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Fact ChecksHolidays
By their very nature, holidays are steeped in tradition, folklore, and mythology. Here we present some of the more common legends and superstitions associated with our special days.

Should a U.S. Flag Be Burned Once It Has Touched the Ground?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Jun 13, 2004 A misunderstanding of flag protocol has led to the mistaken belief that a U.S. flag should be de ...
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The Origins of April Fools' Day

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson
Mar 21, 2000 How the custom of pranking on April 1 came about remains shrouded in mystery.
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Was Valentine's Day Invented by Greeting Card Companies?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Feb 14, 2022 It's a pithy line for the lovelorn and screenwriters to say, but is it true?
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groundhog day, punxsutawney phil

How Old Is Punxsutawney Phil?

Written by:
Dan Evon
Feb 2, 2022 According to legend, the world's most famous groundhog has been predicting the weather since 1886.
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Do Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas in January?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Jan 6, 2023 While many people are winding down from Christmas, others are just getting started.
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Does Falling New Year's Eve Confetti in Times Square Carry People’s Hopes and Dreams?

Written by:
Nur Ibrahim
Dec 26, 2022 Now now, don't be cynical.
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Was the 'Star of Bethlehem' Shining for the First Time Since 1226?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Dec 19, 2022 A holiday copypasta story in late 2022 may have some readers looking up for a star that won't be ...
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Some snow globes are toxic and deadly to dogs and cats and other pets due to the antifreeze chemical ethylene glycol.

Do Snow Globes Contain the Antifreeze Chemical Ethylene Glycol, Which Is Dangerous to Pets and Kids?

Written by:
Jordan Liles
Dec 9, 2022 A Facebook post about the tragic deaths of two dogs led to questions from readers about the dang ...
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Yes, a Massive Barney Balloon Exploded at the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Nov 25, 2022 The 1997 parade went down in history for its inflated float mishaps.
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The day after Thanksgiving is known as the busiest day of the year for plumbers, who refer to Black Friday as Brown Friday.

Is a Plumber's Busiest Day the Friday After Thanksgiving?

Written by:
Jordan Liles
Nov 25, 2022 "It might be a good idea to invite a plumber to the Thanksgiving feast and let him have a drumst ...
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Crowd of people trying to get into a store

Is Black Friday the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year?

Written by:
Snopes Staff
Nov 27, 2003 The day after Thanksgiving in the United States is the unofficial kickoff of the holiday gift sh ...
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Did President G.W. Bush pose with plastic Thanksgiving turkey while visiting troops in Baghdad?

Did President Bush Pose with a Plastic Turkey?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Dec 4, 2013 A photo taken while Bush visited U.S. troops in Iraq on Thanksgiving in 2003 was mistaken for a ...
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Did Obama want executive order to change name of Thanksgiving Day to Celebrate Immigrants Day?

No, Obama Didn't Float Plan To Change Thanksgiving Day to 'Celebrate Immigrants Day'

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Mar 6, 2015 Contrary to rumor, then-President Obama did not advocate issuing an executive order to rename th ...
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Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for cooking fires in the US due to people cooking turkey dinners.

Is Thanksgiving the Peak Day for Cooking Fires in the US?

Written by:
Jordan Liles
Nov 4, 2022 It's true. In the past, Thanksgiving Day had more than three times as many fires when compared t ...
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Christmas cards origin

The Origin Story of Christmas Cards

Written by:
David Mikkelson Barbara Mikkelson
Nov 22, 1999 The first formal card was designed by an Englishman in 1843.
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A woman seduces her husband at Halloween party, then finds out he switched costumes with someone else.

Legend: Wife Seduces Husband at Halloween Party — but He Switched Costumes?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Aug 4, 1999 This story has circulated in various forms since at least the 1960s.
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Is Halloween the second-biggest U.S. holiday in terms of retail sales?

Is Halloween the Second-Biggest US Holiday For Consumer Spending?

Written by:
David Mikkelson Jessica Lee
Oct 29, 2006 Between costumes for pets and candy for trick-or-treaters, the cost of the annual holiday can ad ...
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Was Anonymous Letter Decrying 'Harmful Impact' of Christmas Lights Sent to Minnesota Resident?

Written by:
Madison Dapcevich
Dec 10, 2020 An identical letter was reportedly sent to several neighbors in the same area.
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Man holding credit card in front of laptop computer

Cyber Monday

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Nov 25, 2007 Is the Monday after Thanksgiving the busiest online shopping day of the year?
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Holiday Mail for Heroes

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Nov 5, 2007 Can Americans send holiday cards to service members and veterans through a Red Cross-sponsored p ...
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