Culture & Traditions

It's called geophagy and it's a relatively common practice all over the world, but nobody's completely sure why.

By Jesslyn Shields

Nope, it's not the police code for marijuana possession. It has a much cooler origin story. Find out about the meaning of 420.

By Nathan Chandler

People often think agnostics and atheists believe the same things. Where do their positions overlap and where do they differ?

By Dave Roos

Founded by Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus is considered one of the most influential art movements of the 20th century.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Why is April 1 a day to play pranks on others? How did this tradition begin? And are you going to prank someone on April Fool's Day?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

What's the point of meditation? Are all Buddhists vegetarians and pacifists? What do we misunderstand about Karma? Find out more about Buddhism in our article.

By Dave Roos

Lobster Boy, Monkey Girl, Emmitt the Alligator-Skinned Man – they all called Gibtown home.

By Stell Simonton

March 8, International Women's Day, has been celebrated around the world for more than a century. This year's theme is "Embrace Equity."

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Christians often "give up something for Lent" but why? What is the real reason behind the season?

By Alia Hoyt

If you think celebrity kid names like Apple and North West are odd, at least they're easy to remember. These five famous people have names so long, you couldn't recall them if you had to.

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

Mardi Gras turns New Orleans into a hotbed of fun and reveling. This might make the festival's religious ties rather hard to imagine. So did how Mardi Gras get started?

By Kathryn Whitbourne

This historic holiday (held the Thursday before Ash Wednesday) celebrates the day in 1824 when women decided they simply wouldn't take it anymore.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

An existential crisis is different from anxiety over a really difficult decision or even a case of major depression. It's having the thing that gives your life meaning and structure completely shattered.

By Dave Roos

The annual festival of lights signifies the end of Chinese New Year and the beginning of spring.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

This mass migration totally dwarfs Thanksgiving travel in the United States.

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

This beloved holiday celebrates the poet Robert Burns and is full of whisky, readings and fat juicy haggis.

By Dave Roos

Some people were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Others were in the right place but at the wrong time. And a few just had bad luck thrust upon them.

By Dave Roos

You know what's totally useless? A pair of umbrellas shoes. But they're so fun you know you want them anyway. Welcome to chindogu.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

On Christmas Eve, Icelandic families traditionally settle down to a cozy night of exchanging gifts of books and reading. It's all part of jólabókaflóð or the Christmas Book Flood.

By Dave Roos

We tallied up how much dough it costs the big guy to give every kid in the world toys. And it's way more than we expected.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Our theory on St. Nick's sweet ride: It's rustic on the outside and state-of-the-art on the inside. Learn more about the advanced technology we think runs Santa's sleigh (and those reindeer).

By John Fuller & Cherise Threewitt

Over the holidays, lots of gift-giving will be going on. But some people get anxious about opening a gift in front of the giver in case they don't like it and can't fake enough enthusiasm.

By Alia Hoyt

That old comedian's advice that the "k" sound is always good for a laugh has been proven true, too.

By Dave Roos

Is a dib an actual thing?

By Tara Yarlagadda

Yes, you read that right. There are several options for renting Christmas trees. They're more eco-friendly and way more convenient.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky