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?
Unleashing Majestic Power: Exploring the Symbolism of Lion Tattoos
Unveiling the Profound Symbolism of Spider Tattoos
Unraveling the Symbolic Tapestry of Dragonfly Tattoos: Meanings, Designs, and Transformative Power
13 Indian Festivals That Celebrate Life, Love and Renewal
10 Japanese Festivals With Distinctly Different Vibes
Does Sound Bowl Healing Work?
The Most Common Words in English Aren't Nouns or Verbs
10 Most Common Letters in English That Every Wordle Player Should Know
The Hardest Tongue Twister in English Is...
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
Foo Dog: A Mythical Mix of Lion and Chow Chow
Are Black Magic Spells Powerful? The Truth Behind Their Strength
Is a Solar Eclipse a Rare Spiritual Event? Rituals for Aligning Your Energy
20 Most Common Surnames in the U.S. (and What They Mean)
What Are the Most and Least Popular Birthdays in the U.S.?
The Firm vs. the Family: How Does the British Monarchy Really Work?
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
What Is Holi? Celebrating Community, Renewal and Forgiveness
St. Patrick's Day: Spiritual Meaning in a Simple Shamrock
14 Weird Christmas Traditions to Perplex and Delight You
5 Black-Red-Yellow Flag Designs Around the World
Which Blue and White Flag Is That? 9 Possibilities
Telling One Green-White-Orange Flag From Another
How to Tell If She’s Cheating: Common Clues and Behaviors
Signs She’s Not in Love with You – She’s Just Playing Along
7 Signs He Likes You More Than Just a Friend
The 'Memento Mori' Meaning Is Meant to Inspire and Humble
Methuselah Lived Nearly 1,000 Years, According to the Bible
Cherubim According to the Bible (Not Arrow-shooting Cupids)
The Zizians: A Strange and Dangerous Techno-Cult
How Synanon Went From Rehab Philosophy to Violent Cult
Branch Davidians and David Koresh's End of the World
Quiz: Finish That Jingle!
How One Woman Unexpectedly Became the Voice of Siri
There's a Healthier Way to Consume Your Media
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Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are good you've heard about flash mobs. What's the deal with these public spectacles? Who first came up with the fad?
Flash mobs have become entrenched in 21st century pop culture. But who "invented" them and how can you plan your own?
By Chris Warren
Flash mobs have taken on a life of their own, occurring all over the world and involving tens of thousands of participants. Which five stand out from the rest?
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Zoot suits were more than just smart clothes worn by guys in the 30s and 40s. They were suits that made political and cultural statements.
By Chris Warren
Some people will do anything for PEZ -- for example, spend $13,360 on set of Will and Kate dispensers. How did PEZ become so beloved?
In the 1920s, a new kind of woman who defied established gender standards, the flapper, emerged. What actions, outfits and dance moves defined flapper style?
Teens of the 1940s, called bobby-soxers, were known for celebrity-worship and trend conformity, but they were more than just vapid fangirls. How did they set the tone for American teenage culture?
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Marge Simpson rocks a beehive, as do the ladies of the B-52s. After more than half a century, it's a hairstyle that's still guaranteed to draw attention.
In the 1950s, hip teens put on their circle skirts or cuffed jeans, practiced their twist or bop and headed to the sock hop. How did this cultural fad take off, and why was it called a sock hop in the first place?
Vintage Tupperware, in all its pastel glory, has come to symbolize 1960s domesticity in the United States. But how did these still-popular plastic containers get their start?
Or you could use that goofy, flesh-colored substance to block some low-frequency sounds, clean your keyboard or, of course, copy that cool newspaper article you were reading. Stretch your brain even more in How Silly Putty Works.
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The beloved hula hoop has zipped around the hips of fire dancers, video game assassins and regular folks for centuries. Step into the circle of fun with How Hula Hoops Work.
By Robert Lamb
In the 1960s, the concept of "flower power" encapsulated the hippie counterculture's peaceful response to social unrest. Who popularized this idea?
'Come on, baby, let's do the Twist!' That's the call heard 'round the world in 1960 when Chubby Checker's dance song hit the airwaves. But how did the simple Twist leave such an indelible impression on generations since then?
By Julia Layton
What do you get when you take a gooey, rubberlike substance and compress it under 3,500 pounds of pressure? A SuperBall! Do you know what else makes this big bouncer so super?
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With stage revivals of "Saturday Night Fever," it's clear that the leisure suit has never entirely faded from cultural consciousness. Perhaps it's the everlasting nature of poly fibers, but what's made the suit of the '70s a fad with such permanence?
By Julia Layton
Think Disco Demolition Night was the death of the catchy, danceable music of the 1970s? The name "disco" may have faded, but not the music to help you shake your groove thing.
It happens at concerts and live events all across the United States -- inevitably, someone screams out "Play 'Freebird'!" Where did this musical fad -- awesome to some, annoying to others -- come from?
Injection-molded soft plastic footwear -- jellies to the rest of us -- is the fad that just doesn't quit. Whether you wore the glittery, perforated version in the '80s, or prefer the opaque ballet flat variety today.
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Michael Jackson backslid his way into history when he performed the moonwalk in 1983, and the iconic dance step has been associated with him ever since. But did he actually invent it?
Mexico has a long and storied history that spans nearly six centuries and combines many European and indigenous influences. We'll discuss many of this colorful country's most beloved and unique traditions.
By Dave Roos
Italy is famous for many things: its food and wine, its art and architecture, its music and dance. However, most people don't know about the regional diversity that defines Italian tradition. Find out more here.
Beside brats, beer and Oktoberfest, how much do you know about German culture and traditions? Learn more about this fascinating culture in this article.
By Lance Looper
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China is both the largest country and arguably the oldest continuous civilization in the world. As such, it has rich and diverse traditions.
By Jane McGrath
OK, so you've heard of their sushi, samurai and social etiquette, but how much do you really know about Japanese culture? Find out what makes Japanese traditions so, well, Japanese, in this article.