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Outdoor Christmas Tree

Keeping Your Christmas Tree Fresh

While most of us think about Christmas trees only in December, for growers of cut-your-own trees,...
Gourds and Squash at Thanksgiving

Unusual Squash and Gourds for the Thanksgiving Displays

Colorful squash and gourds are signs of Thanksgiving to me—harking back to the Pilgrims—and the...
care-for-christmas-poinsettia

History of the Poinsettia

Where does the poinsettia come from? Where was this traditional Christmas plant discovered? Are...
Eagle Pumpkin

How to Carve a Pumpkin

When it comes to pumpkin carving, the idea is to have fun. We’ve got tips on carving the best...
What Day is Mother's Day

When is Mother's Day 2019 | 10 Ways to Celebrate

How do you celebrate Mom? This year, our Almanac staff has added funny stories and happy memories...
Natural Easter Eggs

When is Easter 2019? | How the Easter Date is Determined

Why do we celebrate Easter? And why is Easter so late this year? We’ll explain—plus, find out how...
Bunny Rabbit at Easter

Why Baby Animals are Born in Spring

Why  are baby farm animals typically born in the spring? Enjoy our seasonal weather post—and, of...
Spring Moon

Easter and the Paschal Full Moon

A “Pink Easter Moon” will rise the morning of Good Friday! Did you know that the date of Easter—...
Passover

When Is the Start of Passover 2019?

Passover 2019 begins at sundown on Friday, April 19. See more information on Passover dates,...
May Day Maypole

May Day 2019: What is May Day?

Celebrate May Day 2019! This article describes the traditions of May Day and how the May 1st...
Hummingbird at Impatiens

The Month of May 2019: Holidays, Fun Facts, Folklore

Celebrate the gorgeous month of May! The Sun is warming, the birds are chirping, the flowers are...
Easter Bunny with Eggs

The Surprising Origins of Easter Symbols: From Lambs to Lilies

From lilies to lambs, there are many beautiful Easter symbols that have significance to us. But do...
Easter Eggs & Daffodils

2019 Easter Weekend Forecast: In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

Easter is among the first of the year’s holidays, when families gather outside for picnics,...
Lilac

The Month of April 2019: Holidays, Fun Facts, Folklore

April 2019 is the first full month of spring! We hope that your sky is bright and clear and your...
Happy Earth Day

Earth Day 2019

On Earth Day 2019, enjoy the lovely smell of fresh air, contact with the soil, and companionship...
Irish Stew

Best St. Patrick's Day Recipes

A selection of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes—including soda bread, corned beef and cabbage...
Christmas Ornament

Christmas Day 2019

What is the real meaning of Christmas? Enjoy our Everything Christmas page with Christmas dates,...
when-is-kwanzaa

When is Kwanzaa 2019?

When does Kwanzaa begin in 2019? See our chart—and learn about the origins and history of Kwanzaa....
When is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah 2019

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the year in the traditional Jewish calendar. Find out Rosh...
Chanukah

Hanukkah 2019

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival celebrated in November or December each year. See when...
Valentine Cupids

Valentine's Day 2020

How exactly did Valentine’s Day get started? Here’s the short history. (It starts out rather dark...
New Year Celebrations

New Year's Day 2020

New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1, marking the start of the year in the Gregorian calendar...
saint-nicholas

St. Nicholas Day 2019

Was Saint Nicholas a real person? Actually, he was! Find out about the history of St. Nicholas (and...
Jewish Art

Yom Kippur 2019

When is Yom Kippur 2019? Learn about the meaning behind Yom Kippur, as well as the traditions...
Boxing Day Gift

Boxing Day 2019: What is Boxing Day?

What is Boxing Day? Why is it called Boxing Day? And what, if anything, does boxing have to do with...
Groundhog Day: Will the Groundhog See His Shadow?

Groundhog Day 2020

Groundhog Day comes from our agricultural past and marks the halfway point to the spring equinox....
when-is-ramadan

When is the Start of Ramadan 2019?

When does Ramadan 2019 begin? See Ramadan dates—and learn more about how Ramadan is observed. What...
Martin Luther King Jr.

When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. Here is why we...
Mount Rushmore

Presidents' Day 2020

When is Presidents’ Day 2020? Are Presidents’ Day and George Washington’s birthday the same day?...
When is Mardi Gras?

When is Mardi Gras 2019?

When is Mardi Gras 2019? Why is this day—also called Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday—celebrated? Read...
Diwali

Diwali 2019: What is Diwali?

Diwali is an annual holiday celebrated in India, Singapore, and several other countries in South...
daylight-saving-time-clock

Daylight Saving Time 2019: When Does the Time Change?

When does Daylight Saving Time 2019 begin and end? Find dates here—as well as the history of...
Shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day 2019

Who was St. Patrick? Why are shamrocks a symbol of this day? Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day history,...
Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, the Almanac, and a Murder Trial

Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12 in 1809, pursued a legal career before turning to a political...
Courtly Love

Was Valentine's Day Once Warmer?

When Valentine’s Day (on February 14) became popular in the Middle Ages, the climate was warmer...
MLK Jr. with JFK in 1963

9 Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this Monday, January 21! Celebrate this revolutionary civil rights...
29 Leap Year Fence

When is the Next Leap Year?

When is the next Leap Year? Find out when the next Leap Day will be and how to calculate Leap Years...
Cats and Holiday Plants

Holiday Plants That Are Harmful to Cats and Dogs

We have two new kittens at our house—Fred and Ginger—and they seem to be doubly curious about...
Fireworks

New Year's Traditions From Around the World

Many New Year’s traditions that we take for granted actually date back to ancient times. This year...
Classic Deviled Eggs

Christmas Appetizer Recipes

Ho, ho, ho! Here are 12 of our favorite Christmas appetizer recipes. Whether it’s classic deviled...
Hoppin' John With Rice and Pork

Hoppin’ John: Good Luck Food at New Year

Welcome in the New Year with Hoppin’ John, a traditional New Year’s Day dish, and luck will follow...
Christmas Traditions Trees

Christmas Facts and Trivia

Why is Christmas Day on December 25? Where did the phrase “Jiminy Christmas” come from? What about...

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