Culture & Traditions
Cultures and Traditions takes a look at how people interact with each other. This might be through sub-cultures, relationships, fads or religion and spirituality.
Inside LA's Forest Lawn, Where the Biggest Celebrities Rest in Peace
Is Human Composting the Greenest Burial Option?
What's With Germany's Strict Burial Regulations?
Try a Tattoo Without the Commitment
Ways to Keep Your Old Tattoos Looking Fresh and New
The Nose Knows: 5 Questions to Ask Before a Septum Piercing
What Are the 10 Largest Cities in the World by Population?
Sacred Pipes Mean Way More Than Peace for Native Americans
Chautauqua Has Promoted Free Speech and Learning for Nearly 150 Years
New Oxford Dictionary Will Document African American English Lexicon
How Are Words Removed From a Dictionary?
Has COVID-19 Killed the Handshake?
Celebratory Yard Signs Are Having a Major Moment
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! You Know the Jingle, Now Hear the Chia Pet Story
Has Guinness World Records Set Any World Records?
5 Family Traditions for New Babies
5 Family Anniversary Traditions
5 Family Traditions for Daughters
If You Hear the Cries of La Llorona, Run
When You Wish Upon a Stone ... Make It a Striped One
What's the Significance of the Flower of Life?
The Firm vs. the Family: How Does the British Monarchy Really Work?
What's the Difference Between a Duke and an Earl?
Having a Cherokee Ancestor Doesn’t Necessarily Make You Cherokee Too
How the Millennial Generation Works
Millennials Are Making Birthday Cards a Thing Again
Nope, Boomers and Xers Don’t Work Harder Than Millennials
The 'X' Factor: Why Some Advocates Prefer 'Latine' to 'Latinx'
Why Do We Say White Collar and Blue Collar?
Why Do We Call It a Piggyback Ride?
McKamey Manor Is Too Extreme for Most, But Creator Tells Us It's PG-13
Oh Chrismon Tree, Oh Chrismon Tree?
For Goodness' Sake, It's a Mrs. Claus Quiz!
What Are the Most Common Last Names in the World?
A Look at the White House's Most Memorable Weddings
The Immigrant Paradox: Why Acculturation Should Not Mean Assimilation
There's More Than One Way to Be Monogamous
Hey Dad! The Famous Fathers Quiz
Famous Mothers Quiz
Why Are the Biblical Gog and Magog Considered Sinister?
The Sacred History of 'Mormon Underwear'
What Does 'Shana Tova' Mean?
Reading the Rails: What Was the Hobo Code?
Afrofuturism: Where Technology, Culture and the Black Experience Meet
Who Is Karen and Why Is She So Mad?
Quiz: Finish That Jingle!
How One Woman Unexpectedly Became the Voice of Siri
There's a Healthier Way to Consume Your Media
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Throughout history, people have speculated as to who or what Gog and Magog were. Were they two people, one person and his land or two nations? And why were they associated with the Apocalypse?
By Dave Roos
Of the 8 billion people now inhabiting this planet, almost 60 percent live in urban environments in some pretty densely packed cities. Here are the top 10 megacities in the world.
Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in LA is much more than a cemetery housing some of America's most famous people. It also boasts gardens, churches, a huge mausoleum and an art museum.
By Kate Morgan
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Pipes have a long history for Native Americans, and they're still revered and powerful. Just please don't call them peace pipes.
Most observant Mormons wear special underwear they call temple garments as a reminder of their faith. What are the rules around wearing it? And must they always wear it?
By Dave Roos
The legend of the weeping woman has been terrifying children for generations. But experts tell us there's much more to La Llorona's legend than just scaring kids.
By Lauren David
Welcome to McKamey Manor, where you must sign a 40-page waiver, pass a background check and take a physical to enter. Thousands are on the waiting list.
By Kate Morgan
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California just became the fifth state to legalize human composting as an alternative to burial. How does this work?
By Lauren David
During the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, it's common to hear people wish each other "Shana Tova!" What does this phrase mean?
In Germany, death may be permanent, but gravesites aren't. They're leased until the next "resident" moves in. That's just one grim regulation surrounding funerals and burials.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. will serve as editor-in-chief of the new Oxford Dictionary of African American English, which is slated to be published in spring 2025.
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Mabon is a fairly recent Pagan festival created to give thanks for the harvest. What does Mabon mean and how is it celebrated?
By Dave Roos
Many people think 'Latine' is a better gender-inclusive term than 'Latinx.' Here's why.
The surnames popular around the globe reflect everything from one's ancestry to regional colonizers to occupations.
How did blue collar, white collar (and pink collar!) end up in our lexicon, and what are the origins of their meanings?
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You may have wished upon a star, but have you ever wished upon a rock? Find a lucky wishing stone and give it a try.
By Muriel Vega
A koan is a riddle or puzzle that Zen Buddhists use during meditation to help them unravel greater truths. We look at some examples to see how these enigmatic sayings work.
By Dave Roos
It's a strange phrase when you think about it, as people don't normally ride pigs. So where did it come from?
The origin of this false grammatical no-no is lost to history. But, we still shy away from starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions. And here's why.
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The Chautauqua Institution, where Salman Rushdie was attacked Aug. 12, 2022, was founded nearly 150 years ago to promote the free exchange of ideas and learning to benefit individuals and society.
In today's world of endless self-promotion, this beautiful little memorial celebrates those who gave their lives to save someone else.
By Muriel Vega
The recent attack on author Salman Rushdie led many to conclude that it was the result of the fatwa issued against him in 1989 by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. But what exactly is a fatwa?
When you're holding something together with nothing more than spit and perhaps some duct tape (duck tape?), what is the correct term, jury- or jerry-rigged?
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Not ready for a permanent tattoo? Get one that's designed to fade over time instead.
Ashura is a very important holiday to both Shiite and Sunni Muslims but the two groups attach very different meanings to the day.
By Dave Roos