1

Super Bowl Sunday

Image: Caleb Woods

More than just a football game, the Super Bowl is a cultural phenomenon combining sports, entertainment, and food. Since its debut in 1967, the event has grown into a day-long spectacle featuring extravagant halftime shows, iconic commercials, and gatherings filled with buffalo wings and nachos, offering something for both diehard football fans and casual viewers alike.

2

Black Friday shopping

Image: freestocks

The day after Thanksgiving, shoppers race for deals in a retail frenzy, marking the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season. The busiest shopping day of the year in the United States, Black Friday originated in the 1950s when stores began slashing prices to kick off the holiday season, but it has since evolved into a major economic and cultural phenomenon.

3

Presidential Turkey Pardon

Image: Tyler Donaghy

Each Thanksgiving, the President pardons a turkey, sparing it from becoming dinner. This whimsical tradition began informally with Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and was made official by George H.W. Bush in 1989. It’s a lighthearted custom that adds a touch of humor to the holiday—and is certainly life-changing for the lucky turkey!

4

Groundhog Day

Image: Camerauthor Photos

Celebrated each February 2, Groundhog Day began in Pennsylvania in 1887 and is rooted in German folklore. Punxsutawney Phil, arguably the world's most famous groundhog, "predicts" an early spring or six more weeks of winter based on whether he sees his shadow upon emerging from his burrow.

5

New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

Image: James Genchi

Every December 31, Times Square in New York City transforms into the epicenter of New Year’s celebrations. A specially designed time ball descends a flagpole at the stroke of midnight, marking the start of the new year. This tradition, celebrated since 1907, draws thousands of revelers who come together to ring in the year with a shared sense of hope and renewal.

6

State Fairs

Image: Matthew Miner

State fairs originated in the 1800s to showcase various advancements in farming and agriculture. Today, they have evolved into family-friendly celebrations featuring fried foods, roller coasters, and livestock competitions. The Iowa State Fair, for example, is renowned for its intricate butter sculptures.

7

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Image: Thomas Park

A blend of French, Spanish, and Creole traditions has created this vibrant celebration that attracts millions of visitors to New Orleans. Mardi Gras, meaning "Fat Tuesday," marks the final day of indulgence before Lent. Parades, masks, and beads are central to this centuries-old tradition, which has been embraced in Louisiana since the 18th century.

8

Alaska’s Iditarod

Image: Ugur Arpaci

A 1,000-mile sled dog race through the frosty landscapes of Alaska, the Iditarod is a grueling journey through one of America’s harshest regions. According to some sources, the race honors the 1925 serum run to Nome, when dog sled teams transported diphtheria medication that helped save lives. However, sled dog races have been held in the area since at least 1908.

9

Hometown parades

Image: Gene Gallin

Small towns across the U.S. host parades for nearly every holiday, from St. Patrick’s Day to Christmas. These events bring communities together with floats, marching bands, and festive pageantry. However, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade stands out as one of the largest and most iconic parades in the country.

10

The Kentucky Derby "Run for the Roses"

Image: Pietro Mattia

Held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, the Kentucky Derby is a long-standing tradition known for its pageantry. The "Run for the Roses" began in 1875, and it's not just about the race but the elaborate hats, luxury, and the signature mint julep cocktails. The event unites horse racing enthusiasts and Southern culture in an exciting spectacle.

11

Maine’s Lobster Festival

Image: April Walker

The Maine Lobster Festival, held annually in Rockland, is a seaside celebration of all things lobster. Honoring the state’s lobster industry, the festival features an all-you-can-eat feast, cooking contests, and live music. It serves as both a tribute to Maine’s maritime heritage and a recognition of the vital role lobster fishing plays in the local economy.

12

The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race

Image: Oleksii S

Every October in Natchez, Mississippi, a colorful spectacle unfolds as hot air balloons take to the skies above the Mississippi River. Known as the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, this event has been a beloved state tradition since 1972. In addition to the breathtaking balloon displays, the festivities include live music, delicious local food, and a variety of family-friendly activities, making it a fun celebration for both locals and visitors.

1

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Based on Margaret Mitchell's bestselling novel of the same name, this emotional depiction of Civil War and Reconstruction-era Georgia follows the impoverished Scarlett O’Hara as she strives to overcome the reality of post-war Southern U.S .

With a massive budget and as one of the first films to use Technicolor, the movie broke attendance records and is considered to be one of the greatest American films.

2

Stagecoach (1939)

One of the many Westerns directed by the legendary John Ford, Stagecoach not only cemented John Wayne as an A-list actor but also elevated the concept of the Western film.

Considered a "perfect textbook of filmmaking" by Orson Welles, its characters and plot have often been described as an extraordinary representation of American archetypes and of the nation's ongoing struggle for political equality.

3

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles’s first film, and considered by many to be the greatest film of all time, this semi-biographical drama follows the life of Charles Foster Kane, loosely based on several American tycoons.

Welles’s filmmaking style featured new and innovative techniques that would later become standard in the industry. Filmed in just 82 days, the film was a critical success despite being suppressed in the media.

4

12 Angry Men (1957)

Adapted from a Reginald Rose play, this legal drama critiques the American jury system through the portrayal of 12 jurors as they deliberate whether to convict or acquit a teenager charged with murder, in a case where reasonable doubt exists.

The debate among the jurors, which leads them to question their values and morals, becomes a study of 1950s America and the dangers of mob mentality.

