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.

Topics to Explore

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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?

By Alia Hoyt & Jane McGrath Culture & Traditions / Generation Gaps

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.

By Kathryn Whitbourne Holidays / Other Holidays

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.

By Jesslyn Shields Apr 19, 2019 Culture & Traditions / Cultural Traditions

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.

By Nathan Chandler Apr 19, 2019 Holidays / Other Holidays

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?

By Dave Roos Apr 17, 2019 Religion & Spirituality / Western Spirituality

The Bauhaus Movement Turns 100

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

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Apr 12, 2019 Culture & Traditions / Cultural Traditions

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?

Holidays / Other Holidays

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.

By Dave Roos Religion & Spirituality / Eastern Spirituality

Gibtown: Where Circus Folk Went to Retire

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

By Stell Simonton Mar 26, 2019 Culture & Traditions / Subcultures

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?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Mar 6, 2019 Culture & Traditions / Cultural Traditions

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?

By Alia Hoyt Mar 6, 2019 Religion & Spirituality / Western Spirituality

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.

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D. Mar 4, 2019 Culture & Traditions / Cultural Traditions

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?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Holidays / Other Holidays

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.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Feb 28, 2019 Culture & Traditions / National Traditions

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.

By Dave Roos Feb 25, 2019 Religion & Spirituality / Western Spirituality

Billions Celebrate Lantern Festival Across China

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

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Feb 18, 2019 Holidays / Other Holidays

Forget Thanksgiving! Lunar New Year Sees World's Largest Annual Migration

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

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D. Feb 5, 2019 Holidays / Other Holidays

Get Out the Haggis, It's Burns Night!

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

By Dave Roos Jan 24, 2019 Holidays / Other Holidays

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.

By Dave Roos Culture & Traditions / Folklore & Superstition

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.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler Dec 31, 2018 Culture & Traditions / Cultural Traditions

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.

By Dave Roos Dec 20, 2018 Holidays / Christmas

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.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Dec 18, 2018 Holidays / Christmas

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).

By John Fuller & Cherise Threewitt Culture & Traditions / Holidays

Do You Have to Open Gifts In Front of Guests?

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 Dec 17, 2018 Culture & Traditions / Etiquette & Languages