Observances & Traditions

When did people start wearing them, and what’s with the tassel?

If you’ve ever received an anonymous flower basket at your doorstep on the first day of May, you may have been the recipient of a May Day basket.

The holiday, which celebrates renewal and fertility, involves dancing with fire.

Maypole dances, celestial wonders and military campaigns.

For many Christians, sunrise and resurrection are linked.

Balancing eggs. Exploding snowmen. A serpent of light. Around the globe, spring’s arrival is celebrated with unique traditions.

March has long been unpredictable, from a blizzard with 50-foot snow drifts to a bizarre meat storm.

The completion of the transcontinental railroad drove synchronization of public clocks—and the start of celebrating at the stroke of midnight.

The pagan holiday of Yule was held during the darkest days of winter and marked the start of the return of light.

Many of the holiday songs played over and over each December were penned decades, or even centuries ago.

From eating red foods to promoting activism, Juneteenth traditions pay tribute to the liberation of America's enslaved.

While specific traditions vary, nearly every country observes a day to honor mothers.

Purim is a joyful Jewish holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people from a near massacre in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther.

Nowruz is a 13-day festival marking the Persian New Year and the first day of spring. The holiday symbolizes renewal and harmony with nature.

Holi, often called the "festival of colors," is a vibrant Hindu celebration that marks spring’s arrival, the triumph of good over evil, and the love between Radha and Krishna. 

Get the facts on the traditions of Ramadan and the significance behind the holiest month of the year for Muslims around the world.

Foods enjoyed during New Year are similar to those eaten throughout the year, but with special emphasis on bringing good fortune.

Did you know Rudolph's red nose was a recent invention? Plus more details behind the classic stop-motion productions by Rankin/Bass Productions.

From lighting a menorah, to giving out gelt, to eating cheese—find out how these Hanukkah traditions began.

Both honor U.S. military personnel—but the holidays arose for different reasons.

The holidays both celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but have some different traditions and are based on different calendars.

AANHPI Heritage Month is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States.

The founder of the Red Cross dedicated her life to helping others and fighting for equality.

After a trolley car collided with a bus carrying the 18-year-old Mexican artist, pain and resilience emerged as perennial themes in her work.

From Queen Amanirenas to the Dahomey Amazons, women battled colonialists to maintain their power and prevent enslavement.

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

Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” is a Muslim holiday that signifies the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail as ordered by Allah.

The league was supposed to be temporary, but went on for 12 seasons.

From the start, the 39-time Grand Slam winner showed that she wasn’t just an ace on the tennis courts, but also in the long fight for gender equity.

Eid al-Fitr, or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” commemorates the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. An occasion for special prayers, family visits, gift-giving and charity, it begins on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.

Using fame as a cover, the glamorous entertainer spied for the French Resistance against the Nazis.

From black-eyed peas to lentils to soba noodles, these foods and others are believed to bring good luck in the new year.

On April 22, 1970, a nationwide “teach-in” inspired millions of Americans to care more about the environment.

More than a century ago, recycling wasn't a thing, but people did it instinctively.

From carving menorahs on stolen blocks of wood to creating makeshift wicks from scraps of fat and used loose threads, concentration camp inmates devised covert ways to celebrate the holiday.

Tens of millions of Americans have served in the armed forces since the country’s founding. Read quotes by and about U.S. servicemembers.

Christopher Columbus' arrival in North America in 1492 undoubtedly changed the world and lives of the Indigenous people he met. But was it for the better?

When the federal government was called in to suppress a railroad workers' strike, dozens were killed and politicians sought a way to show they still supported workers.

At the close of the Civil War, people recently freed from slavery in Charleston honored fallen Union soldiers.

When a small, scrappy Mexican force handed the French army a surprise defeat in 1862, the Confederacy was denied a potential ally.

In 1957, a TV broadcaster shared footage of harvesting "an exceptionally heavy spaghetti crop" in a town near the Italian border. Try to top that—and other historic, outrageous pranks—this April Fools' Day.

Some claim the earliest Mardi Gras celebration was in Mobile, Alabama, not New Orleans, but it depends on a few technicalities—and who's answering the question.

President Nixon's 'Honor America Day' featured the Rev. Billy Graham and Bob Hope in an Independence Day event that critics saw as a pro-Vietnam War rally.

During a time when women's education was not a priority, convents became centers for learning.

On July 4, 1826, two prominent presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, took their final breaths within hours of each other. Some have wondered if it was somehow planned.

William Jackson Smart was a twice-married, twice-widowed father of 14 children.

Discover the history of the annual holiday and check out 13 facts about the American flag and how to properly display it.

Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. In modern times, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.”

Imbolc is a pagan holiday celebrated from February 1 to 2. Based on a Celtic tradition, it’s the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox.

Despite the ongoing global conflict, Americans still took the time to celebrate Easter in 1941.

'Well-behaved women seldom make history.'

The surprising maritime origins of New Year’s Eve’s biggest party.

Seasonal greetings have never been so controversial.

A soldier describes the 5 steps of veteran transition.

Silas Weir Mitchell specialized in the ghostly pain that lingered after amputations.

World War II veteran Richard Overton enjoyed his whiskey and cigars until the end.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans and has been federally recognized since 2021. 

Robert Propst’s invention was designed to improve life for workers.

