Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, on December 29, 2024. The former American leader, who turned 100 on October 1, 2024, was the longest-living president in US history. Mr. Carter will be laid to rest at the family's residence on January 9, 2025. He will be buried alongside his wife, Rosalynn, who died in 2023 at age 96. In his honor, President Joe Biden has declared January 9 a federal holiday....

For many in the United States, Christmas is a time for baking and decorating cookies, finding the perfect gifts for loved ones, and rewatching beloved classics like Elf and Home Alone. However, Christmas traditions vary greatly from country to country. Here are some unique and fascinating holiday customs from around the world....

For Taylor Swift fans, December 13, which falls on a Friday this year, will be a day of celebration. It is, after all, their beloved singer's 34th birthday. But for the millions who suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia — the fear of Friday the 13th — it will be the unluckiest day of the year. The origins of this superstition remain unclear. However, experts have some theories....

Hanukkah, one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays, is a joyous eight-day winter festival. It begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. This usually falls between late November and late December. In 2024, Hanukkah celebrations will start at sundown on December 25, coinciding with Christmas Day, and conclude on January 2, 2025. This overlap of the two holidays last occurred in 2005 and will not happen again until 2035....

In January 2019, Adam Staples and his friends traveled to Chew Valley in Somerset, England, to test a new metal detector. While exploring a farmer's field, the device found a trove of silver coins buried in the soil. Staples, an auctioneer specializing in ancient coins, immediately knew they had found something extraordinary....

Thanksgiving, celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November, is one of the most anticipated holidays in the United States. The tradition dates back to a harvest feast shared by early European settlers and Native Americans in 1621. The holiday, which will be observed on November 28 this year, is centered around delicious food and various fun traditions. Here is a brief history of how some of these customs began....

About two years ago, Damien Boschetto was walking his dog in a forest near Cruzy in southern France when he noticed a large bone poking out from an eroded cliff. Suspecting it might belong to a dinosaur, the amateur paleontologist quickly alerted experts at the Cruzy Museum. His hunch was correct: the fossil turned out to be the pelvic bone of a titanosaur, one of the largest dinosaurs ever to roam Earth....

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States. It honors the rich cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions of Native American and Alaska Native communities. Here are three inspiring Indigenous leaders who have made meaningful impacts in their respective fields and communities....

Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. As of 3:00 PM ET, November 6, 2024, the former president had secured 292 electoral votes — 22 more than the 270 needed to win the presidency....

A rare, 237-year-old copy of the United States Constitution has been sold to an anonymous buyer for a staggering $9 million. The document was auctioned by Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 17, 2024. Bidding began at $1.1 million and quickly soared to the final price in just seven minutes....

Veterans Day, celebrated annually on November 11, honors the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. This US federal holiday pays tribute to everyone who has served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, Air Force, and Coast Guard....

Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a vibrant and colorful Mexican celebration honoring life and death. Observed annually on November 1 and 2, it offers an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to loved ones who have passed....

On November 3, 2024, most US residents will add 60 minutes to their weekend by turning their clocks back an hour. This simple action marks the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST), which began on March 10, 2024. It helps shift sunlight back into the morning hours during the darker winter days....

Few countries celebrate Halloween with as much enthusiasm as the United States. Americans spend months — and millions of dollars — searching for the perfect costumes. Homes and yards are transformed into spooky spectacles, complete with skeletons and glowing jack-o'-lanterns. Here is a brief history of the spooky holiday, celebrated annually on October 31, and the origin of some of its cherished customs....

Every fall, over a billion Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains worldwide celebrate Diwali. Also known as Deepavali or the festival of lights, this ancient celebration dates back over 2,500 years. The exact date varies annually based on the Hindu lunar calendar. However, Diwali usually falls in October or November....

The countdown to the US Presidential election has begun. On November 5, 2024, millions of Americans will head to the polls to select a new leader for the next four years. They will vote for either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump. Winning the popular vote is important for both candidates. However, to secure the presidency, they must get the majority of the electoral votes....

Columbus Day is observed annually on the second Monday of October. It commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. However, this US federal holiday, which falls on October 14 this year, has often been a topic of debate. Many believe that the European settlers' mistreatment of the Native American people is not a cause for celebration....

Egyptian archeologists revealed the discovery of a gleaming bronze sword on September 5, 2024. The weapon was marked with the insignia of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful pharaohs. Despite being buried for over 3,000 years, the sword has retained its reflective shine....

This summer, scientists returned to the legendary Titanic's resting place in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in 14 years. The 20-day-long remote imaging expedition ended on August 9, 2024. It was conducted by RMS Titanic Inc., the US company with legal rights to salvage the wreck....

In 79 AD, Italy's Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a thick layer of volcanic debris. Nearly 1,700 years later, in 1752, researchers found over 1,800 rolled papyrus scrolls inside the library of a Herculaneum mansion. The scrolls' exterior was severely charred by the intense heat. But due to the lack of oxygen, the interiors remained well-preserved....

Hispanic Heritage Month is marked annually in the United States from September 15 to October 15. This national celebration began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week. It was expanded to cover an entire month in 1988. The observance honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latin-American communities. This includes those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America....

For non-believers, Friday, September 13, 2024, will simply mark the start of a well-deserved weekend. However, others may not share this sentiment. Millions of people worldwide consider Friday the 13th the unluckiest day of the year. The origins of the day's fearsome reputation remain unclear, but experts have some theories....

September 11, 2001, began as a serene autumn morning in New York City. However, within a few hours, this tranquility was shattered by the deadliest terrorist attacks in US history. This unprovoked act of violence was planned and executed by members of the Islamic extremist organization al-Qaeda. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 2,977 innocent people and altered life as we knew it forever....

North America's Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — were once a hub of maritime activity. Thousands of ships used the inland waterways to move cargo and passengers between cities. Among them was the Adella Shores, a wooden steamship that mysteriously vanished in the icy waters of Lake Superior in May 1909....