The most wonderful time of the year is here! Christmas represents many things to many people: spiritually, culturally, and socially. But the one place where most of us unite is how Christmas makes us feel. How did Christmas become such a happy occasion? And where did our most beloved holiday traditions originate? Some stretch back centuries, and others are much more recent. The simplest explanation for the whole phenomenon is that special feeling—an innocent sense of wonder that has been known to overcome even the most cynical.
LET’S START DREAMING OF CHRISTMAS • The most wonderful time of the year is here, and it’s filled with treats and traditions unlike any other
1 DECORATIONS • The ways we deck our halls—and houses—come from traditions that span the world
2 MUSIC • Nothing lifts the spirits like a good Christmas song—but the stories behind some of the classics may surprise you
3 FOOD & DRINK • Different families celebrate with different meals, but there are a few holiday staples everyone can (mostly) agree on—or at least are curious to try
4 TELEVISION CLASSICS • From one-off special events to holiday-themed episodes, must-see TV has become a popular—and lucrative—Christmastime tradition
5 HO, HO, HO… IT’S SANTA! • Is he real? Evidence truly does exist—you just have to believe
6 THE MOST CHRISTMASSY CHRISTMAS MOVIES • Nothing makes the spirit bright quite like a good Christmas story
7 GOTTA HAVE IT! • “What do you want for Christmas?” Sometimes the answer for kids is unanimous—resulting in historic shopping frenzies
8 IT’S WONDERFUL… DON’T JUDGE! • Who says all Christmas traditions have to be classy?
Christmas Traditions
PHOTO CREDITS
