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?
Does a Dandelion Tattoo Symbolize Good Luck? Unraveling Its Meaning
What Is the Real Meaning Behind a Spider Web Tattoo?
The Mystery of Scorpion Tattoos – What Do They Really Mean?
Does Sound Bowl Healing Work?
Every Celtic Knot Holds Meaning Within Its Intricate Design
What in the World Is a 'Shoey'?
The Hardest Tongue Twister in English Is...
We Say 'Once in a Blue Moon' But Blue Moons Aren't That Rare
Why We 'Touch Base' at Work and in Baseball
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
Is a Solar Eclipse a Rare Spiritual Event? Rituals for Aligning Your Energy
Is Witchcraft Dangerous? Debunking Myths vs. Reality
Are Mermaids Real? A Look at Mermaid Myths Across Cultures
What Are the Most and Least Popular Birthdays in the U.S.?
The Firm vs. the Family: How Does the British Monarchy Really Work?
What's the Difference Between a Duke and an Earl?
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
14 Weird Christmas Traditions to Perplex and Delight You
Where to Find the Best Christmas Markets in Europe
The Biggest Christmas Tree in the World Was 20 Stories Tall
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
7 Signs He Likes You More Than Just a Friend
Kindness Quotes to Inspire Positivity and Connection
Who Keeps the Ring if the Engagement Ends in a Breakup?
The Armor of God: A Metaphorical Guide to Christian Faith
9 Names of God in Christianity and Judaism
Kali: Goddess of Death and Rebirth in Hindu Tradition
How Synanon Went From Rehab Philosophy to Violent Cult
Branch Davidians and David Koresh's End of the World
The Unification Church: Mass Marriages and a Moonie Messiah
Quiz: Finish That Jingle!
How One Woman Unexpectedly Became the Voice of Siri
There's a Healthier Way to Consume Your Media
Learn More / Page 38
Money for admission? Check. Willing companion to hold onto during your visit? Check. Second set of pants in case yours are scared off? Check. You're now ready to enter a haunted house.
One piece of diet advice is not to snack until you're hungry enough to eat an apple. But what about consuming human flesh? Is cannibalism about hunger, power or desperation? And is it alive and well in our modern world?
By Josh Clark
Potatoes. Moles. Time capsules. Some things just belong underground and thrive in that dark, airless environment. Humans have long preferred topsoil to the subterranean, but some designers are looking to change that.
By Josh Clark
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Before you board the crab boat for your first fishing gig, the captain tells you to ditch the suitcase and the banana. This is deadly work. Are you really going to argue with superstition?
By Debra Ronca
It might be called flavor tripping, but there are no drugs involved. People pop a berry known as miracle fruit and marvel as sweet becomes sour and savory becomes sweet. What is this magical berry? How does this "miracle" happen?
From exchanging rings to saving the top layer of the cake, weddings are full of quirky traditions. When it comes to the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold, it's less about chivalry than it is about chastity and spirit intrusion.
By Josh Clark
At the end of the day, do you like to unwind with a cold drink? Perhaps a bubble bath or a nice, long walk? If beating someone to a bloody pulp is more your style, you may be in luck: A real-life fight club could be just a Web search away.
By Josh Clark
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Chinese parents on the hunt for creative baby names are turning to the Olympic Games for inspiration. Just don't try to name your new baby "@".
Would you eat fried worms? While eating bugs is culturally taboo in the Western world, plenty of people around the globe enjoy a nutritious insect snack.
With Mount Everest as a backdrop, Sherpas live and work at elevations that cause visitors altitude sickness. Learn more about the Sherpa culture and the respect they garner for their mountain mother.
Hundreds of people are protesting down the street. The police arrive and find -- no one? The protesters are gone, but how did they know what to do?
By Josh Clark
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Everything new is old again in the world of steampunk. Steampunk artists overhaul technology with a neo-Victorian style. But what makes the gadgets so expensive?
In the 1960s, the Beatles joined Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his Himalayan ashram. Their interest in meditation undoubtedly influenced their music. But are they responsible for introducing yoga to the West?
Totem poles are, quite literally, family trees. They're massive tree trunks carved with symbols to commemorate family history and special occasions.
By Alia Hoyt
Aboriginal People use stories called dreamings to keep a record of their history. But the recent history of the Aboriginal people is nothing like a dream.
By Ryan Johnson
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How can a house made of snow keep you sheltered from the icy cold? Igloos seem like a great paradox, but they're actually quite practical. Who invented them and why?
By Alia Hoyt
A woman plays with her hair. A man makes eye contact. Is this flirting? How do you tell if the person is showing a romantic interest or a friendly one?
Try saying "toy boat" three times fast. By the time you're done, the words will be all distorted. It's a classic tongue twister, but is it your tongue or your brain that's really tangled up?
By Josh Clark
The Mayans created a sophisticated set of calendars to help them plant crops, plan religious ceremonies and keep their history. How did they do it?
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It's dreary outside, and you remark on the beautiful weather. An incompetent co-worker is promoted, and you say she'll do a great job. It's not Opposite Day -- it's sarcasm.
The Dalai Lama is known for his compassion, wisdom and patience. But how does the 14th Dalai Lama govern his people in exile?
By Sarah Dowdey
From the smallest tribe to the largest nation, important decisions are based on questions like: How many of us are there? How are we divided? Where are we going? Do we have enough food and other resources to take care of us?
The DAR is an organization for descendants of Revolutionary patriots. It promotes education, historic preservation and patriotism. How exclusive is it really?
By Alia Hoyt
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Reincarnation is the concept that the soul, or some aspect of the soul, is reborn into new lives. Has Western science proven that it really occurs?
By Sarah Dowdey
The principle behind karma is that people's actions affect their present and future lives. Is karma an idea or an actual substance that sticks to the soul?
By Sarah Dowdey