CULTURE

Papel Picado banners in San Antonio, Texas.

7 Facts About Hispanic Heritage Month

For more than 30 years, Americans have celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15 each year. Here’s how this annual celebration came to be—and how you can take part.

8 Misconceptions About Japan

Not all Japanese game shows feature life-threatening challenges, and not all ramen lovers slurp loudly. Let's debunk a few more misconceptions about Japan.

A hand-carved totem pole in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

8 Ways to Experience Indigenous Heritage in One Canadian Province

Indigenous-led tourism is driving a cultural revival in British Columbia. Here's how to experience the Canadian province's 10,000-year-old traditions.

Map showing etiquette practices from around the world.

The World's Most Peculiar Etiquette Practices, Mapped

Study this map of global etiquette rules before your next trip abroad.

Map showing the highest-rated books by local authors in each country.

The Highest-Rated Book in Each Country, Mapped

If you read to explore different worlds, this map of Goodreads' top book by a local author in each country is for you.

The first African American dictionary of its kind is due in 2025.

Scholars Have Released the First Words Chosen for The Oxford Dictionary of African American English

The years-in-the-making Oxford Dictionary of African American English will offer proper attribution to words and phrases that originated in Black culture.

Jennifer Aniston is a member of Generation X.

20 Facts About Generation X

The generation born between 1965 and 1980 loves nostalgia, has a ton of student debt, and hates cooking.

TJ is pretty accomplished for a four-year-old.

‘Sesame Street’ Just Debuted Its First-Ever Filipino American Muppet

The first Filipino American Muppet on "Sesame Street" is a boy named TJ whose grandmother is helping him learn Tagalog.

Minutemen fought for America but probably sounded British.

When Did Americans Lose Their British Accents?

One big factor in the divergence of the accents is something called 'rhotacism.'

Students perform a dance during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

5 Facts About Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Each May for more than 40 years, America has paid tribute to the vast cultural contributions of its Asian and Pacific Islander citizens. Here are a few fascinating facts about how Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month came to be.

9 Facts About Arab American Heritage Month

Arab American Heritage Month, occurring each April, is a relatively new event on the yearly calendar—but the history of Arab immigrants in the U.S. goes way back.

See How People Reacted to 'Dungeons & Dragons' in the 1980s

With 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' hitting theaters, it's easy to forget the game's controversial past.

Agatha Christie's work is under fresh scrutiny.

Agatha, Edited: Mystery Author Agatha Christie's Work Is Being Reworked to Remove Objectionable Content

Some passages from Agatha Christie's library are being eliminated in an effort to address concerns over alleged xenophobia and racist descriptions.

Crab rangoon is a Chinese takeout staple, but it didn't originate in China.

The Puzzling Origins of Crab Rangoon

Crab rangoon isn't Chinese—and it may not contain real crab.

Cate Blanchett is one of 12 women making the 'TIME' list this year.

‘TIME’ Has Named Its 12 ‘Women of the Year’ for 2023

For the second year in a row, ‘TIME’ has singled out a dozen actors, sports figures, and activists making a difference in the world.

These Revised Guidelines Redefine Birth Years and Classifications for Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha

The age ranges and birth years for Gen Z and Gen Alpha—along with Millennials—are clearer (so we can all quit fighting about it now).

With these delicious alonds, I thee wed...

Why People Give Out Jordan Almonds at Weddings

The candy-coated almonds are a traditional part of many Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern wedding celebrations.

When 'Fraggle Rock' Spread Peace Throughout the Soviet Union

In 1989, Jim Henson's 'Fraggle Rock' became the first American television series to air in what was then still the Soviet Union.

Halloween isn't the only holiday with spooky superstitions.

Odd Lang Syne: 7 Creepy New Year’s Superstitions That’ll Keep You Up Past Midnight

From ogre-like demons to beating bread against the wall to ward off evil spirits and more, some New Year’s superstitions and traditions are spookier than others.

Why Southern Couples Bury a Bottle of Bourbon One Month Before Their Wedding

Tradition and culture have always played a deep role in Southern weddings.

Ring in the New Year Like a Scot With First Footing—As Long as You Have Dark Hair

If you’re at a New Year’s Eve party in Scotland, don’t be surprised if a guest leaves the house a few minutes before midnight just so that they can re-enter as the first footer after the bells.

The winter solstice is on December 21, 2022.

25 Facts About the Winter Solstice, the Shortest Day of the Year

Whether you’re a fan of winter or wish it would go away, here are 25 things to note about the winter solstice, a.k.a. the shortest day of the year.

Wordle Has a New Editor, and That Could Change How You Play the Game

To win Wordle, it helps to know what the new editor might be thinking.

Sámi herders tending to their reindeer in the Norwegian Arctic, 2016. | Scott Wallace/GettyImages

8 Facts About Sámi Reindeer Herders

For centuries, the Sámi people of Northern Europe have relied on reindeer herding for food, warmth, and income.