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Britannica Explains

Maybe the mystery is part of the magic.

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Why is Christmas on December 25?

Happy Holidays

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree: Why do we deck thy branches?
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree: Why do we deck thy branches?
What is the history of Hanukkah?
What is the history of Hanukkah?
What's the difference between Yule and Christmas?
What's the difference between Yule and Christmas?
What is the meaning of Kwanzaa?
What is the meaning of Kwanzaa?
Discover what Times Square, red envelopes, and 12 grapes all have in common
Discover what Times Square, red envelopes, and 12 grapes all have in common
The video thumbnail image shows a collage of Queen Elizabeth I holding up a gingerbread man, surrounded by ginger cake, a gingerbread pig, gingerbread house, and heart-shaped gingerbread cookies.
How gingerbread became a Christmas treat

2024 In Review

How are sports chosen for the Olympics?
How are sports chosen for the Olympics?
Why do some cicadas appear every 17 years?
Why do some cicadas appear every 17 years?
The video thumbnail image shows the existing Maine state flag, a blue background with the state seal, potentially being replaced by a new design, a tan background with a star and pine tree.
How to design a new state flag
How to become a saint: Canonization explained
How to become a saint: Canonization explained
Jimmy Carter: Peanut farmer, Peace Prize winner, and president
Jimmy Carter: Peanut farmer, Peace Prize winner, and president
The video thumbnail shows a layered photo collage of HBCU alumni and current students.
HBCUs: Then and now

New on Britannica

The video thumbnail image shows a collage of Queen Elizabeth I holding up a gingerbread man, surrounded by ginger cake, a gingerbread pig, gingerbread house, and heart-shaped gingerbread cookies.
How gingerbread became a Christmas treat
The video thumbnail image shows a black and white bridge over blue water. Blue arrows show that the flow of the water was switched from one direction to the other.
Why the Chicago River was reversed
The video thumbnail image shows the silhouette of a colonial man riding a horse in the early morning.
What really happened on Paul Revere's midnight ride?
The video thumbnail image shows a black and white image of Robert Frost against a sepia-toned background.
Robert Frost: Most famous poet in America? 
The video thumbnail image shows a scene of illustrated trees overlaid with a black-and-white photo of Robert Frost in profile,
Reading and interpretation: “The Onset” by Robert Frost
The video thumbnail image shows a frame of binoculars focused on a Komodo dragon in the wild.
How the Komodo dragon got its name
The video thumbnail image includes a 17th century artwork showing men fighting at a gambling table, surrounded by a Christmas garland and overlaid on a photograph of a snowy forest.
When Christmas became illegal
The video thumbnail image shows a snow-capped mountain against a blue sky.
How to measure a mountain
The video thumbnail image shows four ten dollar bills with arrows pointing to an image of a family with one member in a wheelchair and an image of an elderly woman.
How do social security benefits work?
The video thumbnail shows a small squirrel peeking out of a snowy bank, with a blue circle surrounding it.
Why do these animals hibernate?
A split image showing two women from behind near a lake labeled "1969," and two women smiling and embracing labeled "2024," connected by an arrow.
How to preserve LGBTQ+ history in the face of hate
The vidoe thumbnail image shows a two-sided bridge lifting and separating at the center. A blue circle highlights the open section.
How these lifting bridges actually work

Original Series

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Britannica Explains
Whatever your question, Britannica has the answer.
Demystified series logo for video portal.
Demystified
Science, art, history, and culture—demystified.
Britannica Money video portal logo.
B-Money Smart
Want to become a smarter investor, saver, and spender? Britannica Money breaks down the complex world of finance.
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Behind the Zodiac
What’s really written in the stars?
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Britannica Classics
Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
A lilac British cat looking up. The cat opened his mouth with a mad look. The concept of an animal that is surprised or amazed.
#WTFact Videos
In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.
Time running, deadline, life time or business milestone concept, closed up vintage pocket watch or clock on book in vintage tone
This Time in History
In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.

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