Every Fall I start mumbling about the "highway to the holidays" -- that hectic time of year that consumes any leftover moments of the day with preparations. This year instead of complaining about the rituals, cooking and cleaning that take over my life during the holiday season, I decided to research the history of those special days. What I found is that the fall and winter are full of holidays celebrated in different parts of the world from Diwali in India to St. Lucia's Day in Sweden.

It's possible that your family still follows some of the customs and traditions for the holidays celebrated by their ancestors. In fact, you're probably familiar with certain symbols or foods but the exact origins of those legacies might be unknown, lost through the generations. To explore the history and significance of your family's holiday traditions or to develop new ones try a variety of research techniques.

- Think Like a Child
- Resort to Reference
- Oodles Online
- Attend an Ethnic Festival

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