Boxing Day has its origins in the Middle Ages and had nothing to do with post-Christmas sales. It is facing further change with the popularity of online shopping.
Drooping mistletoe (Amyema pendula) in flower.
John Tann/Flickr
Australia has nearly 100 mistletoe species and they’re the source of plenty of magic and mystery. We even have a couple with their own home-grown associations with Christmas.
Singers in Lviv, Ukraine, before the traditional Christmas Stars Parade during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023.
Artur Widak/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The story of Martin Luther starting the tradition is a myth; the real story started 350 years later – and presents were popularised by savvy booksellers.
If you picture Santa Claus as plump and jolly and pulled by reindeer, you may have this poem to thank.
Clement Clark Moore/New-York Historical Society
When British colonials came to Australia, they stuck to their winter Christmas traditions of roast meats and plum puddings. But over the centuries, Australians found their own ways to celebrate.
In Australia, between 1930 and 1950, women repeatedly stepped in to play the role of Santa. So the figure in the red suit could be gender neutral today.
An annual tradition or a national embarrassment.
AP Photo/Peter Dejong
The annual Dec. 5 tradition sees performers don blackface and afro wigs. But a growing number of Dutch citizens believe it’s time to wave goodbye to Black Pete.
A modern Christmas Carol.
BBC/Scott Free/FX Networks
Both natural and artificial Christmas trees have environmental impacts, but they’re not major. What matters most is what happens to the trees after the holidays.