Mistletoes evolved the ability to grow not on the roots of trees, but instead on their branches.

Mistletoe: The Evolution of a Christmas Tradition

Why does this parasitic plant remind us of romance?

Don’t Stop Believin’ (in Santa Claus)

Shirley Temple drops some knowledge on a Christmas tradition

Photos: The Scariest Santas You’ll Ever See

Browse our selected illustrations of some of the strangest and creepiest Santa Clauses ever put down on paper

Consider food—and food-themed gifts—this holiday season.

Last Minute Food-Themed Gift Ideas

Food, jewelry, toys and books for those hard-to-shop-for people on your gift list

In Robert Walter Weir’s c. 1838 canvas of St. Nicholas (detail), perhaps influenced by a Washington Irving story, the painter envisioned both an enigmatic trickster and a dispenser of holiday cheer.

A Mischievous St. Nick from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

The 19th-century artist Robert Walter Weir took inspiration from Washington Irving to create a prototype of Santa Claus

None

How to Keep the Needles on Your Christmas Tree

Putting up a live Christmas tree can be a lot of work

None

The Stories Behind Forgotten Holiday Treats

Recipes, like songs and poems, are passed down from generation to generation. But some holiday recipes seems to have fallen through the cracks

George Frideric Handel (at age 64 in 1749) produced works, including Messiah that dazzled even the musical titans who would succeed him.

The Glorious History of Handel’s Messiah

A musical rite of the holiday season, the Baroque-era oratorio still awes listeners more than 250 years after the composer’s death

None

The Stories Behind Holiday Songs

This Sunday, at the National Museum of American History, three theatrical performers sang a version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

None

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Making Your Holiday Tree Eco-Friendly

Christmas Laundry

Deck the halls with sheets and folly

Page 10 of 10