Observances & Traditions

Discover how and when Americans celebrated Independence Day in the past.

Memorial Day's origins start in the years following the Civil War, founded by an army, but maybe not the one you'd expect.

Juneteenth celebrations are steeped in traditions, one being the consumption of red food and beverages.

The new year countdown in Times Square includes the iconic ball drop and attracts millions of people from around the world each year.

In ancient China, the goal was a hole in the net. In ancient Rome, it was the gates of a fort. Discover how the soccer goal has evolved over the centuries, in this brief history of the goal posts.

Electric lights have been a holiday spectacle for generations, and the first ones actually came from the inventor himself, Thomas Edison.

Wooden nutcracker soldiers are staples of the holiday season, but what do they actually have to do with Christmas celebrations?

From Napoleon's height to the birth of flight - lots of stories you were taught in school are not quite historically accurate. Follow along to find out ten things you learned in history class that were TOTALLY WRONG.

Cinco De Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army's successful defense of the city of Puebla against invading French forces in 1862.

Discover the roots of Kwanzaa and how it became an African American holiday.

The Easter Egg Roll is an annual White House tradition dating back over a century, but how did presidents start hosting this egg racing ritual?

Find out about the ancient roots and modern history of Mother's Day.

Watch as Famous Fat Dave dyes some Easter Eggs and then gets creative with the leftovers.

1941's Easter celebrations would be the last before the United States officially entered WWII. It was a time to celebrate peace, even under the specter of global war. This episode of Flashback takes a look at how the U.S. celebrated Easter during a time of conflict.

How did practical jokes become associated with April 1? Ask HISTORY has the answers.

A look at the origins of the holiest day on the Christian calender.

The 15-day long Chinese New Year celebration originated from an ancient Chinese legend of the monster Nian.

Veterans Day has changed days and names but it has always been a day to honor those who serve their country.

Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of Jewish people over religious persecution.

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.

Did Columbus really discover America? Get the full story.

Ancient Babylonians first celebrated the new year over 4,000 years ago.

Rosh Hashanah is the first of ten Jewish high holy days ending with Yom Kippur.

A brief look at the history of Passover

Scenes from the most important Islamic ceremony marking the end of Ramadan at the Woking Mosque in Surrey, England.

Historian Yohuru Williams gives a crash course on a riot in Chicago's Haymarket Square that changed the labor movement in the United States.

Father Emil Kapaun gave his life during the Korean War, but his selfless faith saved and inspired his fellow soldiers. President Obama recognized the Army chaplain with the Medal of Honor in 2013.

Katherine Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston marathon in 1967. Take a look back at her accomplishment and those of other record-busting female sports stars.

Join host Famous Fat Dave as he tries to unlock the mystery of Cinco de Mayo's most unusual food Mole Poblano.

In the shadow of Hitler's rise to power, Americans observe Memorial Day in 1936 with a sense that another worldwide conflict might be on the horizon. General John Pershing, who led America's forces during WWI, argues that peace should be sought at any cost.

What is Rosh Hashanah? History.com's Ask a Rabbi series describes and defines this most important Jewish Holiday. Learn about the customs associated with Rosh Hashanah including the blowing of the ram's horn.

Learn the facts and figures behind the many contributions of America's armed forces throughout the country's history.

Join Famous Fat Dave as he interviews a cook who knows how to make a great taco for Cinco de Mayo.

Historian and author Don Miller discusses the importance of Veterans Day.

As World War II raged in Europe and North Africa, the United States celebrated its Independence Day in July 1941. It was looking increasingly likely that the U.S. would enter the war, and President Franklin Roosevelt delivered an address that equivocated America's own struggle for freedom in the 1700s with the struggle faced by her allies overseas.

New Year's Day often includes a feast of foods to symbolize health, luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Ramadan is the most holy Islamic holiday.

This holiday honors those who died while serving in the U.S. military.

New Orleans is known for its Mardi Gras celebrations, but its history is much more mysterious than you might think.

How long does Mardi Gras last? How many beads get thrown every year? Learn the facts and figures behind the big festivities in the Big Easy.

In this History of the Holidays video, learn the origin of one of Easter's most elegant decorations, the Faberge egg. The first Faberge egg, or imperial egg, was requested by Czar Alexander III as an Easter gift for his wife, Czarina Maria.

New Year's celebrations in China are thousands of years old, but across the Pacific, the holiday took on a life of its own.

While Hanukkah is a religious holiday, its story is rooted in a violent conflict that was very real.

Celebrate the progress and accomplishments of American women with this look at trailblazers throughout history. Are you next?

From witches to vikings to noblewomen, the Halloween costumes you buy in stores today are not exactly historically accurate.

Undeterred by his childhood disability, Henry Viscardi became one of the most effective advocates for disabled Americans in U.S. history.

Presidents have been pardoning turkeys every Thanksgiving for decades, but how did this tradition get started?

In 1951, PM Ben-Gurion chose a menorah—suggested by the Jewish Museum—as a birthday gift for U.S. President Harry S. Truman.

We all watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve, but the ball has its own history that began well before Times Square and out on the high seas.

Congress passed legislation in 1894—amid a railroad workers' strike—to create the holiday honoring labor.