Culture & Traditions

It's fair to say that in other places, in other times, weddings could be rather crazed affairs, and the garter toss served to make things a little less crazy. But how did this tradition come about?

By Rebecca Fairley Raney

If you don't live amid the soaring peaks of the Himalayas, you may not have heard of this unique human burial practice. So, how does sky burial work?

By Robert Lamb

Quinceañeras celebrate Hispanic girls' transition to womanhood and official entrance into society. What makes them different from run-of-the-mill birthday parties?

By Cristen Conger & Yara Simón

Sometimes, there are things we do as part of a tradition without really considering where the practices may have started. What are some of the common traditions we take part in today that may have surprising origins?

By Garth Sundem

Like anything in human history, many traditions have evolved from old ideas that we may see as a little strange today. How did some of our most common wedding traditions come about?

By Rebecca Fairley Raney

Learn about the importance of family traditions in building relationships, tips for reinvigorating old traditions and starting new ones.

By Chris Opfer

Family traditions foster senses of stability and collective identity, but do kids get why they're important? Learn at what age children might start to understand.

By Laurie L. Dove

Have you ever wondered about your family heritage? The best way to keep important traditions alive is to celebrate them.

By Jane McGrath

It's OK to adapt traditions to better suit your family -- the idea is to share joy and values through rituals, not make each other miserable. Read on for a quick-start guide.

By Christine Venzon

From holiday dinners to goofy birthday rituals, traditions are the things that make your family unique. Here are five ways to make holidays and milestones more meaningful (and fun!) for everyone.

By Alison Cooper

Parent-daughter traditions can take their cues from location, culture, religion and other influences. Here are five that celebrate girls' unique role in their families.

By Cristen Conger

A family vacation isn't just about the destination -- it's about the journey and the traditions that you make together.

By Laurie L. Dove

Introducing new traditions and rituals to your family isn't very difficult -- all it takes is some brainstorming and a little trial-and-error. But how do you get started?

By Marie Willsey

Picking your nose in traffic may be a habit, but you probably wouldn't call it a tradition. So just when does a habit become a tradition?

By Kevin P. Allen

Almost every family tradition has its roots in necessity. Over time, that necessity becomes nostalgia, and eventually, it becomes another way for families to relate and connect with one another. But how important are these traditions?

By Jacob Clifton

Most of us have tried our hand at the intricate (and sometimes exasperating) art of origami. But who first decided that folding paper into elaborate shapes sounded like fun? Find out in How Origami Works.

By Nathan Chandler

Are you the type who wouldn't be caught dead without your makeup? You're not alone; even ancient Egyptians were known to have makeup kits buried with them in their tombs. But the history, ingredient and safety concerns are just part of how makeup works.

By Molly Edmonds

As fashion, fetish and historical foundation, the corset continues to fascinate. Think you know the scoop on this misunderstood garment? Think again!

By Craig Haggit

If you were born sometime between the mid-60s and the beginning of the 80s, you're considered part of Generation X, a loose demographic that came after the postwar Baby Boomers and before the so-called Millennials. What makes Gen-Xers tick?

By Gerlinda Grimes

Members of Generation Y are a mosaic of traits that often seem incompatible: They're egotistical and brash, yet eager to learn and contribute; they want to make lots of money, and they support nonprofit causes. Here, learn how Generation Y works.

By Michael Franco

Ernest Hemingway used the term as a shorthand description for his generation. What did he mean by it?

By Jill Jaracz

Tom Brokaw dubbed this generation "the greatest generation any society has produced," marked by values like "personal responsibility, duty, honor and faith." What else makes this group of Americans so remarkable?

By Clint Pumphrey

We have a tendency to group generations into tidy little groups based on age and shared cultural traits, but Generation Me is harder to define than most -- perhaps because it's hard to put people so determined to be individuals in boxes.

By Ed Grabianowski

They're Generation Z, the newest kids on the demographic block. Technological wizards who have never known life without Internet access, they're the future leaders of our world. What else sets them apart from previous generations, and what challenges do they face?

By Lance Looper & Desiree Bowie

Baby boomers, boomers, Generation "Me" -- whatever you call them, they're members of the most famous and talked-about generation in history. What are the defining characteristics of this aging generation, and how will their retirement impact the rest of us? Find out in How the Baby Boom Generation Works.

By Gerlinda Grimes