Culture & Traditions

From Johnny Appleseed to Paul Bunyan, figures of American folklore continue to inspire and engage. Before the invention on radio and television, people created these characters to help people cope with hard times. Learn more about these legendary figures.

There are many types of angels that make up the spiritual world. Angels are divided into nine different types within three main groups, which are then called choirs. Find out more about these angelic intermediaries for God.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

What may elicit a thumbs up from Miss Manners in the U.S. may not elsewhere in the world. Some cultures do things very different from the way Americans are used to. Learn 13 examples of good and bad manners around the world.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Palindromes are words, phrases or even dates that are spelled the same forward and backward. They don't always make tons of sense, but they're still fun.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

While Saint Peter and Saint Micheal are well-known, there are a number of little-known patron saints. Did you know that there is a patron saint for dentists, ice skaters, bachelors and difficult marriages? Find out more about obscure patron saints.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Everybody has bad days, but fortune seems to have it in for some people. You decide: Are these 10 infamous cases of bad luck coincidences or curses?

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. & Laurie L. Dove

Popular slang terms come and go - and sometimes come back again. Here are some of the most popular slang words of the last 100 years, decade by decade.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. & Desiree Bowie

Pangrams are sentences that use every single letter of the alphabet at least once. They might not all make sense, but these 14 phrases are fun for those of us who love words.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Walter Winchell not only dished the dirt on celebrities and politicians, he also coined some clever phrases. Winchell is considered the forefather of gossip columnists who had a tendency for making up words. Learn 15 terms coined by Walter Winchell.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

If you're headed to the spelling bee, here's a list of words you should have down pat. These words are some of the most common words that people spell incorrectly. Learn 48 commonly misspelled words, only at HowStuffWorks.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

You know genius is all inspiration and perspiration, but it's time to find out what creativity is really about. This list provides some of the most famous quotes that are about creativity and invention. Read 17 favorite quotes on creativity.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Much to our amusement, politicians sometimes get tongue-tied. See our list of 9 political slips of the tongue by presidents and other leaders, including slips by Ronald Reagan and Al Gore.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

People will remember a life well-lived, but a well-written epitaph will render that person unforgettable. Here are 20 of the wittiest and most memorable epitaphs ever written.

By Stephanie Watson & the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Ron Popeil has made a name for himself by selling unique and quirky items on TV such as the Veg-O-Matic. Popeil is an inventor who has made millions of dollars selling his products through infomercials. See our list of 11 items sold by Ron Popeil.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The '70s saw some funky fads, like mood rings, disco balls, and roller skates. Explore the funkiest on this list of 8 funky fads of the 1970s.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

"The question isn't 'What are we going to do?' The question is, 'What aren't we going to do?'" said Ferris in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." And that quote pretty much sums up the fads of this decade.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. & Clint Pumphrey

We like defining decades by their trends, fads and fashion. The '90s are a little hard to define, because the '80s were so easy to describe, but here are a few fantastic fads that are all '90s, all the way.

By Ed Grabianowski

The 1960s were a groovy time, with fads like the lava lamp and go-go boots making their debut. Find out what the grooviest crazes of the 60s were.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Swanson TV dinners were developed in 1953 when families were watching shows such as "I Love Lucy". Read more about the history of Swanson TV dinners.

By John Fuller

Wonderful Weirdos Day was created by citizens of Austin, Texas to celebrate personality quirks on September 9. Read more about Wonderful Weirdos Day.

By John Fuller

Speed dating is based on shidduch, an old Jewish tradition of helping young, single Jews meet others in the faith. Today, this matchmaking tool has spread across the world and is tailored to suit a variety of interests. Learn about how speed dating works and if the rules of attraction still apply.

By Josh Clark

Dogfighting has been in the news recently because of the Michael Vick conviction. What exactly is dogfighting and who are the people involved in this cruel and horrific "sport?" Learn about dogfighting in this article.

By Jacob Silverman

Geek chic: Is it a style, a trend, a movement, a cultural shift or just a love affair with all things uncool? First off, what is a geek? If you're getting ready to argue about this definition, you might be one of them.

By Katie Lambert

July 7, 2007 is considered by many people to be one of the luckiest days of the century. Find out what the excitement surrounding 7/7/07 is all about.

Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence every year on July 4 with picnics and fireworks. Learn the story behind Independence Day in the United States and how its traditions came about.

By Marshall Brain