Celebrations
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
Here’s What NPG Gala Honorees Have to Say About Their Portraits
Likenesses of six American icons including Jeff Bezos, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Frances Arnold join the collections
The Meaning Behind Six Objects on Día de los Muertos Altars
From marigolds to sugar skulls, the traditional Mexican holiday is full of symbols
The 1900s Movement to Make the Fourth of July Boring (but Safe)
One activist thought celebrating the founding of the nation would be better spent as a "a quiet day under the trees"
Women Have Been Voting in Wyoming for 150 Years, and Here Is How the State Is Celebrating
To mark the anniversary, Wyoming is delivering an impressive lineup of events, from a reenactment of the first vote to female-focused exhibits and retreats
Ten of the South’s Most Mouth-Watering Food Festivals
From Vidalia onions to beer cheese, the American South has culinary celebrations covered
From Opossums to Bologna: Weird Things Cities Drop on New Year's Eve
Who needs a ball? Cities get creative on New Year's Eve by dropping objects that reflect local products and culture
A Search for Mysteries and Monsters in Small Town America
How monster festivals became American pilgrimage sites
Why Bioluminescence Evolved to Be Red Light, and Blue
The laws of nature constrict living light to a few hues, which also happen to be quite patriotic
