Although Christmas was not a traditional holiday in Japan, the secular aspects of the celebration have been adopted over the past century. This means that many anime cartoons and manga comics have Christmas specials. You can get into the holiday spirit with this easy, step-by-step Christmas anime girl drawing... Read more
Would you like to learn how to draw an easy reindeer? With the help of this fun animal drawing tutorial, you'll soon master the easy reindeer outline... Read more
Humans have been dressing up their pets for a long time. Ancient Egyptian paintings portray domestic animals with collars or ribbons around their necks, and the collar was perhaps the first pet fashion statement. Says one resource: "Collars emerged as tools for training and restraint as well as status symbols at the height of civilization. But they were also beautiful works of art... Read more
Have you ever played in a puddle? Most puddles are left behind by rain. They can also form near underground springs, on beaches when the tide goes out, from snow melt, or from man-made sources such as a fire hydrant or backyard watering hose. They may attract small animals that desire to drink the water, or creatures such as frogs and mosquitoes that lay their eggs there.... Read more
Fruitcake is both lauded as a holiday gift-giving tradition and loathed as the butt of jokes and as a synonym for "crazy." What is a fruitcake? It is a very heavy spice cake filled with candied or dried and sugared fruits and nuts. Some recipes also contain alcohol. Fruitcake is known for lasting many years due to the preserving qualities of the sugar and alcohol... Read more
New Year festivals are celebrated around the world. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, they are "among the oldest and the most universally observed."... Read more
Warm up your drawing skills and try your hand at these fun, simple sketches. Each of the simple drawing guides listed below includes step-by-step instructions so that you can learn to draw your favorite seasonal characters, objects, and animals. Read more
Hats have been around since the dawn of humanity. Hats have served many different purposes, from functional to stylish, and have been constructed from various materials... Read more
The snow leopard or ounce is one of 37 species of cats found throughout the world. This long-haired big cat lives in the snowy mountains of Asia. It feels right at home at elevations up to 5,500 meters or 18,000 feet!... Read more
Christmas lights are often used to decorate Christmas trees as well as the exteriors of houses, shrubbery, and outdoor trees. Where did the tradition of illuminating homes and trees with... Read more
What is a Christmas stocking? Historically, a stocking was a long sock worn by both men and women. Christmas stockings, on the other hand, are large, oversize sock-shaped bags... Read more
Following the success of the song "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," country artist Gene Autry recorded "Frosty the Snowman... Read more
What is a menorah? A menorah is a candelabra, a type of candle holder with many branches. In fact, the word menorah simply means "lamp" in the Hebrew language. It is a symbol of... Read more
The igloo is an icon of the far north, especially the Arctic regions of Alaska, Greenland, and Canada. The term is from an Eskimo word meaning "house," and igloos still serve as temporary winter homes for... Read more
Mittens are a staple of both wintertime and childhood imagery. Mittens are a type of glove that group four of the fingers together in a single pocket, separating only the thumb in an... Read more
During the 1400s, fishermen's wives on the English island of Jersey knitted wool garments for their husbands. Because of wool's natural oils, the garments kept the men warm even in... Read more
A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck or head. Scarves are an ancient garment, and they aren't just for girls... Read more
The Elf on the Shelf began as a children's book published in 2005, entitled The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. The story recounts the tale of a "scout elf," sent by Santa Claus to watch children from... Read more
The word cookie comes from a Dutch word meaning "little cake." Cookies are generally flat sweet pastries. Outside of North America, cookies are often called... Read more
Christmas ornaments are decorations that are usually used to adorn a Christmas tree. They may be made from a variety of materials, including glass, wood, clay, and metal. Families often pass ornaments from... Read more