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What’s the Difference Between Flapjacks and Pancakes?
What is a flapjack? If you’re in England, it’s not a fluffy round cake made from batter and fried in a pan.
HOLIDAYS
How to Properly Dispose of Wrapping Paper
Can wrapping paper be recycled? As you may have guessed, correctly disposing of wrapping paper can be a bit complicated.
Tune Twist Quiz #22
It’s time to play Tune Twist, where we translate the lyrics of popular songs into multiple languages and then back into English. Can you figure out what the song is, or who performed it?
6 Simple Tips for Returning or Exchanging Gifts
There are many perfectly valid reasons for wanting to exchange or return a present. These simple tips should help point you in the right direction.
How “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” Became a Holiday Staple
The song embraced a darker, more humorous side of the holiday. Plus, the singer knew how to hustle.
The Origins of 13 Christmas Words
From worthless trinkets to misnamed chickens, here are the histories and etymologies of 13 Christmassy words.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Almost Had a Darker Ending
The feel-good family classic could have easily finished on a less wholesome note.
11 Illuminating Facts About Hanukkah
Every winter, Jewish people around the world spend eight nights lighting candles, eating latkes, and spinning dreidels. But what’s Hanukkah really all about?
Making Peppermint Bark at Home Is the Perfect Holiday Activity
Surprise your guests with this chocolate and peppermint treat.
10 Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Travel
While we can’t promise that your journey to grandma’s house this year will be enjoyable, we know of a few travel tips to make it less stressful.
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.
6 Eco-Friendly Ways to Dispose of Your Christmas Tree
When it’s time to say goodbye to this year’s Christmas tree, don’t just dump it in the trash. Try one of these eco-friendly methods instead.
What Exactly is Christmas Tree Flocking?
There’s something so nostalgic about a well-flocked Christmas tree. Here’s how professionals manufacture this holiday sight for sore eyes.
14 Gifts That Changed the World
These gifts made a huge impact.
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.
Definition Detective Quiz #19
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
The Not-So-Grimm Story of Gingerbread Houses
Gingerbread houses have some surprising connections to royalty, brutal fairy tales, and global trade.
14 Festive Facts About ‘The Santa Clause’
From deleted subplots to a very different original opening to a Santa suit so bad it almost made Tim Allen start a fight, here are 14 facts about the making of 'The Santa Clause.'
Tune Twist Quiz #21
It’s time to play Tune Twist, where we translate the lyrics of popular songs into multiple languages and then back into English. Can you figure out what the song is, or who performed it?
Pubs Fear Guinness Shortage as the Beer Skyrockets in Popularity
Some pubs are rationing the Irish stout ahead of the holidays.
The Surprising History of the Hanukkah Dreidel
It’s often said the dreidel was a way Jewish people communicated their faith during ancient times of oppression. But the Hanukkah game is actually a lot more recent.
LEGOLAND Reveals Christmas Tree Made of Over 364,000 LEGO Bricks
LEGOLAND has a lot to offer, including at 35-foot LEGO tree.
The Complicated, Controversial History of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Each December, "Baby, It’s Cold Outside"—a ’40s-era American standard that some modern listeners hear as a depiction of sexual misconduct—invites a barrage of controversies, radio bans, and think pieces.
10 UK Christmas Traditions That Confuse Americans
When you’ve been celebrating a holiday one way your entire life, it’s easy to assume that’s the way it’s celebrated everywhere—but things are a bit different across the pond.