Christmas Guides & Stories
Christmas is older and stranger than the version we inherited. These are researched guides to where its traditions actually came from — what the evidence supports, what it does not, and what nobody knows.
Santa Claus Around the World: Who Brings the Gifts in Different Countries?
Santa doesn't simply change his name at the border. Around the world, saints, kings, folk figures and mysterious Christmas visitors bring the presents—and they don't all arrive on the same night.
Best Christmas Markets in Europe: 17 Festive Trips Worth Taking in 2026
From centuries-old Advent traditions to huge Christmas spectacles, these 17 European markets offer very different trips. Here’s how to find the one that fits yours.
Christmas Gifts for Mom: Thoughtful Ideas—and How to Find the Right One
Search for ideas and you will find endless things printed with the word Mom. A better place to start is with her — what she enjoys, what she uses, and what she has wanted but would not buy for herself.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas: 12 Thoughtful Gifts That Start With a Clue
Don't start with the product. Start with the clue. Twelve gifts chosen from twelve different things you might already know about the person whose name you drew.
Christmas Dinner Ideas
Christmas dinner has a way of growing before anyone has cooked a thing. A memorable one does not need the most dishes. It needs a menu that works.
The History of Christmas
Christmas did not arrive fully formed. The holiday took shape over many centuries, as a Christian feast absorbed, resisted and reinvented the customs around it.
The History of Santa Claus
Santa Claus did not spring fully formed from a single story, tradition or advertising campaign. His journey from a mysterious late-antique bishop to the red-suited visitor of Christmas Eve took more than 1,500 years.