Search
Showing results for “Christmas”
Jump to a topic
ChristmasChristmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the belief in God's birth as a first-century Judean man, Jesus Christ, celebrated each year on Dec. 25. Faithful observers believe the all-powerful, uncreated God became "incarnate" to redeem humanity from a fallen state by dying and rising again at Easter (though sects disagree on specifics). In recent centuries, the religious feast expanded into a major holiday season of gift-giving, celebrated by an estimated 2.6 billion people worldwide.
Its timing and many of its customs trace back to ancient seasonal festivals, such as Saturnalia and Yule, when communities in Europe celebrated the winter solstice. As Christianity spread through the continent in the fourth century, church leaders placed Christmas on Dec. 25 and adopted some of these long-standing traditions.
Amid the holiday's gradual secularization, the legend of Saint Nicholas’s gift-giving and the Dutch tradition of “Sinterklaas” helped shape the modern conception of Santa Claus. Customs solidified in Victorian England transformed Christmas into the family centered celebration recognized today—popularizing Christmas trees, cards, and carols. The holiday season brings in nearly $1T in revenue for retailers in the US.Explore Christmas
What we've found
On Christmas Eve in 1978, a San Francisco museum lost possession of a RembrandtThieves stole four paintings on the night before Christmas, including Rembrandt's "Portrait of a Rabbi," which was worth around $1M at the time. The museum was under construction at the time, and police speculated that the robbers got in through the roof by way of the scaffolding. Over two decades later, three of the pieces were returned. Illinois man finds 46-year-old Christmas present addressed to him while remodeling his parents' homeIn 2025, a 53-year-old man found a gift addressed to him from around 1978 when he was about 6 years old. He located the gift, a box of Matchbox model airplanes, behind a wall, and opened it in front of his parents. People.comRockwell helped define the American ChristmasRockwell painted 30 Christmas covers for the Saturday Evening Post. Drawing on his love of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Rockwell placed the holiday’s unofficial traditions in an American context, with images of eager children, snow-covered small towns, and warm family meals. The Saturday Evening PostHughes' 'Black Nativity' reworked the Christmas story through jazz improvisationAlthough he’s primarily known as a poet, Langston Hughes was also a popular playwright. One of his most inventive works is the 1961 stage show “Black Nativity,” which told the story of Christ’s birth with an all-Black cast. Hughes’ original script encourages improvisation, calling on his love of jazz, and includes 27 songs. The ConversationMariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' is the longest-running No. 1 singleIn 2025, the 1994 track spent 20 weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The song has been a popular Christmas number since its release, but streaming has elevated it to a perennial chart-topper: Every time someone plays the song on a service like Spotify (something that’s likely to happen every holiday season), they’re effectively casting a vote for it to hit the chart. NPRChristmas celebrates the anniversary of God's birth as the man JesusThe major holiday originated in the Christian doctrine of God's incarnation in first-century Roman Judea. Though it was not celebrated for several hundred years after Jesus' death, it took on greater importance as the church spread, culminating in a global holiday season today. Encyclopedia Britannica'Christmas Past' examines the forgotten stories behind holiday traditions“Christmas Past” is a long-running podcast that explores the origins of Christmas traditions through short and engaging episodes, blending historical deep dives with warm-hearted narration. Brian EarlA town in Peru holds a massive fistfight on ChristmasIn Santo Tomás, Peru, Christmas Day features Takanakuy—organized public brawls where residents settle disputes through ritualized fistfights. The tradition, rooted in Andean customs, acts as a communal reset before the new year. ViceA Swedish town erects a giant straw Christmas goat each year—often burned down by prankstersEach year, the town of Gävle builds a giant straw Christmas goat, which pranksters often burn, despite heightened security measures. Notable attacks include arsonists dressed as Santa and gingerbread men firing flaming arrows and hackers disabling cameras before torching the goat. CBC KidsChristmas was briefly banned in 17th-century EnglandIn the 1640s, Puritans outlawed Christmas, deeming it wasteful and unbiblical. For nearly two decades, celebrations were suppressed and violators fined, though many ignored the ban. The law was repealed in 1660. Cromwell MuseumRed and green became Christmas colors thanks to holly—and Coca-ColaHolly's green leaves and bright red berries linked the colors to winter festivals for centuries, but Coca-Cola's 1931 Santa—painted by Haddon Sundblom in Coke-red robes—helped cement red and green as the modern Christmas palette. NPRSee what people around the world eat for ChristmasChristmas meals vary widely around the world: the British serve roast turkey and Christmas pudding, many Italians celebrate with seafood-only feasts, Filipinos eat whole spit-roasted pigs, and Mexican families enjoy tamales. Taste of HomeMariah Carey earns millions each year from 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit has become a holiday cash machine, generating an estimated $2.5M–$3M in annual royalties. The song consistently tops the streaming charts each holiday season. ForbesMany iconic Christmas songs were written by Jewish composersJewish songwriters shaped the sound of Christmas, composing