Culture & Traditions

Ah, the modern office cubicle. It's the ultimate illusion of privacy, because we all know that it won't protect you from your co-workers' loud conversations or food smells, not to mention their use of the speakerphone.

By Kate Kershner

Attended a really nice dinner lately? You probably couldn't help but notice all of the fancy silverware. Believe it or not, there's a reason for all of it.

By Kate Kershner

Adherence to etiquette and other social rules seems to be on the decline, but one rule seems to live on: males shall not wear hats inside.

By Kate Kershner

In every nation and culture, people stare. And it's universally considered rude behavior, but who made the rule that staring at someone was uncool?

By Kate Kershner

It's dinner time! And everyone is enjoying the meal, excepting those folks texting away on their phones. Are they being rude or is this an acceptable part of modern life?

By Kate Kershner

Your phone is ringing, but you just don't want to talk to the caller. So you let the call go to voicemail and now you feel guilty. Is it ever OK to screen your calls?

By Kate Kershner

We are taught not to talk about our salary with anyone, but there are actually some very good reasons why you sometimes should.

By Kate Kershner

You toss your clothes and detergent in, let the cycle run and then pop that laundry in the dryer. Easy peasy. But there are some nuances to laundromat manners you may not be privy to.

By Maria Trimarchi

Using the @ sign on Twitter can be helpful, but many people unwittingly -- and sometimes knowingly -- misuse it when dogging someone out.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

You've heard of tattoos and tongue rings, maybe even split tongues. Transdermals, however, take body modification to a whole new level.

By Julia Layton

You close your eyes over your birthday cake, make a wish and take a deep breath. Everything is riding on this solitary exhale. Why do we think it's bad luck not to blow out all the birthday candles in one breath?

By Laurie L. Dove

There are many rituals that surround the act of prayer, one of the most prevalent of which is closing one's eyes. Why do so many people close their eyes to pray?

By Laurie L. Dove

Generations of pedestrians have avoided stepping on cracks to prevent their poor mothers' backs from being broken. Is there a reason for this practice, or is it just another baseless superstition?

By Laurie L. Dove

Everyone knows you're not supposed to open an umbrella indoors. Explore the history behind this long-held superstition.

By Laurie L. Dove

That uncomfortable, frightened, jittery feeling known as "the willies" is probably a familiar one. How did "the willies" get its name?

By Laurie L. Dove

About one out of every 10,000 clovers in a patch has four leaves. How do you increase your odds of finding a lucky one in a sea of three-leaf clovers?

By Laurie L. Dove

You've probably tossed dozens of coins into various fountains over the years. What happens to all that money?

By Laurie L. Dove

Gifting knives has long been considered bad luck. Learn about the superstitions behind the knife gift.

By Laurie L. Dove

Emily Post might've been born into high society, but it took years of ups and downs before she would emerge as America's preeminent - and surprisingly open-minded - etiquette expert.

By Jane McGrath

The WWE Experience draws many every year. Learn more about the WWE Experience in this video from HowStuffWorks.com.

The train seems to bring out the wackadoodle and boorishness in commuters in ways that are still uncommon on planes. Which 10 things must you never do when riding the rails?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Who's the worst in the restroom? The person who drips on the seat, talks on the phone or hogs the mirror? We put all three - and some others - on our list of annoyances.

By Chris Opfer

For the rule-loving (and germaphobic) people among us, IKEA can be a nightmare: Huge crowds, long lines and loud kids can make things seem chaotic. Help bring order to the madness by following our etiquette outline.

By Jeff Harder

Emergency rooms on TV are fraught with drama and tension. While nonfictional ERs have their share of stressful moments, a lot of the work they do is misrepresented when it's transferred to the entertainment sphere.

By Maria Trimarchi

The price of oil, the weather, the United Nations and pop music are all controlled by one malevolent force - the Illuminati. Or so some people believe. How did an imaginary group get so big?

By Patrick J. Kiger