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?
Why Were Fake Eyelashes Invented?
Try a Tattoo Without the Commitment
Ways to Keep Your Old Tattoos Looking Fresh and New
Every Celtic Knot Holds Meaning Within Its Intricate Design
What in the World Is a 'Shoey'?
Did You Know It's 2016 in Ethiopia Right Now?
When You 'Play It by Ear,' What Are You Actually Doing?
The Phrase 'Hair of the Dog' Has Surprisingly Literal Origins
A Rule of Thumb Can Save You Tons of Time
What's the Science Behind Mood Rings?
10 Things We Love to Hate About the '70s and '80s
Celebratory Yard Signs Are Having a Major Moment
5 Family Traditions for New Babies
5 Family Anniversary Traditions
5 Family Traditions for Daughters
Are Mermaids Real? A Look at Mermaid Myths Across Cultures
All About the Mythical Phoenix: Bird of Fire and Eternal Life
Bad Luck Comes in Threes: Separating Superstition from Reality
What Are the Most and Least Popular Birthdays in the U.S.?
The Firm vs. the Family: How Does the British Monarchy Really Work?
What's the Difference Between a Duke and an Earl?
Deciphering Generation Names, Birth Years and Stereotypes
How the Millennial Generation Works
Millennials Are Making Birthday Cards a Thing Again
How Many Sentences Are in a Paragraph, Really?
All About Adjectives: Examples, Types and Uses
Simile Examples in Literature and Everyday Language
How to Keep Your Jack-o'-lantern From Rotting
What Does the Poinsettia Have to Do with Christmas?
The Joy of the Holiday Poinsettia
Telling One Green-White-Orange Flag From Another
What a Green and White Flag Means for 4 Different Countries
29 Countries With a Red-White-Blue Flag Color Combinations
Kindness Quotes to Inspire Positivity and Connection
Who Keeps the Ring if the Engagement Ends in a Breakup?
7 Reasons Sleep Divorce Might Be Good for Your Relationship
Archangel Names and Stories in Abrahamic Religions
Archangel Raphael: A Healer Said to Appear in Human Form
Archangel Zadkiel: Finding Strength Through Transformation
Mennonite vs. Amish Communities, Values and Beliefs
The Life and Death of Timothy Treadwell, the 'Grizzly Man'
The Yellow Deli Cult: All About the Twelve Tribes
Quiz: Finish That Jingle!
How One Woman Unexpectedly Became the Voice of Siri
There's a Healthier Way to Consume Your Media
Learn More / Page 26
In 1968, "The Population Bomb" was published, with dire predictions of a coming world that could not feed itself. It launched the Zero Population Growth movement. Since then, the world population has doubled. What did the book get right and wrong?
By Dave Roos
It's tempting to think that the only way your favorite team (or athlete) could lose is because of some funny business from the other side. And sometimes you'd be right. Here are 10 sports conspiracy theories that could totally have happened.
By Dave Roos
Although the U.S. government has been found guilty of spying on its citizens or wasting tax money on dubious projects, does that mean it would intentionally fake the moon landing, conduct alien autopsies or put its citizens in FEMA camps?
By Alia Hoyt
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Body painting, which some say is man's first artwork, has become a hip, temporary art form that generates lots of "oohs" and "ahs." Want to try your hand at body painting? Here's how.
During World War II, a U.S. ship mysteriously disappeared in Virginia and reappeared suddenly in Philadelphia, with some crewmen embedded in the ship's hull. What was the Philadephia Experiment all about?
By Dave Roos
For centuries, treasure hunters have explored Oak Island in the hopes of discovering pirate gold - or Marie Antoinette's jewels, Shakespeare's manuscripts or even the Ark of the Covenant. What's the scoop with this so-called "Money Pit"?
By Jane McGrath
You know Cinderella was the only girl who could wear the glass slipper. But did you know her two stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to try to fit into it? That's just one gory detail Disney left out.
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Who wouldn't want to rest in peace in one of the happiest places on Earth? OK, spending the afterlife in an amusement park may not be for everyone, but are there people who try to send the deceased on a forever roller coaster ride?
Folklore is stories, art and dance. It's rituals and special birthday meals; how you treat a cold; even the chain emails you sometimes get. Why do these things get passed down, and how do we keep them alive?
It seems like every town has that one restaurant whose eggplant parmesan can kick-start contractions. But is a labor-inducing recipe an old wives' tale?
By Alia Hoyt
Being an island nation has its perks, but genetic diversity isn't one of them. In fact, every native Icelander is descended from the same couple. (Talk about awkward dating scenarios!) That's where the book comes in.
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For centuries, people have considered four-leaf clovers to be magical - whether as an aid to spot fairies or a charm to bring the bearer good luck. So what exactly makes these tiny plants so special?
You might know your immediate family and even some cousins, but what about how your genes have been traveling through time via your ancestors? What's the best way to get a handle on all that family history?
By Alia Hoyt
After seeing celebs find out about their ancestors on shows like "Finding Your Roots," you might want to do the same. How do you start?
While you can create scrapbooks of parties or vacations, a really meaningful and fun project is to scrapbook your family history. How do you keep all those certificates, clippings and photos from looking like a hot mess?
By Alia Hoyt
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Some life hacks are the bees' knees. Some are baloney.
To make the best out of your next 30-second trip in vertical transportation horror, follow our 10 weird (but indispensable!) rules of elevator etiquette.
By Dave Roos
Will the grammar police really arrest you if you start a sentence with a conjunction or end one with a preposition? There's only one way to find out.
Though Mother's Day seems to be filled with sweetness and light, it had a rather heavy origin, arising as a post-Civil War plea for peace. So how did the holiday change over the years?
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We love pepperoni and mozzarella on our pizza, so why not throw it in the bird? Yep, stuffing (or dressing) doesn't have to be boring. Are you daring enough to mix it up?
Maybe you could care less about grammar. After all, it's a doggy-dog world? No. That might sound right, but it's one of 10 common phrases people say wrong.
By Chris Opfer
Incorporate these scents into your home for a lovely seasonal fragrance.
The story behind Passover is a classic one: of slavery and freedom, unheeded warnings, horrific wrath and great rejoicing. It's remembered during an eight-day festival that begins with a meal called the Passover Seder.
By Julia Layton
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The news is filled with a never-ending stream of tragedy and cruelty, but also with gestures and acts meant to improve the lives of others -- and the world. Here are 10 of our favorites.
Branding may put you in mind of that steak commercial on TV where the beef is seared with a hot iron marked Grade A. And in truth, the process on humans is not that different. Yet people who have been branded say there is pleasure in the pain.
By Julia Layton