Photos | Videos | Interactives
Photo Galleries (11)
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Christmas Traditions
Christmas Traditions(12 Photos)
12 Photos
View images of Christmas celebrations and traditions around the world, from creche scenes in Bethlehem to santas and storefronts in New York City.
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Christmas: History of Santa Claus
Christmas: History of Santa Claus(8 Photos)
8 Photos
Learn about the origins and evolution of Santa Claus from images of Saint Nicholas and the Dutch Sinter Klaas, all the way up to through Coca Cola Santas and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Halloween
Halloween(14 Photos)
14 Photos
Halloween is celebrated on October 31st. See images from this colorful and creepy holiday.
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St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day(12 Photos)
12 Photos
Explore St. Patrick's Day celebrations around the world, from the parades in Dublin and Boston to green rivers in Chicago and folk dancing in Moscow.
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Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day(8 Photos)
8 Photos
From cupid, to chocolate, to candy hearts, explore images of Valentine's Day and learn some funfacts about this romantic holiday.
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Mardi Gras and Carnival
Mardi Gras and Carnival(14 Photos)
14 Photos
A photo slideshow of the celebration of Mardi Gras.
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Labor Day
Labor Day(14 Photos)
14 Photos
View photos celebrating the History of Labor Day
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July 4th
July 4th(8 Photos)
8 Photos
Independence Day, commonly known as July 4th or the Fourth of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Regarded as the birthday of the United States of America, the day is celebrated with parades,…
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Memorial Day
Memorial Day(17 Photos)
17 Photos
Images of memorials and celebrations of the Memorial Day holiday.
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Celebrating Kwanzaa
Celebrating Kwanzaa(9 Photos)
9 Photos
Explore the various symbols and celebrations of Kwanzaa in History.com's Image Galleries.
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Hanukkah
Hanukkah(8 Photos)
8 Photos
Videos (36)
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Bet You Didn't Know: Christmas
Bet You Didn't Know: ChristmasVideo Clip (2:45)
Video Clip (2:45)
Did you know Christmas wasn't always celebrated on December 25th? Get the whole story behind the holiday.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Easter Traditions
Bet You Didn't Know: Easter TraditionsVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
How did Easter traditions like the Easter bunny and egg hunts become part of the holiday celebration?
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Bet You Didn't Know: Halloween
Bet You Didn't Know: HalloweenVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
It's one of America's favorite holidays, but what's the real story behind the tricks and treats of Halloween?
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Bet You Didn't Know: Independence Day
Bet You Didn't Know: Independence DayVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
Did you know New York City has the biggest fireworks display in the United States and that three U.S. presidents died on July 4?
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Bet You Didn't Know: New Year's Eve
Bet You Didn't Know: New Year's EveVideo Clip (2:24)
Video Clip (2:24)
Did you know that New Year's has not always been celebrated on January 1? Get the full story.
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Bet You Didn't Know: St. Patrick's Day
Bet You Didn't Know: St. Patrick's DayVideo Clip (2:24)
Video Clip (2:24)
Get the real story about this beloved Irish holiday and the patron saint it's named after.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Thanksgiving
Bet You Didn't Know: ThanksgivingVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Find out which traditional recipes weren't served at the first Thanksgiving celebration.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Veterans Day
Bet You Didn't Know: Veterans DayVideo Clip (2:11)
Video Clip (2:11)
Do you know why Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th every year? Get the whole story behind the holiday.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Witches
Bet You Didn't Know: WitchesVideo Clip (2:33)
Video Clip (2:33)
Get the real story behind witches, their hats and why they are said to ride on brooms.
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Deconstructing History: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Deconstructing History: St. Patrick's CathedralVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
Get the facts on this iconic New York City landmark.
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Deconstructing History: Ireland
Deconstructing History: IrelandVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
From Ireland's national symbol to its average beer consumption, get the facts on the Emerald Isle.
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Deconstructing History: Mayflower
Deconstructing History: MayflowerVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
How many people were on the Mayflower? And how long did it take for them to get to Plymouth? Get the facts.
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Deconstructing History: North Pole
Deconstructing History: North PoleVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
Ever wonder how many miles it is from the North Pole to the South Pole? Take a journey to the northernmost point on earth to uncover this and other facts and figures of the Far North.
