Mental Floss
From the world’s tallest peaks to its deepest lakes and beyond
Kat Long|
It’s often said the dreidel was a way Jewish people communicated their faith during ancient times of oppression. But the Hanukkah game is actually a lot more recent.
Jane Alexander|
Novelty craft supplies are tearing the city of Bend, Oregon, apart.
Jake Rossen|
It’s less than an inch in diameter.
Jordan Rosenfeld|
LEGOLAND has a lot to offer, including at 35-foot LEGO tree.
CaLea Johnson|
Each December, "Baby, It’s Cold Outside"—a ’40s-era American standard that some modern listeners hear as a depiction of sexual misconduct—invites a barrage of controversies, radio bans, and think pieces.
Kenneth Partridge|
When you’ve been celebrating a holiday one way your entire life, it’s easy to assume that’s the way it’s celebrated everywhere—but things are a bit different across the pond.
Luke Bather|
Here‘s everything you need to know about this beloved Christmas tradition, from how it evolved to a fun guide for doing it yourself.
Lucas Reilly|
Know what you’re talking about when you sing “troll the ancient Yuletide carol.”
Stacy Conradt|
From gingerbread to peppermint cookies, these are the treats people are looking up around the holidays.
CaLea Johnson|
In 1864, the Jewish poet Ludwig August Frankl named blue and white “the colors of Judah” in a poem not so surprisingly called “Judah’s Colours.”
Amanda Green|
Based on the classic 1985 children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, the movie follows a young Santa Claus skeptic on a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
Michele Debczak|
With Bing Crosby’s star power and Michael Curtiz directing, ‘White Christmas’ overcame early struggles to become a holiday classic.
Matthew Jackson|
Those brightly wrapped packages we exchange around the holidays and other special occasions: Sometimes we call them “gifts,” sometimes “presents.” Is there a difference?
Arika Okrent|
From the color of snow to the shape of rainbows, weather breeds a lot of misconceptions.
Stacy Conradt|
A critique of wealth inequality never tasted so good.
CaLea Johnson|
Figgy pudding might be a fixture in Christmas carol lyrics, but you've probably never seen it in person. So just what is this British dish we've been singing about for all these years?
Michele Debczak|
Cut through the half-truths and urban legends to find out more about Friday the 13th, allegedly the unluckiest day on the calendar.
Jay Serafino|
A new bot collects videos that were uploaded to YouTube directly from people’s iPhones, bringing viewers back to a time before Instagram.
Kat Long|
The Shanghai Museum‘s “Meowseum Nights” allowed cats to witness their history.
CaLea Johnson|
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