With the often brutal winter winds and giant things filled with helium, it’s a wonder there aren’t more balloon mishaps at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here are a few notable fiascos from parades past. When the parade began in the 1920s, the used-up balloons were released into the sky, where they would eventually pop, […]
It’s November and the holidays are among us. But with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Hanukah, and more arriving faster than we ever expect, there are some more observations and celebrations that are also fighting for your attention. November 2: Plan Your Epitaph Day Plan Your Epitaph Day was the creation of Lance Hardie, author of […]
Today marks the approximate date in 1492 that Christopher Columbus…discovered America? Not exactly. Here’s a rundown on a bunch of the misconceptions that have persisted regarding Columbus’s landmark voyage that started out as a way to find a faster trade route to Asia.
It’s the month of Columbus Day, Halloween…and National Kale Day. Oct. 5: National Kale Day The holiday was created in 2012 by a kale promoting organization to promote this leafy superfood, which is one of the best plant-based sources of iron, among other vitamins and nutrients. It’s only recently become a dietary staple; throughout the […]
Sure, Labor Day is great—it celebrates the workin’ folks and a lot of us get the day off. But what other holidays does September offer? Plenty…if you consider these observances to be “holidays” Sept. 1: Emma M. Nutt Day It’s a celebration of an important woman with a fantastic name. Nutt was the first female […]
Myth: August is the only month without any major holidays in it. Truth: August has plenty of holidays in it…although none we’d call “major.” Here are a bunch of silly observances to look forward to in the comic weeks. August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day Summer has been going on so long that for […]
The Fourth of July is over, but you don’t have to put away the party hats and fireworks just yet. Here are some of the strangest “holidays” still to come this month.
May day! May day! We’ve got lots of May days! May 4: National Candied Orange Peel Day There’s truly a “holiday” for everything if there’s a day recognizing candied orange peel. These boiled, sliced, and sugared bits of citrus are most commonly found in fruitcake and other winter desserts, so it’s a little perplexing why […]
April Fool’s isn’t the only bizarre holiday in April! All of these weird observances are real. (Really.)
Just in case you don’t have enough fun on St. Patrick’s Day, there are these. March 1: National Pig Day Myth: Pigs are dirty animals. They roll around in the mud only to cool off, but they generally keep clean. Pigs only a few weeks old have already learned to go to the bathroom as […]
This year, we resolve to observe more of those ridiculous, made-up “holidays,” such as…TRIVIA DAY!
Why head to Times Square when you could attend one of these more unique gatherings instead?
Unlike Santa Claus, who (legend has it) lives at the North Pole, works alongside reindeer and elves and tends to be pretty jolly, the Saint Nicholas who delivers gifts to Austria and a few other European countries employs a much nastier seasonal helper.
Here’s a trio of recent Christmas stories that will help you get into the spirit of the season.
In much of the Western world, Santa “brings” presents to children on Christmas. What about Jewish kids? No such fanciful legend—parents give gifts during Hanukkah. Enough was enough, thought the writers of Saturday Night Live in the ‘80s. Hanukkah Harry first appeared on SNL in 1989. In one of the episode’s sketches, Santa Claus (Phil […]
This Christmas tradition is only about a decade old. In 2004, inspiration struck for Carol Aebersold and her daughter, Chanda Bell. For years, their family had enjoyed a Christmas tradition that involved placing a toy elf named Frisbee on a shelf to keep an eye on their kids during the holidays. Kids were told the […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Here are some odd holidays happening in the month of December.
Did you see lots of colorful skull cookies and people running around in skeleton makeup yesterday? That’s because it was the Day of the Dead.
