• Why Do We Hang Christmas Wreaths?

    As with most holidays, Christmas is rife with symbols that we take for granted, but of course there is lots of rich history behind them. Just like Christmas trees, candy canes, and mall Santas, the tradition of hanging wreaths had to start somewhere, and exactly where kind of depends on who you ask.

    By Cody Copeland November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Jingle Bells Explained

    "Jingle Bells" is a favorite everywhere, from Christmas radio stations to seasonal concerts, as a cheerful holiday melody that everyone can sing along to. But it was never originally intended to have any connection to Christmas at all.

    By Aimee Lamoureux November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Origin Of Christmas Lights Explained

    People used to put candles on their Christmas trees, explained Popular Mechanics. The tradition was brought to England by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who grew up in Germany. A magazine published an illustration of the Queen's family gathered around a tree with candles adorning it.

    By Emilia David November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why People Hang Stockings At Christmas

    Hanging decorated stockings by the fireplace, with the hope that Santa Claus will fill them with treats, is a popular tradition. In 1823, the practice was commemorated in song with the publication of the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," better known today as "The Night Before Christmas."

    By Aimee Lamoureux November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Story Behind Boxing Day

    One theory posits that employers distributed "Christmas boxes" full of gifts, money, and leftovers from their holiday feasts to their servants on December 26, as the servants would have worked on Christmas Day. The boxes were the 1800s' version of holiday bonuses.

    By Karen Corday November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Many Homes Of Santa Claus Around The World

    Santa Claus at the top of the world in a winter wonderland. His workshop bustles in the Arctic Circle while his helpers pump out toys for billions of kids. But the North Pole at the top of the world isn't the only place that Santa calls home. You can find the jolly saint in several different places.

    By Nick Vrchoticky November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of The Snowman Explained

    In a common sense way, it's understandable why ancient people would have used snow to craft a human figure, or even just play with (if they weren't trying to avoid freezing to death, that is). After all, cave paintings, tribal figurines, and hand-hewn statues all depict the human form.

    By Richard Milner November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why The US Army Was So Afraid Of The Apache

    The relationship between the US and the indigenous people of North America has been infamously bloody, cruel, and usurious. In a single century, from 1784 to when the Dawes Act was signed in 1887, native lands were stolen, bit by bit, until only tiny fragments of modern-day reservations remained.

    By Richard Milner November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of The Hollywood Walk Of Fame Explained

    It's perhaps the most famous sidewalk in the world, but not many people know the true history of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, even though it has some very interesting tales to be told. Here is the history of the Hollywood Walk of Fame explained.

    By Branden C. Potter November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason We Haven't Been Back To The Moon

    On July 20, 1969, one of the most momentous events in human history occurred: Men walked on the Moon. Eventually the United States completed six Moon landings, bringing a total of 12 astronauts to the Moon's surface by 1972. Then we stopped. This is the real reason we haven't been back to the moon.

    By Jeff Somers November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Untold Truth Of 'Schlitzie The Pinhead'

    Schlitzie the Pinhead was one of the most famous circus sideshow acts ever. Schlitzie's unusual "pinhead" appearance brought swarms of audiences to the circus sideshows he called home. But Schlitzie's life was incredibly hard behind the scenes. Here's the untold truth of "Schlitzie the Pinhead."

    By Asher Cantrell November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason Rockets Launch From Florida

    If you were one of the thousands who watched the SpaceX launch, you might have noticed that the feed came from Florida. A lot of space shuttles and rockets take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, and there's a reason for it. But no, it isn't because astronauts get to enjoy the fun and sun.

    By Emilia David November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Origin Of Mall Santas Explained

    Thousands of old men would impersonate our altered vision of what St. Nick looked like and sit in shopping malls to let countless children sit in their laps to ask if they're real. That last one is a Christmas staple these days, but exactly how did it get its start?

    By Cody Copeland November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why We Eat Candy Canes At Christmas

    The National Confectioners Association reports that candy canes are the most popular non-chocolate candy during December, with 90 percent of them sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This comes to 1.76 billion candy canes produced in the United States each year. But where did they originate?

    By Karen Corday November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Christmas Elves Explained

    Where did these staunch Christmas helpers come from? Why exactly does an immortal, bearded man with a magic, toy-spawning bag of holding need slave elves to manufacture said toys before the toys are teleported into said bag? This (and other yuletide mysteries of the ages) clearly needs unraveling.

    By Richard Milner November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Eggnog Explained

    When we see the cartons of eggnog on grocery store shelves or the bottles of Very Olde Saint Nick at the liquor store, it might trick us into thinking the drink is a modern beverage, but, in truth, eggnog has several centuries worth of history. Check it out.

    By Nick Vrchoticky November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why Does Santa Live At The North Pole?

    In 1863, Nast drew a popular advertisement for Harper's Weekly magazine that depicted Santa Claus delivering gifts (and copies of Harper's) to Union Army soldiers. Nast later produced annual Christmas drawings, one of which indicated that Santa could be reached via mail addressed to the North Pole.

    By Karen Corday November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Mistletoe Explained

    Imagine being stuck under a parasitic plant with someone, and the only way out is to kiss them. It honestly sounds like a nightmare, and yet it's a Christmas tradition some people somehow enjoy -- mistletoe, the hemiparasitic plant in question, is an essential part of the holiday.

    By Emilia David November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Most Traumatic Experiences In Game Show History

    Game shows since 2000 have been more and more about performing physical stunts. But with more dangerous stunts comes the opportunity for more things to go wrong, and now appearing on a game show can mean serious injury or even death. These are the most traumatic experiences in game show history.

    By Asher Cantrell November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason Undertaker Gave Up His Basketball Career

    At 6'10', the towering Texas native combined gigantic size with agile athleticism and a killer gimmick to truly dominate the sport for longer than most could ever dream of. He almost ended up stomping around the basketball court, rather than the ring, before deciding to wrestle professionally.

    By Cody Copeland November 24th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Sending Christmas Cards Explained

    Despite most of modern communication taking place via texts, messaging via apps, and, for some old-fashioned traditionalists, e-mail, mailing physical Christmas cards remains a popular and beloved custom that continues to stand the test of time. Where and when did this tradition originate?

    By Karen Corday November 24th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Gingerbread Houses Explained

    A staple of Christmas, gingerbread houses can be as simple as two rectangles leaning on each other, to mansions recreating some of the world's most famous palaces. Gingerbread houses are a tradition for a reason. But why do we make houses out of gingerbread, instead of just eating it as a cookie?

    By Emilia David November 24th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason Santa Leaves Coal For Bad Children

    Where and when did the tale originate? Santa Claus, leaving lumps of coal instead of Christmas presents for naughty children? According to Mental Floss, the tradition predates Santa and is found in tales of several individuals.

    By Karen Corday November 24th, 2020 Read More