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Holidays

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The holiday season can bring a lot of joy, but it also brings many risks. See if your state is more dangerous than others this Christmas.

Holly and Noelle are just two of the most popular holiday-inspired baby names, but what about the others that most people wouldn’t think of? Here are 20 sweet holiday-inspired names to start your list.
Alexandria Ingham|
Prices vary depending on the doll’s condition, but many of these iconic holiday Barbies are on sale for a pretty penny. Do you have any in your basement?
Jenny Cohen|
Americans favor 'Merry Christmas,' while Brits opt for 'Happy Christmas.' Here's how we got here.
Ellen Gutoskey|

Christmas

Parents who wanted to get their kids the recording device seen in the movie wouldn't give up. They were thirsty for more.
Jake Rossen|
Charles Schulz thought ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was a “disaster.” CBS hated it. But it’s among the most beloved Christmas specials of all time.
Jake Rossen|
Funny enough, the most popular song was also ranked most annoying by adults in the United States. See what the most popular Christmas song is in your state.
Jenny Cohen|
It wasn’t always the most wonderful time of the year. In centuries past, Christmas was often violent, scary, and disgusting. So for all those Grinches who are skeptical of today’s Yuletide customs, be thankful you weren’t alive centuries ago.
A.J. Jacobs|
Despite getting you into the holiday spirit, it’s easy for Christmas music to turn bothersome. Americans determine the 10 most annoying songs.
Jenny Cohen|
Myths about elves predate Christmas and Christianity itself.
Michele Debczak|
A look at all the new holiday movies you can watch on Netflix before the month ends.
Suhaib Adeel|
The feel-good family classic could have easily finished on a less wholesome note.
Sam Hindman|

Halloween

Looking for a way to make use of your leftover Halloween candy? We’ve found the perfect recipe to turn that leftover candy into the perfect sweet treat!
Cody Schultz|
If you store your candy correctly, you can stretch this year’s Halloween candy haul well into next year.
Michele Debczak|
The unwanted gourds can wind up in a variety of places, including your local zoo.
Jake Rossen|

Hanukkah

You’ve seen the classic holiday movies multiple times. Now it’s time to check out these special TV episodes.

Thanksgiving

Instead of pushing untouched stuffing and turkey into the depths of the fridge, try out these Thanksgiving leftover ideas to spread Turkey Day cheer a little bit longer.
Nicole Garner, Garin Pirnia|
Why do the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys always take to the field for a Thanksgiving football game? Because it’s tradition! But how did this tradition begin?
Ethan Trex|
Yes, all of the celebrity guests lip-sync their performances during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here are some more secrets from the seasonal spectacle.
Erin McCarthy, Stacy Conradt|
To prevent spilled dishes and spoiled perishables from ruining the meal, check out these tips for safely packing and transporting food to Thanksgiving dinner.
Mary Beth Skylis|

July 4th

It can be shocking to realize that we are able to follow rules that no one ever taught us explicitly.
Arika Okrent|
English, the language of Shakespeare and the internet, is often touted for its flexibility and adaptability. But with great flexibility comes great inconsistenc
Brett Reynolds|
You're going to be astonished how many of these you hopefully already know, but I'm sharing them because many millions of people don't. It's not Aw-ree, for instance, it's ah-wry (awry)
Alvin Ward|
We’re taking Strunk and White and grammarians everywhere to task in the latest episode of The List Show.
mentalfloss .com|

Weird Holidays

The shortest month of the year still includes a lot of obscure, offbeat holidays to celebrate.
mentalfloss .com|
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve may be over, but Thomas Crapper Day is on the horizon.
Caitlin Schneider, Laura Turner Garrison|
Pillow fights can lead to some serious trouble. Don’t believe us? Here are some examples of times pillow fights took a turn for the worse.
Rebecca OConnell|
Mf logo and dots in light green

Learn More About Holidays

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