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.
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Why Peter A. Browne Bizarrely Collected Hair
Nineteenth century lawyer and naturalist Peter A. Browne put together the world's greatest collection of ... yes, hair. Today, it's valuable for the DNA it contains.
How Cinco de Mayo Works
The Cinco de Mayo holiday is far more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico. Why is that and what does it celebrate?
How the Millennial Generation Works
The millennial generation is steadily increasing in numbers. This group often gets a bad rap from older people, but what's the truth about millennials?
How Do They Determine What Date Easter Will Occur On?
The Easter holiday is on a different date each year. But how is the date determined? Answer: Look to the moon.
Why Do People Eat Dirt?
It's called geophagy and it's a relatively common practice all over the world, but nobody's completely sure why.
How Did 4/20 Become the Stoner's Holiday?
Nope, it's not the police code for marijuana possession. It has a way cooler origin story.
What's the Difference Between Agnosticism and Atheism?
People often think agnostics and atheists believe the same things. Where do their positions overlap and where do they differ?
The Bauhaus Movement Turns 100
Founded by Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus is considered one of the most influential art movements of the 20th century.
Why Is April 1 a Day to Celebrate Foolishness?
Why is April 1 a day to celebrate foolishness and play pranks on each other? How did this tradition begin?
10 Big Questions About Buddhism, Answered
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.
Gibtown: Where Circus Folk Went to Retire
Lobster Boy, Monkey Girl, Emmitt the Alligator-Skinned Man – they all called Gibtown home.
What International Women's Day Is Really All About
March 8th, International Women's Day, has been celebrated around the world for more than a century. So, what are we actually celebrating?
What Is Lent and Why Do Christians Give Up Something For It?
Christians often "give up something for Lent" but why? What is the real reason behind the season?
5 Famous People With Seriously Long Names
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.
How Mardi Gras Works
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?
Weiberfastnacht: The Day German Women Stormed the Ramparts
This historic holiday celebrates the day in 1824 when women decided they simply wouldn't take it anymore.
What Does It Really Mean to Have an 'Existential Crisis'?
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.
Billions Celebrate Lantern Festival Across China
The annual festival of lights signifies the end of Chinese New Year and the beginning of spring.
Forget Thanksgiving! Lunar New Year Sees World's Largest Annual Migration
This mass migration totally dwarfs Thanksgiving travel in the United States.
Get Out the Haggis, It's Burns Night!
This beloved holiday celebrates the poet Robert Burns and is full of whisky, readings and a fat juicy haggis.
10 People With Incredibly Bad Luck
Some people were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Others were in the right place, but left at the wrong time. And a few just had bad luck thrust upon them.
Chindogu: The Art of Un-useless Inventions
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.
The Cozy Icelandic Christmas Tradition You'll Want to Steal
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.
Santa Claus' 'Workshop Budget' Will Blow Your Mind
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.
How Santa's Sleigh Works
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).
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