Holidays, whether somber or jovial, are a time for families and communities to come together, commemorate historic events and usher in the seasons. Whether sacred or secular, every celebration has its own unique story. Discover the history behind the holidays.
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Halloween
Explore the history and traditions of our spookiest holiday.
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Thanksgiving
In 1621, Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast, acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations.
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Christmas
Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.
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Valentine's Day
This holiday celebrates love, romance and the story of St. Valentine.
Contents
Holiday Calendar 2011
Holiday Calendar 2011
- New Year's Day - January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 17
- Black History Month - February
- Valentine's Day - February 14
- Chinese New Year - February 3
- Presidents Day - February 21
- Women's History Month - March
- Mardi Gras - March 8
- St. Patrick's Day - March 17
- Passover - April 19
- Earth Day - April 22
- Easter - April 24
- Cinco de Mayo - May 5
- Memorial Day - May 30
- July 4th - July 4
- Ramadan - August 1
- VJ Day - August 14
- Labor Day - September 5
- Rosh Hashanah - September 29
- Yom Kippur - October 8
- Columbus Day - October 10
- Halloween - October 31
- Veterans Day - November 11
- Thanksgiving - November 25
- Hanukkah - December 28
- Christmas - December 25
- Kwanzaa - December 26
Featured Holidays
Featured Holidays
Halloween
Explore the history of Halloween, one of world's oldest holidays. Find out when Halloween was first celebrated, get the story behind the first jack o'lanterns and discover how to carve a historic pumpkin.
- History of the Jack O' Lantern
- Halloween Around the World
- Pumpkin Facts
- Video: All About the Pumpkin
- Halloween History
Thanksgiving
In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.
Christmas
Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.
- Christmas Trees
- Christmas Traditions Worldwide
- Santa Claus
- Video: North Pole Deconstructed
- Christmas History
Valentine's Day
Every February 14, couples around the world celebrate Valentine's Day and exchange gifts of candy and flowers. But who was St. Valentine and how did he become associated with love and romance?
- Valentine's Day Facts
- Valentine's Day Quotations
- Great Romances
- Video: Science of Love
- Valentine's Day History
St. Patrick's Day
The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in New York City. Find out why, and discover more fun facts about the history of St. Patrick's Day.
- Who was St. Patrick?
- St. Patrick's Day Symbols and Traditions
- St. Patrick's Day Facts
- Video: Ireland Deconstructed
- St. Patrick's Day History
Easter
At Easter, Christians around the world celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Find out how this religious holiday became associated with bunnies, bonnets and candy.
Featured Holiday Videos
Holiday Calendar 2012
Holiday Calendar 2012
- New Year's Day - January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 16
- Chinese New Year - January 23
- Black History Month - February
- Valentine's Day - February 14
- Presidents Day - February 20
- Mardi Gras - February 21
- Women's History Month - March
- St. Patrick's Day - March 17
- Passover - April 7
- Easter - April 8
- Earth Day - April 22
- Cinco de Mayo - May 5
- Memorial Day - May 28
- July 4th - July 4
- Ramadan - July 20
- VJ Day - August 13
- Labor Day - September 3
- Rosh Hashanah - September 17
- Yom Kippur - September 26
- Columbus Day - October 8
- Halloween - October 31
- Veterans Day - November 12
- Thanksgiving - November 25
- Hanukkah - December 8
- Christmas - December 25
- Kwanzaa - December 26
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Day in History
Feb 4
Lead Story
Patty Hearst kidnapped, 1974
On February 4, 1974, Patty Hearst, the 19-year-old daughter of newspaper publisher Randolph Hearst, is kidnapped from her apartment in Berkeley,…
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Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas DVD
An enchanting look at some of the most beloved holiday traditions.
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