See Charles Dickens’ Rare Manuscripts, Teenage Love Letters and a Copy of ‘David Copperfield’ That Traveled to Antarctica
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Charles Dickens Museum in London is staging an exhibition of historic objects that shed light on the writer’s life and legacy
Before the Yule Lads Evolved Into Icelandic Versions of Santa Claus, They Terrorized Children Into Following the Rules
Today, the 13 brothers are said to leave presents in well-behaved youngsters’ shoes. But they used to be depicted as frightening monsters
‘A Christmas Carol’ Marvelously Captured the Holiday’s Victorian Spirit and Inspired New Traditions for Centuries to Come
Published on this day in 1843, at a time when Christmas was undergoing great transformation, Charles Dickens’ novel centered the virtues of kindness, charity and reform
New Yorkers Step Into Life-Size Replicas of Iconic Edward Hopper Paintings
Three of the realist painter’s most famous artworks came to life in an interactive installation in Manhattan
Untold Stories of American History
How Jewish Soldiers Celebrated Passover in the Midst of the Civil War
A group of Union men from Ohio held a makeshift Seder in the western Virginia woods in 1862
This Is When Washington, D.C.’s Cherry Trees Are Predicted to Bloom This Year
“Peak bloom,” which typically falls in late March or early April, refers to the day when at least 70 percent of the trees have blossomed
A Brief History of How Carnival Is Celebrated Around the World
Here’s how Venice, Rio de Janeiro, Trinidad and Tobago, New Orleans, and Quebec City mark the pre-Lenten season
The Surprisingly Radical Roots of the Renaissance Fair
The first of these festivals debuted in the early 1960s, serving as a prime example of the United States’ burgeoning counterculture
A Brief History of Pancakes
From ancient Greece to Shrove Tuesday celebrations, the sweet or savory flat cakes have long been a culinary staple
What You Should Know About the Mardi Gras Indians
For more than a century, New Orleans’ Black residents have donned Native-inspired attire to celebrate Carnival
What Nativity Scenes Tell Us About the Evolution of Christianity
From ancient mosaics to Saint Francis of Assisi, depictions of Jesus’s birth reflect the changing conventions of the world’s largest religion
A Brief History of Christmas Markets
Now a global phenomenon, the holiday tradition traces its roots to medieval Europe
The Gold Coast King Who Fought the Might of Europe’s Slave Traders
New research reveals links between the 18th-century Ahanta leader John Canoe and the Caribbean festival Junkanoo
Images of Elizabeth II Graced Stonehenge This Week—and Pagans Aren’t Happy
Projections on the Neolithic stones have proven controversial before
When People Carved Turnips Instead of Pumpkins for Halloween
Revelers in Ireland transformed the root vegetables into lanterns designed to ward off dark spirits
A Mardi Gras Like No Other Seeks to Bring New Orleans Together—From a Distance
The carnival season holds the possibility for renewal during the Covid-19 pandemic
With Mardi Gras Parades Canceled, New Orleans Residents Are Turning Their Houses Into Floats
Louisiana locals have come up with a range of socially distanced alternatives to the city’s traditional festivities
Christmas Wasn’t Always the Kid-Friendly Gift Extravaganza We Know Today
How a once-raucous holiday became a time of childlike wonder and beribboned consumerism
Croatia’s Museum of Hangovers Is an Ode to Boozy Shenanigans
But critics have raised concerns that the museum makes light of alcohol abuse
Nine Delicious Holiday Drinks From Around the World
Bored of eggnog? Sick of cider? Here are nine scrumptious end-of-year beverages to sip on from across the globe
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