Dr. Seuss said it best: “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?” Even though we can all agree the holiday season is about more than material things, bringing a little magic into a child’s life is a wonderful way to celebrate.

We have challenged each community to host a holiday toy drive from November 24 through December 8 for an organization in their area, helping make a difference in a child’s life this holiday season.

Where did they begin?

There’s a reason the holiday season is considered the most wonderful time of the year: It’s one of the few occasions when we press pause on the hustle and bustle of the always-on world we live in, gather with friends and family, and take part in time-honored traditions.

It’s the heart-warming Holiday traditions that we cherish and repeat year after year that make the festive period so special, but did you know that putting up your Christmas tree, giving and receiving holiday cards, your most traditional holiday décor ideas – along with our other favorite customs stem back many years…

Christmas Trees – Decorated trees date back to the Middle Ages in Germany, with German and other European settlers popularizing them in America by the early 19th century. A New York woodsman named Mark Carr is credited with opening the first U.S. Christmas tree lot in 1851.

Gingerbread Houses – Although Queen Elizabeth I gets credit for early gingerbread cookie decorating, once again, it’s the Germans who lay claim to starting the gingerbread house tradition. And when the German Brothers Grimm wrote “Hansel and Gretel,” a new holiday tradition was born. Today, edible decorations are available in a slew of pre-packed kits.

Cookies and Milk for Santa – While leaving treats for Santa and his reindeer dates back to ancient Norse mythology, Americans began to sweeten the tradition during the Great Depression in the 1930s as a sign of gratitude during a time of struggle.

Christmas Cards – The first official Christmas card debuted in 1843 in England with the simple message, “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” The idea of a mailed winter holiday greeting gradually caught on in both Britain and the U.S., with the Kansas City-based Hall Brothers (now Hallmark) creating a folded card sold with an envelope in 1915. Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, more than 1.6 billion holiday cards are sold annually.

The best Christmas traditions are the personal ones that are meaningful to you and your family, whether as simple as a nostalgic drive around your local neighborhood to view the houses all decked out in twinkle lights or as simple as counting down the days with Advent calendars. Whatever your traditions, they can never fail to bring charm to the holidays.

It’s almost time to celebrate the coming of a new year and new beginnings. From bumping New Year’s Eve songs to ring in 2026 to watching the famous ball drop, many of the activities we do right before the clock strikes midnight each year are longstanding traditions. New Year’s superstition and folklore have come from around the world and spanned decades. That’s right, there’s more meaning behind a kiss timed to midnight than you might guess (choose your partner wisely), and blowing horns and setting off fireworks is actually for more than just a cute social media photo. 

But even if you’re feeling auspicious, no matter what you do on New Year’s Eve, know that lots of cultures agree that how you spend New Year’s Day will set the precedent for how your year will go. Here’s to 2026! 

Get a Midnight Kiss – It may seem like kissing someone at midnight is a way to show your excitement for the new year. But actually, it’s thought that if you kiss someone you love at midnight, those sentiments will last for the next 12 months. 

Don’t Clean the House – I can really get behind this superstition. If you’re concerned about “sweeping” or “washing” away any luck coming your way, don’t do any cleaning—including dishes and laundry. 

Fill Up on Collard Greens and Black-Eyed Peas – If you want to stick with Southern tradition, eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day will supposedly bring good luck and prosperity, respectively, in the months ahead. Whip up our Braised Greens and Black-Eyed Peas Salad and see what happens! 

Make Some Noise – You may love buying noisemakers and fireworks to set off at midnight, but did you know the tradition originated in a superstition that making loud noise at midnight would scare away evil spirits and omens?