5

Psycho (1960)

A horror classic by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho follows the encounter of a secretary on the run with a disturbed mother-and-son motel owners. Despite its controversial subject matter, the film was a resounding success, becoming Hitchcock’s most financially successful movie.

Considered to be the first slasher film, it is one of the most influential horror movies of the 20th century , inspiring several sequels and remakes.

6

The Graduate (1967)

An atypical romance-drama for the time, The Graduate was a success because it captured a generational break with its anti-heroic main character, who was disillusioned with the prior generation’s worldview.

Supported by innovative film techniques and featuring several Simon & Garfunkel songs, the film changed how music and marketing were used in cinema.

7

All the President’s Men (1976)

Based on the Watergate scandal and the journalists who investigated it, this film is considered a landmark political thriller.

A massive success, both critically and commercially, All the President’s Men won four Academy Awards and is considered one of the best portrayals of investigative journalism .

8

The Breakfast Club (1985)

One of the most influential teenage movies of its time, The Breakfast Club was a huge success despite its low budget and limited production.

Its deconstruction of the mainstream high school stereotypes, along with its discussion of adolescent concerns and insecurities, made the film an all-time classic coming-of-age story.

9

Schindler's List (1993)

Based on the life of Oskar Schindler, a German factory owner who saved the lives of thousands of Jews during World War II, Schindler's List is considered a cinematic masterpiece that depicts a harrowing story with compassion and humanity.

A resounding critical and commercial success, the film has been praised by survivors and scholars alike for its role in raising global awareness of the Holocaust.

10

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Following a group of soldiers on a mission to locate and retrieve the last surviving son of a family during World War II, this film was praised for its authenticity, especially its opening sequence depicting the Omaha Beach landing on D-Day.

Widely considered to have redefined the war film genre , Saving Private Ryan distanced itself from other movies that glorified and idealized World War II, showcasing the suffering and struggles of individuals during the conflict.

1

X-Men (2000)

Remember the scene when Magneto and Professor X play a tense, symbolic game of chess? Well, the actors certainly do. Here’s why: Neither Patrick Stewart nor Ian McKellen knew how to play chess before filming.

So, director Bryan Singer brought in a Canadian chess Grandmaster to help design the game the two men would share by choreographing each piece's movement based on the high-strung dialogue they were having —Professor X needed to win.

2

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Did you know that E.T., the beloved extraterrestrial who wanted to phone home, was intentionally designed to have no specified gender ?

Director Steven Spielberg expressed that his intention was to define E.T. as a "plant-like" creature, neither male nor female, and that this was explicitly explained in earlier versions of the script.

However, in the film, young Elliott insists that he knows the gender of his newfound friend: "He’s a boy," he explains to his sister when she asks. The audience went along with Elliott’s interpretation, and hence E.T. is considered to be male.

3

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Jim Carrey loathed the process of becoming The Grinch. Though the Dr. Seuss character was fun to play, sitting for hours and hours for makeup and costume until the green look was perfected, he said, was exhausting.

So, he was shocked one day when he arrived on set, only to find yet another Grinch ready there before him. It was none other than director Ron Howard, who had been up since 3:30 am, getting into full costume in solidarity with him.

4

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Watching Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, one might take for granted that the stop-motion marvel took years of painstaking effort. Around 227 puppets were built for the production because each character had multiple duplicates to allow shooting on many sets simultaneously.

The protagonist Jack Skellington alone needed nearly 400 different heads to capture enough facial expressions.

5

Toy Story (1995)

Even though we all recognize Woody the Cowboy, there was a time when the leading character of Toy Story was going to be… quite different.

Sheriff Woody was at first conceived as a ventriloquist dummy . But the Pixar creators thought that a softer cowboy toy would be a little bit friendlier. What do you think?

6

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

We all know the loyal little robot of the Star Wars world. But R2-D2’s name came about unintentionally. While filming a previous film, George Lucas had liked an abbreviation he heard his sound editor shout one day: "R2, D2".

It referred to "Reel 2, Dialogue Track 2" . But the expression sparked Lucas’s imagination.

7

Home Alone (1990)

Yes, Kevin is nine years old in the movie. But most of his "dangerous" moments were handled by a 30-year-old stuntman in kid-sized clothes!

Still, some injuries were inevitable. And they didn’t come from hanging from a zipline or sliding downstairs: No, young Macauley Culkin got a scar from Joe Pesci accidentally biting his fingers too hard in one scene.

8

Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is well known for its ambitious science fiction vision. But Nolan went above and beyond with details. For example, the robot TARS wasn’t a CGI creation: it was physically built (a kind of "puppet-robot").

Plus, the space suits the actors wore were designed with functioning oxygen units and cooling tubes! Needless to say, though, all scenes were filmed on Earth.

9

The Matrix (1999)

Did you know that Johnny Depp was the first choice to play Neo for The Matrix ? As an up-and-coming actor in the 90s, the writers had considered him perfect for the role. However, fate decided Keanu Reeves would take the part, and the rest was history.

Reeves didn’t have it easy, though: the Wachowskis had him read philosophical books like Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard, Out of Control by Kevin Kelly, and Introducing Evolutionary Psychology by Dylan Evans.

10

Scarface (1983)

After Martin Scorsese saw Brian De Palma’s Scarface, he reportedly told actor Steven Bauer: "It’s great… but they’re going to hate it ."

He wasn’t wrong. Critics did hate it, at first. They called it vulgar, excessive, hysterical, and violent. Scorsese himself had been criticized for the violence in his own work, so he recognized the pattern instantly. However, as we know, audiences eventually made it a cult classic.