hits like “Let it Snow” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Irving Berlin, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, wrote “White Christmas, which remains the bestselling single in music history. KvellerChristmas carols evolved from medieval folk songs to modern holiday staplesChristmas carols began as communal folk songs in medieval Europe, and were later adapted into religious hymns. Revived in England in the 19th century, they have become a core holiday tradition around the world. TodayChristmas elves evolved from Norse mythology to Santa’s workshopElves originated as powerful human-sized beings in Norse mythology, closely tied to nature and fertility. In the 1800s, American writers reimagined them as tiny, toy-making assistants for Santa Claus, with later visual depictions by Norman Rockwell and Disney solidifying their role in Christmas folklore. Live ScienceEating KFC is a Christmas tradition in JapanSince a 1974 marketing campaign, eating KFC on Christmas has become a nationwide custom in Japan. Families place orders weeks in advance, and the holiday accounts for nearly a third of KFC Japan's total yearly sales. CheddarSee Christmas traditions from around the worldFrom Venezuelans roller-skating to church to the decoration of boats in Greece, Christmas traditions vary widely all around the world. See examples from 30 different countries, which highlight how a country’s history shapes its holiday traditions. TimeThe title of 'World’s Largest Christmas Tree' is disputedCities in the US, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands all claim they have the world’s largest Christmas tree—ranging from massive evergreens, TV and communication towers, and hillside light displays. The Tim TravellerSee how artificial Christmas trees are madeModern artificial Christmas trees are built from bent steel frames and PVC plastic. The plastic is cut into strips and shredded to mimic the needles of an evergreen tree. See the factory process of these mass-produced holiday mainstays. How It's MadeThe Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was first erected in 1931 by construction workersThe tradition of erecting a tree in Rockefeller Center officially began two years later, when the company continued what the Depression-impacted workers had started. Today, its lighting and nearby ice skating draw millions annually, making it one of America’s most famous holiday traditions. Untapped CitiesThomas Edison created the first strand of electric Christmas lights in 1880Edison strung electric bulbs outside his laboratory in 1880, and his business partner Edward H. Johnson first wrapped a tree in lights in 1882. It wasn’t until the lights were commercialized in 1917 that they became common in household Christmas decorations. Library of CongressBefore electric lights, Christmas trees were lit with real candlesThe practice of lighting Christmas trees with electricity didn’t begin until the late 1800s. Before that, families used wax candles on branches—a dangerous tradition that originated in 16th-century Germany. Its Red BananaMartin Luther is often cited as the first to decorate the Christmas tree—though the practice began decades earlierLuther lore claims he may have been the first to link tree decorations to Jesus, as he used candles to symbolize the Nativity star. However, German bakers had adorned evergreens with apples and sweets as early as 1419 for Christmas Eve displays. NYC Christmas TreesThe first commercial Christmas card was created in 1843Overwhelmed by the task of writing many holiday letters, Sir Henry Cole commissioned artist JC Horsley to design a festive card he could send to friends and family in 1843—creating and popularizing the first mass-produced Christmas card. Smithsonian MagazineCharles Dickens transformed Christmas into an important family-centric holidayWhen Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol” in 1843, its story of an old man’s redemption helped reshape the holiday, popularizing themes of generosity, reflection, and family that transformed the Christmas season. ThroughlineQueen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized the Christmas tree in 1840s BritainAn 1848 engraving of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert around a decorated Christmas tree sparked a trend across Britain and the US. Their German-inspired custom quickly became a fashionable centerpiece of holiday celebrations. Crows Eye ProductionsSaturnalia was a Roman festival that helped shape ChristmasAncient Romans celebrated Saturnalia in mid-December, honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, with week-long street festivals. These celebrations featured gift exchanges, lavish meals, and gambling, which was prohibited in public at the time. Academus Education'A Christmas Carol' was originally going to be a political pamphlet Dickens planned to write a treatise on the day’s social issues and had a particularly dry working title: “An Appeal to the People of England on behalf of the Poor Man’s Child.” After a week, though, he decided to rework the ideas into a fictional story, working at a quick pace so it could be released in time for Christmas. It worked: The story was published on December 19, 1843. TIMEArtificial Christmas trees can range from about $85 to $1K or moreIn 2022, 22.34 million real Christmas trees were purchased and sold at a median price of $80. Even so, from a price standpoint, a fake tree is usually the less expensive option in the long run, as they're reusable and can save time and maintenance. KiplingerSee Rockefeller Center's Christmas trees since 1931In 1931, with construction still underway, Rockefeller Center's very first Christmas tree was erected out front. John D. Rockefeller himself greeted the construction workers who put up the first 20-foot tree and decorated it with cranberries and paper