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  3. Christmas

Christmas

Christmas, a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus, has evolved into a worldwide religious and secular celebration, incorporating many pre-Christian and pagan traditions into the festivities.

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History of Christmas

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History of Christmas

How Did Christmas Start? The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them […]

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A 1915 chromolithograph illustration of Santa Claus holding toys and blowing on a trumpet.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus—otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle—has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions. Today, he is thought of as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century.

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HISTORY: Christmas Trees

History of Christmas Trees

How Did Christmas Trees Start? Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. […]

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HISTORY: Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas Traditions Worldwide

Sweden: ‘God Jul!’ Most people in Scandinavian countries honor St. Lucia (also known as St. Lucy) each year on December 13. The celebration of St. Lucia Day began in Sweden, but had spread to Denmark and Finland by the mid-19th century. Did you know? Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister […]

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How 25 Christmas Traditions Got Their Start

Learn why we decorate trees, swap cookies and hide pickles and elves, among other traditions.

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Christmas greeting card showing dinner foods as virtues circa 1880.

How Christmas Was Celebrated in the Middle Ages

In medieval times, Christmas celebrations carried on for multiple raucous days and nights.

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Devotees take part in the first of a nine-day pre-dawn mass, locally called "Misa de Gallo", before Christmas at a church in Las Pinas, Metro Manila December 16, 2014. The pre-dawn mass is considered one of the most popular traditions among Filipinos during the Christmas season, the longest holiday celebration in the predominantly Roman Catholic country. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY) - Image ID: 2CWE684 (RM)

7 Latin American Holiday Traditions

Many celebrate the Nativity—and the New Year—in festive, sometimes whimsical, ways.

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American soldiers of 101st infantry regiment peel potatoes around a sink decorated with a tiny Christmas tree.

How Americans Celebrated the Holidays During World War II

Americans adjusted amid the war, and found different, often leaner ways to mark the holidays.

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Christmas Becomes a Holiday

Today’s Christmas celebrations combine secular and religious traditions.

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Santa Claus

The modern image of Santa Claus has been refined again and again.

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2:19 minTV-14

Origins of Santa Claus

In this video, learn about the history of Santa Claus and his real-life inspiration, St. Nicholas.

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2:28 minTV-14

History of Christmas Trees

From millions of homes worldwide to the White House, the Christmas tree is a tradition that owes its popularity in part to a popular British queen.

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