Culture & Traditions

If asked to describe Voodoo, many people would mention pin-filled dolls, zombies, and spirit possessions. But most of this doesn't have anything to do with real Voodoo (aka Voudou).

By Tracy V. Wilson

A hybrid of English and Spanish known as Spanglish can be heard in many predominantly Hispanic areas as well as on TV and in movies. Learn where it came from and how it works.

By Tracy V. Wilson

Many of us offer a blessing when someone sneezes, and we don't even know why. Why does a sneeze get a "bless you" when a cough goes unanswered?"

By Stephanie Watson

A lot of women would be pleased to know the answer to this age-old question. Is it something in their biological makeup? Rooted in testosterone? We found out.

By Tracy V. Wilson

If you believe what you see on TV, women are conniving, hysterical and indecisive. So is gender clouded by perception, and does biology support or disprove stereotypes?

By Tracy V. Wilson

The Christmas songs you've been hearing your entire life came from medieval chants, church sermons, prayers and meditations. Get the lyrics, sheet music and histories of your favorite Christmas melodies.

By Gail Cohen & Gilbert DeBenedetti

Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Crachit, Tiny Tim -- everyone knows these names. Charles Dickens created an unforgettable world in 'A Christmas Carol.' Reacquaint yourself with one of the greatest Christmas stories ever written.

Whether your taste runs spooky or silly, if you're willing to get your hands dirty, a pumpkin can be the perfect canvas to express your Halloween style.

By Tracy V. Wilson

You've probably heard the story about Catherine the Great and the horse. Although this false piece of gossip is more than 200 years old, it's still being spread as fact. Learn about the different types of gossip and find out why gossip is so ubiquitous.

By Tracy V. Wilson

A recently declassified U.S. government study says the Iraq war has become a uniting cause for "Muslim jihadists."

By Julia Layton

Halloween is just around the corner, so start planning now to throw a "killer" Halloween party. We'll take the stress out of planning by showing you Halloween themes that are so fun ... it's scary.

By Lynda Twardowski

When you really think about it, kissing is pretty gross -- it's rooted in saliva and mucous membranes. Yet anthropologists report that 90 percent of the people in the world kiss. So what's all the fuss about?

By Tracy V. Wilson

If you've ever seen costumed people with weapons covered in duct tape, then you've made contact with LARPers. Part battle, part story-telling, the Live Action Role Playing trend began in the 1960s and is still growing thanks to the continued popularity of fantasy and science fiction.

By Tracy V. Wilson

Conspiracy theories are often ridiculous explanations for a disputed case or matter. There are conspiracy theories about everything from aliens to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America. Find out how these theories get started in this article.

By Marshall Brain

In this article, we'll separate fact from propaganda and learn what a cult actually is, see what practices characterize a destructive cult and investigate some of the more notable cult incidents in recent history.

By Julia Layton

Learn about the hardware behind animated tattoos, how they are implanted into the body and explore some of the safety issues associated with animated tattoos.

By Robert Valdes

The best-selling novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" depicts life as a geisha in Japan in the World War II era. But it is a work of fiction. Find out who and what a geisha is and how they fit into Japanese culture.

By Julia Layton

In this article, we'll explore what makes words into swearwords, why most Americans use them and how society responds to swearing. We'll also look at one of its most fascinating aspects -- the way it affects your brain.

By Tracy V. Wilson

The public debate between Christian creationism and evolution has heated up once again in the United States. Learn about the different forms of Christian creationism and find out what's fueling the controversy.

By Julia Layton

How does intelligent design explain the origins of life? Does it fit the criteria of a scientific theory, or is it religious dogma in a scientific wrapper? In this article, we'll examine intelligent design and the controversy it has generated.

By Julia Layton

"Pistols at dawn!" The challenge is issued. To turn it down would leave you marked a coward for life. You meet at the chosen spot. You could be severely wounded or killed today. Why is all this happening? Because you made fun of his hat.

By Ed Grabianowski

Reno is known as the divorce capital because of the "quickie divorce" a couple can get there. What is a quickie divorce and what does it have to do with Reno? Find out in this article.

By Lee Ann Obringer

Are divorces easier to get now than they used to be? What are the types of divorce, the procedures, and what's involved in the final divorce agreement? We'll explore mediation as an alternative to litigation and see what it takes to get a DIY divorce.

By Lee Ann Obringer

If you've ever been in love, you've probably at least considered classifying the feeling as an addiction. And guess what? You're right — it's the same chemical process taking place.

By Lee Ann Obringer & Michelle Konstantinovsky

Gone are the days when flirtation and romance were to be found in bars and grocery store produce aisles. Online dating is the much hipper -- and more common -- way to go these days.

By Ed Grabianowski