BIG QUESTIONS

Content about maps, fascinating facts about everyday objects, language, and dogs was a hit among Mental Floss readers this year.

Worried about the health risks that come with shoveling show? Here's what you need to know, plus a few tips for how to do it safely.

The ritual of marking time until the new year hits is a relatively recent phenomenon. It also has a lot to do with NASA.

There’s something so nostalgic about a well-flocked Christmas tree. Here’s how professionals manufacture this holiday sight for sore eyes.

From children decorating them with hats and carrot noses to giant sculptures of fan-favorite characters, where there is snow, there will be snowmen. Here’s a brief history of why we build them.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in at least three cases on a person’s right to refuse a presidential pardon.

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?

Most iterations of Jack Frost see him clad in icy blue and white, and as well as being responsible for nose-nipping, he’s also credited with creating frost. But where exactly did this mythical cold-weather figure originate?

Three ingredients in the “flower food” packet stapled to the cellophane around your bouquet can help the blooms stay vibrant.

Are Diet Coke and Coke Zero really that different? Here are the differences and health factors in the diet soda vs. zero-sugar soda debate.

These two tiny titans of folklore might appear similar, but they couldn't be more different.

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.