Mental Floss
holidays mental floss

Holidays

The Latest

When you were younger, did you get oranges in your Christmas stockings? Did you just continue the tradition without asking why? Well, there are potentially multiple reasons behind this practice.

Here’s why a pooping log is a beloved holiday tradition in Spain, otherwise known as the Tió de Nadal custom.
Ryan Menezes|
Forget the cookies and pies—these cranberry bars are sure to impress your loved ones during the holidays.
Natalie Zamora|
Over the centuries, yuletide revelers have enjoyed far different culinary fare than we do today. These historical Christmas dishes are sure to confuse—or tantalize—your taste buds.
Kirstin Fawcett|

Christmas

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.
Ellen Gutoskey|
The Middle-earth author spent some imaginary time in the North Pole for an audience of just four people: his children.
Jake Rossen|
Because nothing says “Merry Christmas” like parading around a horse skull.
Erika Wolf|
Add these 10 to your TBR in time for the holiday season.
Paul Anthony Jones|
These options will allow you to pull off Christmas dinner without a hitch.
Sam Hindman|
Nobody will think you’re talking about baseball season, open season, or any other season. But why?
Ellen Gutoskey|
Purchasing everything on your dinner menu plus decor and other items can rack up a serious bill—but many cities are more expensive than others.
Paul Anthony Jones|
The Middle Ages were a wild time.
Michele Debczak|

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

HolidaysChristmasHalloweenHanukkahJuly 4thThanksgivingWeird Holidays