There are certain people who figure prominently in the development of Christmas traditions. What would Christmas be like without Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” Thomas Nast’s depiction of Santa, or Clement Moore’s immortal […]
For all of the gift-giving, decorations, holiday music, delicious food, and festive traditions, there is no escaping the fact that the central element of Christmas is the recognition of the birth of […]
One of the most recognized people in the world is that jolly, old elf, Santa Claus. Everything about him — his beard, hat, coat, belly, and even his distinctive laugh — immediately […]
Are you still planning your Christmas menu? Looking for some special dish that will make your table stand out? Do you want to make sure your family and friends have a holiday […]
The Ideas Department of Commonplace Fun Facts suggested a series of stories during the month of December about Christmas traditions around the world. “Great,” replied the Research Department. “We’ll find some charming, […]
Does the Christmas tree have meaning beyond its decorative purpose? When setting up the tree, are you participating in the further secularization of a sacred day, or is there an element of […]
UPDATE — June 30, 2022 — This story has been moved to the “Debunked Legends” category, thanks to the intrepid research of Mitologia.pt. It’s still a wonderful story. What a shame that […]
Many people have difficulty remembering to stay on Santa’s “Nice” list throughout the year, but remembering his address is much simpler.
Although Christmas is generally considered the most joyous of holidays, it does generate its share of stress. The pressure of Christmas shopping, meal planning, and holiday travel can cause anxiety for even […]
Christmas. The very word brings to mind countless images, such as the birth of Christ, religious traditions, family gatherings, gift exchanges, Christmas carols, tasty morsels, and poop. Wait… was that last word […]
What do you do when you want to send holiday greetings to your friends, but you have too many acquaintances to permit a personal touch? Why not start a holiday tradition, instead? […]
The Denny’s restaurant chain is famous for always being open. Established in 1953, the franchise now includes 1,700 locations in 15 countries. Since 1956, the restaurant is known for being open 24 […]
Type the words “worst Christmas song ever” into any search engine, and you are guaranteed to see “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney. Some critics have even gone so far as to label […]
The red phone rang repeatedly. It was The Phone — the phone designated for calls that went well beyond the classification of “urgent.” This phone was used to signal the end of […]
December 25 generally puts people in the Christmas spirit (unless you live in Russia or Ukraine). It is a day of praying for and enjoying peace on earth and good will toward […]
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