During the holiday season, we hear Merry Christmas countless times. How did we settle on this Christmas greeting? It’s not clear, but in the United States, the word merry is almost exclusively used in the Christmas season. Merry in this phrase means “festive or characterized by rejoicing.” One of the earliest known uses of Merry Christmas is in a December 22, 1534, record of a …
Depending on where you live, Christmas comes at a time of year that is cold, dark, and not very pleasant. What makes it all bearable, though, is that you can get together with friends and family to share meals, exchange gifts, and just hang out. But, what happens when the conversation starts to run dry? Don’t fret, we put together a list of some of …
It’s that time of year again. No, we aren’t just talking about the holidays. We mean that it’s officially Hallmark holiday movie season. Each year, there’s a new lineup of cozy, festive holiday romance movies to watch while you’re sipping hot cocoa or wrapping gifts. If you’re a fan of these movies, chances are you’ve noticed that they stick to several common romance tropes, like …
What’s one of the best parts of the holiday season? Watching and re-watching classic holiday films, old and new! It’s an essential ingredient to indulging in the comfy, cozy vibes of this festive time. You may have seen some of these movies more than once, but how well do you really know them? Take our quiz to find out!
The Christmas season has arrived, and the signs of it are everywhere. Outside, it’s getting colder, stores are filling with people shopping for gifts, and pretty lights strung around trees and rooftops make the whole world seem magical. The holiday cheer might even spread to your phone. Thanks to emoji, there’s a way to send your nearest and dearest a little bit of the holiday …
There are few figures as recognizable as Santa Claus. His red-cheeked and cheery visage is seen on TV, on posters, and at malls across the United States in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Though his name and image are just about everywhere, do you know why Santa Claus is called by that name—or Saint Nick, Saint Nicholas, Santa, or any of the other similar monikers? …
Love them or hate them, during the holiday season certain songs are unavoidable. You hear them on the radio, while out shopping for presents, and all over town. You’ve probably heard these songs so many times that you think you know their lyrics by heart… but do you? Holiday songs have some unusual vocabulary that we don’t often use in everyday life. This can lead …
Christmas is that special time of year that brings us joy—and at least a month and a half worth of hummable, merry carols to us all. Yes, Christmas is a magical time of good cheer, indeed! We’ve got mistletoe (for sneaking kisses), ugly-sweater competitions, and of course, the timeless traditions of decorating a tree, hanging up lights, and reminding kids to be nice so that Santa …
You know the song. It may start by wishing everyone a merry Christmas, but then the demand starts. “Oh, bring us some figgy pudding…” with its petulant refrain, “We won’t go until we get some.” But do you actually know what figgy pudding is? And why do we sing about it, anyway? While figgy means “containing figs,” and pudding is defined as “a thick, soft …
Kids’ letters to Santa Claus are one of the most magical parts of the season. They help Old Saint Nick decide just what to deliver, and they give his helper elves on the streets the insight they need to make Christmas wishes come true. The tradition of writing letters to Santa dates back to the 1800s. Originally, it was Santa who wrote letters to the …
