Christmas
Asheville's Biltmore Estate Will Reopen for the Holidays After Sustaining Damage From Hurricane Helene
The sprawling estate, which is the largest privately owned home in the country, will open its doors in November after a month-long closure
All Is Bright With These 15 Cheery Christmas Photos
Celebrate the holiday season with festive shots from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
103-Year-Old Artificial Christmas Tree Sells for Over $4,000
The tree was originally purchased for 8-year-old Dorothy Grant in 1920
Meet a Dozen Lesser-Known Christmas Characters, From Mr. Jingeling to Uncle Mistletoe
Created as department store marketing tools, many of these seasonal figures became beloved holiday traditions
'Home Alone,' 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and More Join the National Film Registry
Twenty-five films were chosen based on their "cultural, historic or aesthetic" importance
You Can Spend the Night in Santa Claus' Cabin—and Help Sort His Mail
Airbnb is offering one family a chance to spend three festive nights in Rovaniemi, Finland
David Hockney Illuminates London's Battersea Power Station With Digital Christmas Trees
The celebrated 86-year-old designed the large-scale holiday displays using his iPad
The Uniquely American History of Eggnog, Everyone's Favorite—or Least Favorite—Holiday Quaff
This Yuletide mainstay continues to warm cockles and ventricles everywhere
'Nightmare Before Christmas' Pumpkin Mosaic Sets World Record
The Jack Skellington-inspired display is made from more than 10,000 gourds across 2,081 square feet
A Brief History of the Letter 'X,' From Algebra to X-Mas to Elon Musk
A math historian explores how "x" came to stand in for an unknown quantity
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
Iceland's Christmas Book Flood Is a Force of Nature
The nation’s seasonal publishing and gifting tradition nourishes its unique literary culture
You Can Now Buy Ralphie Parker's House From 'A Christmas Story'
For years, fans of the 1983 classic movie have been flocking to the home and museum in Cleveland
'Do You Hear What I Hear?' Conjures Images of Peace Everywhere—and Nuclear Annihilation
Composed at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the classic Christmas song contains another message—one of unity
When Humane Societies Threw Christmas Parties for Horses
Held across the U.S. in the early 20th century, the events sought to raise awareness for poor living conditions and offer the animals a holiday respite
What 'It's a Wonderful Life' Teaches Us About American History
The Christmas classic, released 75 years ago, conveys many messages beyond having faith in one another
Irma Thomas' Rendition of 'O Holy Night' Is a Marvel From Beginning to End
Soulful Christmas music is an obsession for Bill Adler, so he interviewed the singer of one of his favorite songs
The Little-Known Recording of Louis Armstrong Reciting 'The Night Before Christmas'
Shortly before he died, the jazz legend offered his own rendition of the classic holiday poem
You Can Eat Your Christmas Tree. Here's How to Do It
Turn your once-ornamented tree into something scrumptious
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