The Remembrance Day symbolism of the poppy started with a poem written by a World War I brigade surgeon who was struck by the sight of the red flowers growing on a ravaged battlefield.

May Day is a May 1 celebration with a long and varied history. Along with marking a change of season, it is also recognized as International Workers' Day.

Arbor Day is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep and preservation of trees. It is celebrated each year in April.

April Fools' Day, sometimes called All Fools' Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures. Its exact origins remain a mystery. People celebrate by playing practical jokes and pranks.

Though International Women’s Day may be more widely celebrated abroad than in the United States, its roots are planted firmly in American soil.

Since long before recorded history, the winter solstice and the subsequent “return” of the sun have inspired celebrations and rituals in various societies around the world.

The British Commonwealth holiday, typically celebrated on December 26, has nothing to do with fisticuffs.

Think the office holiday party got a little out of control? That was nothing compared to the alcohol-fueled Christmas celebration at West Point 190 years ago that turned into a riot.

No one can seem to agree.

A group of hard-boiled congressmen literally protecting their turf got the annual Easter tradition rolling.

The custom of making New Year’s resolutions has been around for thousands of years, but it hasn’t always looked the way it does today.

Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch had nothing on the 17th-century Puritans, who actually banned the public celebration of Christmas in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for an entire generation.

The eight-day Festival of Lights marks an event dating to the second century B.C.E.

Meet eight real-life Yankee Doodle Dandies who share a July 4th birthday with the United States.

The idea dates back to 1895—and has been controversial ever since.

Explore the history behind six of the most famous Mardi Gras traditions, New Orleans-style.

The extra day tacked on to every fourth year is a subtle admission that even something as regular and simple as a calendar can be more complicated than we think.

The summer solstice was a day of great significance for many past civilizations.

From its Civil War origins to its modern-day traditions, find out more about America’s most solemn holiday.

Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother's Day in 1908, passionately opposed its growing commercialization and eventually campaigned against the holiday.

From spaghetti trees to a Nixon comeback, check out some of history’s most elaborate April Fools’ Day pranks.

The plain Passover flatbread known as matzo shows its sweeter side.

Check out some facts about the raucous annual affair.

Check out eight facts about how the Lunar New Year is celebrated in China.

Get the facts on the ways 5 ancient civilizations rang in the New Year.

In the Southern United States, hoppin’ John—a simple, delicious dish of peas, pork and rice—is standard New Year’s fare.

The pan-African holiday is celebrated by millions around the world.

The British holiday, celebrated with fireworks and bonfires, commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

The annual Mexican holiday marks the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla.

The idea has nothing to do with farmers, for one thing.

In honor of Presidents’ Day, here’s a look at some unusual ways the commanders-in-chief have spent their special day.

Explore Groundhog Day's shadowy history as well as interesting facts about the custom.

Today is National Handwriting Day, a time for acknowledging the history and influence of penmanship.

From the origins of "Auld Lang Syne" to traditional foods, find out more about the history of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Find out about the history of fireworks, which will light up the skies across America this Independence Day.

This Father’s Day, we bring you five men who exemplify some of history’s finest parenting—along with five others you’ll be glad you never had to call Dad.

Mother’s Day is observed in different forms around the world.

Earth Day was established in 1970 and has become a worldwide holiday celebrated by over 1 billion people. See key highlights in the movement.

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims worldwide. It is usually commemorated around April or May.

Presidents' Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents' Day and is now viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents.

Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, under President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland created the holiday during a crisis over federal efforts to end a strike by railroad workers. Today the holiday—celebrated on the first Monday in September—pays tribute to the contributions of American workers and symbolizes the end of summer.

The Tallest Menorah According to the Code of Jewish Law, menorahs can be a maximum of 20 cubits high (each cubit equals 18 inches), yet several organizations claim to have lit “The World’s Largest Menorah.” Who is the true winner? While no one has creat...

Most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays.

Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, it begins on the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20. The holiday was traditionally a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors.

Dough Ingredients: 4 packages active dry yeast 1/2 cup lukewarm water (110-115 degrees F) 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 cup cold milk 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 egg yolks, lightly ...

Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. It's most famously celebrated with parades in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492.

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987.

Father’s Day is a holiday honoring fathers, celebrated in the United States on the third Sunday in June. It was first celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington, but didn’t become an official nationwide holiday until 1972.

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. The tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution.

In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery and departure from ancient Egypt, which appears in the Hebrew Bible’s books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, among other texts.

Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Falling in the month of Tishrei (September or October in the Gregorian calendar), it marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of Judaism’s holiest days. It falls in September or October.

Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues and the holiday is now a global celebration that’s sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green living and confronting the climate crisis.

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Although a holiday of high religious significance in the Christian faith, many traditions associated with Easter date back to pre-Christian, pagan times. Learn how Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny fall into the holiday.

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is the eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.

The most prominent secular symbol of the Christian holiday, the Easter bunny was reportedly introduced to America by German immigrants. Learn about other symbols and traditions like the Eager egg, Easter candy, Easter lilies and Easter parades.

Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the beginning of the new year in China. The celebration usually starts around late January or early February, and lasts 15 days.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's 1862 victory over France.

Kwanzaa is a week-long secular holiday which culminates on New Year's Day. Founded in 1966, Kwanzaa combines aspects of several African harvest celebrations.

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.

Veterans Day is a U.S. public holiday honoring military veterans that is observed annually on or around November 11.