Festivals & Celebrations

Seasonal traditions from around the world. Discover the curious origins of feast days, firelit gatherings and annual rituals, and why communities keep returning to the celebrations that mark the turning year.

Why Did Americans Believe Benjamin Franklin Wanted a Turkey as Their National Bird?

Did Benjamin Franklin want a turkey as America’s national bird? Discover what his famous letter actually said, and how a joke became a historical myth.

5 minutes · WELL SUPPORTED

Why Did Halloween Fortune-Telling Involve Three Bowls of Water?

Three bowls, a blindfold and a marriage prediction: discover the Scottish Halloween custom recorded by Robert Burns, and what its rules actually promised.

4 min read · WELL SUPPORTED — the custom is documented; its exact origins are uncertain

Why Did People Look into Mirrors at Midnight on Halloween?

Why did people gaze into mirrors at midnight on Halloween? Discover the candlelit marriage charms, apple rituals and frightening warnings behind the custom.

4 min read · WELL SUPPORTED — recorded custom; earliest origins uncertain

Why Is Halloween Called Halloween?

Why is Halloween called Halloween? Discover what “hallows” meant, how All Hallows’ Eve became Halloween, and why saints and souls share its calendar.

4 min read · WELL SUPPORTED — name documented; wider festival origins complex

Why Do We Bob for Apples at Halloween—and What Did It Have to Do With Marriage?

Why do we bob for apples at Halloween? Discover the marriage predictions, mirror charms and party games behind a tradition with an uncertain ancient origin.

4 min read · WELL SUPPORTED — Halloween marriage divination documented; exact origin of apple bobbing uncertain

Why Are Witches Associated With Halloween?

Why are witches associated with Halloween? Trace the broomsticks, seasonal fortune-telling and old beliefs behind a surprisingly modern Halloween character.

4 min read · WELL SUPPORTED — later association documented; no single origin established

Why Do We Carve Pumpkins at Halloween—and Why Were They Originally Turnips?

Why do we carve pumpkins at Halloween? Discover the older turnip lantern tradition, the legend of Stingy Jack and what the historical evidence actually supports.

4 min read · WELL SUPPORTED — turnip lanterns documented; exact beginnings uncertain

Why Do We Dress Up in Costumes at Halloween?

Why do we wear Halloween costumes? Explore guising, ghost stories and festive disguises—and what we can actually prove about their ancient origins.

4 min read · WELL SUPPORTED — later costume traditions documented; ancient origin uncertain

Why Do Children Leave Shoes Out for St Nicholas?

Why do children in parts of Europe leave shoes out for St Nicholas? Trace a centuries-old tradition from Sinterklaas and secret gifts to the familiar Christmas stocking.

6 min read · WELL DOCUMENTED — direct origin from the gold legend unproven

Why Did the Irish Hide Rings and Rags in Halloween Cakes?

Why were rings and rags hidden in Irish Halloween cakes? Explore barmbrack fortune-telling, promises of marriage and poverty, and what the records reveal.

5 minutes · WELL SUPPORTED — the fortune-telling custom is documented; its beginnings and the meanings of individual charms varied.

Why Did People Give Out Soul Cakes to Help the Dead?

Why did people give out soul cakes? Discover the autumn custom of exchanging food for prayers for the dead, and its possible links to trick-or-treating.

4 minutes · WELL SUPPORTED

Why Did the Woman Behind ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ Campaign for Thanksgiving?

Why did Sarah Josepha Hale campaign for Thanksgiving? Discover how a magazine editor’s persistent appeals helped turn an existing custom into a national fixture.

5 minutes · WELL SUPPORTED