Mental Floss

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A dash of nutmeg on top never hurt.

Eggnog started out as a fancy English drink called posset and made its way into American holiday celebrations.

Ethan Trex


The Fra Mauro map.

The Mercator Projection, Ptolemy’s ‘Geographia’, the Fra Mauro Map, and even Google Maps have all shaped how we experience the world around us.

Lorna Wallace








No cotton-headed ninny-muggins here!

Discover more fun facts about the Will Ferrell Christmas movie that has since become a holiday classic.

Kristy Puchko






Grab your magnifying glass.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Ellen Gutoskey


We’ve all been there.

Whether you’re at a hotel on a business trip or crashing at a relative’s house for the holidays, getting quality sleep on the first few nights can be a challenge. Here’s why.

Kate Horowitz


In his long career, Carrey’s given us comedy, kookiness, and drama.

Carrey has given us an array of looks, laughs, and lamentations in his career—did your favorite performance make the list?

Jason Tabrys