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The 7 Coolest Squirrels You've Never Seen
Celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day by getting to know these seven unusual species.
HOLIDAYS
10 Surprising Early Versions of Santa Claus
Whether he's skinny, smoking, or sexy, see how Santa looked before he became the jolly, rotund elf we know today.
10 Festive Facts About Holiday Greeting Cards
Yes, Virginia, Hallmark had a lot to do with it.
Why Do We Hang Up Christmas Stockings?
It’s hard to imagine why we would ask Santa to fill our stinky socks with treats.
Why Rudolph’s Shiny Red Nose Makes Scientific Sense
… and there’s a good reason why Santa might want to hand those cookies over to him, too.
We're Getting a Full Moon for Christmas
It’s the first Christmas full moon in 38 years, and we won’t see another until 2034.
How They Filmed the Iconic Climax of Home Alone
A behind-the-scenes look at a holiday classic.
How Much a Hotel Room Will Cost In Cities Around the U.S. for New Year's Eve
Mapping the price gouging of holiday hotels.
18 Facts About Your Favorite Christmas TV Specials
Here are some behind-the-scenes tidbits about a handful of holiday small-screen favorites.
The Fruitcake That Has Lasted Since the Hayes Administration
More than 100 years after it was baked, this holiday dessert is still being passed from family member to family member.
27 Tips and Tricks for a Stress-Free Holiday Season
The holiday season can be a stressful time of year for many people. But if you approach it armed with these helpful tricks, and a little yuletide cheer, the holidays can be an anxiety-free affair.
A Brief History of Snow Globes
When a surgeon came to Erwin Perzy for help, it wasn't because he wanted a tiny globe he could shake.
8 Christmas Song Parodies to Sing This Holiday
Tired of singing the same Christmas carols every year? Give "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" a break and sing these parodies instead.
5 Vince Guaraldi Albums Beyond A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi is best known for composing and performing the jazz score to 'A Charlie Brown Christmas, but there's a lot more to the man dubbed "Dr. Funk" by his friends than Peanuts.
The Origins of 15 Holiday Foods and Drinks
From cranberry sauce to corned beef and cabbage, here's how we got 15 (sometimes polarizing) classics.
11 Facts You Might Not Know About Christmas Trees
From contentious early history to modern science, these Christmas tree facts will help you see these holiday fixtures anew.
11 Awe-Inspiring Facts About the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
From its humble beginnings in 1931 to the glitz and glamor of today’s tree lightings, the towering Rockefeller Center evergreen has come to symbolize the holiday.
10 Festive Christmas Markets From Around the World
Even if you’re already done all your holiday shopping—and especially if you haven’t—a visit to one of these Christmas markets is the perfect seasonal activity.
Happy Meat Day! And Other Japanese Pun Holidays You Didn’t Know You Were Missing
Black Friday Not Your Thing? Try 'Civilised Saturday'
British bookstores will offer butler service, mulled wine, and hand massages to customers seeking a more serene shopping experience.
10 Chemistry Cooking Tricks From an Award-Winning Teacher (and Foodie)
Prepare for Thanksgiving dinner with some tips from a chemistry expert.
13 Words To Know Before You Try to Cook Thanksgiving Dinner
From our friends at Vocabulary.com, here are a baker's dozen (that means 13) of essential recipe jargon collected from Thanksgiving recipes that have appeared in The New York Times.