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Origins of Christmas
Origins of ChristmasVideo Clip (3:04)
Video Clip (3:04)
The celebration of Christmas as we know it today stems from the traditions of several different cultures.
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Ask HISTORY: Was St. Patrick Irish?
Ask HISTORY: Was St. Patrick Irish?Video Clip (2:04)
Video Clip (2:04)
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, but was he really Irish? Get the answer now.
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Haunted History of Halloween
Haunted History of HalloweenVideo Clip (2:46)
Video Clip (2:46)
Halloween was originally called Samhain and marked the end of the harvest season for Celtic farmers.
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History of St. Patrick's Day
History of St. Patrick's DayVideo Clip (3:17)
Video Clip (3:17)
Distinguish St. Patrick's Day myths from reality and find out why this holiday is celebrated by millions of Irish people around the world.
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Ask HISTORY: Cinco De Mayo
Ask HISTORY: Cinco De MayoVideo Clip (1:54)
Video Clip (1:54)
Ever wonder why May 5th is celebrated in the U.S. and Mexico? Get the full story.
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History of Valentine's Day
History of Valentine's DayVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th and where do the holiday customs come from?
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Origins of Hanukkah
Origins of HanukkahVideo Clip (3:40)
Video Clip (3:40)
Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of Jewish people over religious persecution.
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History of Thanksgiving
History of ThanksgivingVideo Clip (3:15)
Video Clip (3:15)
Although Thanksgiving celebrations dated back to the first European settlements in America, it was not until the 1860s that Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be a national holiday.
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History of Labor Day
History of Labor DayVideo Clip (3:03)
Video Clip (3:03)
In 1894, Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday after a failed attempt to break up a railroad strike.
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All About the Pumpkin
All About the PumpkinVideo Clip (1:28)
Video Clip (1:28)
Everything you ever wanted to know about the pumpkin, but were afraid to ask.
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Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin PieVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
The Little Pie company in New York City bakes over 5,000 pumpkin pies every Thanksgiving.
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Science of Love
Science of LoveVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
Explore the chemical reaction inside the brain when it encounters love.
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Science of Love: Attraction
Science of Love: AttractionVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
What happens inside your body when you are attracted to someone else?
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Science of Love: Kissing
Science of Love: KissingVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
Get the science behind men and women's different kissing styles.
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Halloween: The Face of Fear
Halloween: The Face of FearVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
Primal Fear suggests two functions of the facial expression of fear.
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Halloween: Primal Fear: Why We Like To Be Scared
Halloween: Primal Fear: Why We Like To Be ScaredVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
Primal Fear suggsts why people like to be scared.
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Primal Fear: Fear and the Brain
Primal Fear: Fear and the BrainVideo Clip (1:57)
Video Clip (1:57)
Primal Fear explains how the brain works in reaction to fear.
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Primal Fear: Controlling Fear
Primal Fear: Controlling FearVideo Clip (1:33)
Video Clip (1:33)
Primal Fear suggests three ways on how to control your emotions during an intense situation.
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History of Mardi Gras
History of Mardi GrasVideo Clip (3:29)
Video Clip (3:29)
Find out more about the history of Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, and how the holiday came to be synonymous with New Orleans.
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History of Veterans Day
History of Veterans DayVideo Clip (3:19)
Video Clip (3:19)
Veterans Day has changed days and names but it has always been a day to honor those who serve their country.
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History of Memorial Day
History of Memorial DayVideo Clip (3:37)
Video Clip (3:37)
A look at the official beginning of summer and America's most solemn holiday.
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History of the Fourth of July
History of the Fourth of JulyVideo Clip (2:44)
Video Clip (2:44)
Discover how and when Americans celebrated Independence Day in the past. Although Benjamin Franklin thought we'd celebrate the 2nd of July; the 4th of July is closest to our hearts.
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Origins of Black History Month
Origins of Black History MonthVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
A brief look at the history of African Americans and Black History Month.
Interactives (6)
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Halloween By the Numbers
Halloween By the NumbersInteractive
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Valentine's Day By the Numbers
Valentine's Day By the NumbersInteractive
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St. Patrick's Day By the Numbers
St. Patrick's Day By the NumbersInteractive
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Thanksgiving by the Numbers Infographic
Thanksgiving by the Numbers InfographicInteractive
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Christmas Facts
Christmas FactsInteractive
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Pumpkin Carving Patterns
Pumpkin Carving PatternsInteractive
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