistletoe
The tradition of kissing under mistletoe might stem from a mythological murder.
42 Festive Facts About ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’
‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ is the gift that keeps on giving (and you kind of have Stanley Kubrick to thank for its existence).
Can You Spot All 10 Differences Between These Two Festive Offices?
These Christmas-themed offices are harboring 10 differences and one adorable elf. Can you find them all?
Sleigh It Ain't So: How to Talk to Kids About “the Santa Question”
When kids ask if Santa is real, is it time to come clean?
Why Watching Holiday Movies Makes Us Feel Good, According to Science
Holiday movies play to our nostalgia bias, a cognitive process that makes us long for past times because we think they were somehow better than now.
Why Do We Only Say “’Tis the Season” During the Holidays?
Nobody will think you’re talking about baseball season, open season, or any other season. But why?
An Eye-Popping History of the Red Ryder BB Gun From 'A Christmas Story'
Ralphie Parker's thirst for an air rifle was borne out of a real toy trend and a fake cowboy.
The 50 Best Christmas Movies of All Time, According to Rotten Tomatoes
‘Elf,’ ‘A Christmas Story,’ and ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’ all made the list. So did ‘Die Hard.’
The Tragic Tale of Charles Dickens’s Last Christmas Turkey
Charles Dickens appreciated a prize turkey as much as Ebenezer Scrooge did. And on Christmas Eve 1869, his was missing.
How Did Elves Become Part of Christmas?
Myths about elves predate Christmas and Christianity itself.
Carol of the Bells: How a Ukrainian Protest Song Became a Christmas Staple
"Carol of the Bells" was adapted from the Ukrainian composition “Shchedryk,” a New Year’s ballad that doubled as a cry for independence in the aftermath of World War I.
Can You Spot the Sheep Among the Santas?
In this Christmas hidden object brainteaser, Hungarian artist Dudolf has concealed a single sheep amid a flock of Santas.
Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on December 25?
Jesus’s birthday is subject to interpretation, and there are plenty of intriguing theories to explain how we landed on December 25 to celebrate Christmas.
11 Holiday Cookies From Around the World
From pizzelle to vanillekipferl, cookies are an important part of holidays no matter where you celebrate.
11 Illuminating Facts About the Leg Lamp from ‘A Christmas Story’
As ‘A Christmas Story’ has grown in popularity, so has one of its most recognizable props: the leg lamp, that glowing gam otherwise known as “a major award.”
$#@!* Santa! The 20 Most Expletive-Filled Christmas Movies of All Time
Some holiday favorites are fun and festive. Others have an F-bomb count to rival 'Goodfellas.'
Santa Slays: When 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' Caused a Public Panic
'Silent Night, Deadly Night,' 1984's killer Santa slasher, led some psychologists to worry kids might develop panic disorders and even regress in their toilet training.