Weirdest American Holiday Traditions

Jordana Weiss | December 19, 2018

Black Friday Shopping

Seen by many retailers and shoppers as the official start of the Christmas shopping season, the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, has been a heavy shopping day since the 1950s. However, it’s only in the last few years that it’s begun to be considered its own holiday, with people leaving their homes right after their Thanksgiving meal to wait outside in the cold in order to secure bargains at their local big-box retailers.

Since the late 2000s, the tradition of Black Friday shopping has started to spin out of control, with some retailers opening up as early as midnight on Friday. There aren’t many other countries in the world where people have died trying to secure bargains on TVs and other electronics.

Ake / Getty Images

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

SHARE ON

Cultured Palate: Dishes from Iran

Iranian cuisine uses a myriad of spices, dried and fresh fruits, herbs, and nuts to flavor dishes. These ingredients turn even the simplest meal of rice and stewed meat into a sensory explosion.

Around the World in Holiday Baking

Every December, millions of pounds of butter, sugar, and flour contribute to the creation of spectacular treats for holiday celebrations. Even if you’re not ordinarily a baker, many people venture into the kitchen before the holidays to make sure that they’ve got plenty of treats to offer to family and friends.

The Most Unusual McDonald’s Menu Items from Around the World

If you’re a fast-food connoisseur, chances are you’re already familiar with the McDonald’s menu that’s typical in North America. They bring in new choices fairly frequently. However, most people stick with their usual order of Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, fries, McFlurries, and Apple Pies. It’s familiar food, and the bulk of the menu is essentially…