garland. PeopleHanukkah gift giving has blended with ChristmasThe two distinct holidays share foundational religious texts but very different holiday origins. But since they both occur near the end of the year, traditions have overlapped, especially with regard to gift giving. Some Hanukkah participants have also adopted Christmas traditions for their own celebrations, including 6-foot-tall menorah trees and Mensch on a Bench. The Detroit NewsSanta Claus originally wrote Christmas letters instead of receiving themParents originally used the letters as an opportunity to help discipline their children. Gifts eventually took on a more central role in the holiday, turning the letters into chances for kids to write Christmas wish lists. Mental Floss''Twas the Night Before Christmas' was published anonymously with a different titleA decade after it came out, Clement Clarke Moore accepted credit for the rhyming holiday tale. Some still believe that Henry Livingston, Jr. is the author, but evidence largely points to Moore. ParadeFather Christmas was originally associated with decadent partiesThe English figure of Father Christmas is another component of the character that would become Santa Claus. Father Christmas was depicted as eating and drinking to excess until the more austere Victorian era. He morphed into a figure dedicated to children and charity, eventually blending into the modern Santa Claus. English HeritageThirty weird facts about Christmas treesFrom its fascinating origin to how yours is grown today, these incredible Christmas tree facts will add a little bit more wonder to your holiday season. Best LifeThe 50 most creative faux-Christmas tree ideasHere are 50 of the most brilliant, odd, and creative DIY Christmas tree substitutes on the internet. Bored PandaHow to mass produce Christmas trees using helicoptersSee how the nation's largest Christmas tree farm uses cutting edge technology to harvest millions of trees each year. YouTubeThe best day to buy a Christmas tree, with dataUsing data from 200,000 tree sales in 2018, the authors found that some weekends are more expensive than others. Learn when it's optimal to buy a tree here. MoneyA brief history of Christmas tree designA celebration of the Christmas tree in all its festive glory. Get a glimpse into its intriguing background and the lore that accompanies it. ShutterstockChristmas trees are a $6B global industryIn the US, the real tree industry is valued at $2B, the reflection of nearly 30 million trees sold annually at an average profit of about $10 per tree. While each tree takes about 8 years to mature, their artificial counterparts can be made much more quickly, mostly in China, valued at over $1B as of 2020. The HustleDanish folklore suggests families should treat mischievous elves to some porridgeThe “nisse” is a small, demonic figure who was said to creep into barns, sometimes killing livestock. Over time, the character evolved into a friendlier Christmas elf that families could satisfy with a bowl of porridge. Atlas Obscura‘The Nutcracker’ was a flop when it premieredAlthough it's now a holiday classic, Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" flopped when it debuted in 1892. It wasn’t until it was reimagined in 1954 as a Christmas season spectacular, aimed at families, that it became a hit. HNNLEDs emit pure colors, while incandescent bulbs filter white lightTraditional Christmas lights produce softer, less saturated colors by partially blocking the full spectrum of light, resulting in a particularly warm glow by dimming the cooler blue tones. LEDs are designed to emit a single wavelength of light, creating intense colors that are visually unbalanced in multicolor environments. Technology ConnectionsHow ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ became a beloved, haunting Advent hymnThe text of the hymn is rooted in the ancient O Antiphons. The melancholic melody was traced to an anonymous 15th-century author. The hymn stands as one of the few standard Christmas carols actually intended to be sung during the season of Advent. Listen to the song’s history here. AmericaMany Christians observe a different theme for each week of AdventMany churches structure Advent around weekly themes—often hope, peace, joy, and love—which shape sermons, prayers, Scripture readings, and the lighting of candles on the Advent wreath. The specific themes vary widely across denominations and communities. Harvard UniversityMagnetic material in rocks provides evidence of flips in Earth's magnetic fieldVolcanic rocks can lock in the direction of Earth's magnetic field as they cool, making them natural recorders of magnetism. Dating rocks and seeing the changing orientation of their magnetic field helps construct a timeline of Earth's magnetic field history. The Royal InstitutionThe 1974 anarchist protest in Denmark that later inspired SantaConAn interview with one of the participants explains what the performance art group that planned the event was hoping to achieve. Hordes of Santas walking down the street with a giant goose, attacking buildings with backhoes and pickaxes, handing out “presents” stolen from department stores, and eventually being arrested. hummerkongenThe myth of Santa Claus has partially caused a consumption-oriented holiday seasonYahoo pulled together a humorous collection of social media posts from people who seem to have forgotten that the holidays aren’t only about getting presents. The article is a sobering reminder to spend time with loved ones and show gratitude during the special season. YahooKrampus is known in Central Europe as Santa's scary counterpartIf you live in Austria or Germany, you've likely heard of the Krampus—a horned, half-goat demon who punishes bad children, sometimes by kidnapping them, sometimes by hitting them with birch switches, and occasionally by bringing them back with him to Hell. History
Try another search?