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Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020

The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. Here is why we...
Full Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner

Best Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Few feasts are so steeped in tradition as Thanksgiving! We’ve updated our Thanksgiving Dinner...
Mistletoe Meaning and Lore | Why We Kiss Beneath It

Why Do We Kiss Under the Mistletoe?

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? Of all the plants used as Christmas decorations, none has as...
Poinsettia is an unlikely Christmas flower.

Poinsettias: Unlikely Christmas Plants

Ruby-red Poinsettias signal Christmastime. But how did this tropical plant become the traditional...
Boxing Day Gift

Boxing Day 2019: What is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26! Why is it called Boxing Day? And what, if anything, does...
Christmas Firsts

Christmas Firsts: The Origins of Christmas Traditions in America

When did the first Christmas card, Christmas tree, and department store Santa Claus appear in...
Christmas Wreath

The Story Behind Your Christmas Wreath

This time of year, there are Christmas wreaths everywhere from doors and fences to lampposts and...
Saint Nicholas

St. Nicholas Day 2019

Was Saint Nicholas a real person? Is he the true Santa Claus and Father Christmas? Find out about...
Snowball Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes for Kids

Want to get the kids involved this holiday season? Try making these easy Christmas cookie recipes ...
Squash Autumn Foods

The Thanksgiving Meal Is Packed With Vitamins

When you think of Thanksgiving, what foods come to mind? Turkey? Sweet potatoes? Cranberries?...
Turkey Hash

Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes

For us, leftovers are one of the best parts of Thanksgiving. Here are quick and easy leftovers...
Thanksgiving Centerpiece

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...
When is Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day 2019

In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November—this year, on...
Cranberry chutney with brie cheese appetizer

Best Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

What do you serve before Thanksgiving dinner? Here are some Thanksgiving appetizer recipe ideas—...
Apple Crumb Pie for Thanksgiving

Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, a traditional pie is a sure bet for us. But which pie? Here...
Veteran With Flag

Veterans Day 2019

Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11. This year, the 11th day of the 11th month is a...
Turkey in Snow

2019 Thanksgiving Forecast: Gobbled Up by Rain and Snow?

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, two things are on the mind: turkey and travel! For the latter,...
Scarecrows

4 Last-Minute Halloween Decorations for Gardeners

Halloween is almost here! You’ve got the candy for trick-or-treaters ready to go. But, as you...
Halloween Pumpkin

Quarter Days and Cross-Quarter Days

Halloween has ancient origins. For the Celts, it was a cross-quarter day called Samhain (“summer’s...
Full Moon on Halloween

Halloween Moon | What's the Moon Phase This Halloween?

Ever noticed that Halloween pictures always show a full Moon? But how often does the full Moon...
Diwali

Diwali 2019: What is Diwali?

Diwali is the Indian “festival of lights,” a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil...
Halloween Scene

Halloween 2019

Halloween always falls on the 31st of October. What is Halloween really about? How did it get...
Halloween Hands Punch

Last-Minute Halloween Dinner

Cook up a Halloween dinner for something fun! Here is an easy Halloween menu with three recipes for...
Halloween Pumpkin Ghosts

Origins of Halloween Traditions

Why does Halloween make us think of trick-or-treating, witches on broomsticks, bobbing for apples,...
Pumpkin Patch

5 Tips for Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

One of many traditions is to pick pumpkins for Halloween! Here are 5 tips on how to pick the...
Apple Heads

5 Traditional Halloween Crafts

Enjoy these fun, traditional Halloween crafts—from apple heads to cornhusk dolls to pumpkin-seed...
November Leaves

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

What’s happening in November 2019? Here at the Almanac, we think of November as the month of food,...
When is Election Day?

When is Election Day 2019?

In the United States, Election Day occurs on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Which states have made...
Islamic New Year Crescent Moon

When Does the Islamic New Year 2020 Begin?

When Does the Islamic New Year 2020—First of Muharram—begin? Here are the dates from The Old Farmer...
when-is-grandparents-day

Grandparents Day 2020

Grandparents Day is always celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Take the time to honor...
Canadian Flag

Canada Day 2020

O Canada! It’s time to celebrate Canada Day! Learn the history behind this national holiday,...
Labor Day Parade

When Is Labor Day 2020?

Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, 2020. Unlike many holidays, Labor Day doesn’t have many...
Cornhusk Doll

Seasonal Crafts: Cornhusk Doll

In the Colonial Era, people painted faces on cornhusk dolls and made them into toys. Here’s how to...
When is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah 2019

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

4 Ways Canadian Thanksgiving Differs From American Thanksgiving

In America, Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays of the year. But did you know that Canada...
Father's Day History

The History of Father's Day

Though Father’s Day wasn’t made a national holiday until 1972, the efforts of one woman in...
Dad at Beach

Father's Day on a Full Moon: Ideas to Celebrate Dad!

Looking for a fun way to spend your Father’s Day 2019? With the full Moon shining, enjoy camping,...
Memorial Day Sunset

2019 Memorial Day Forecast: Is an Umbrella in Order?

Before stocking up on supplies for the long weekend, take a gander at The Old Farmer’s Almanac...
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,...
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....
Jewish Art

Yom Kippur 2019

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

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