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Our 25 Most Popular Stories of 2023
Once again, Mental Floss readers proved to be curious about all sorts of niche topics—and our editors and writers were happy to oblige their interests.
FACTS
25 Things to Look for During the 24-Hour ‘A Christmas Story’ Marathon
You know Ralphie Parker’s plight by heart, but can you spot the many flubs in Bob Clark’s ‘A Christmas Story’?
10 Unusual Facts About Toy Giant Hasbro for Its 100th Anniversary
The toy giant best known for assembling G.I. Joe once owned Death Row Records.
Make the Holidays Extra Cozy—and Entertaining—With Our 100-Fact Fireplace Video
YouTube has countless cozy fireplace videos. But how many of them boast 100 fun facts?
15 Surprising Facts About Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet contains multitudes, from his rapper alter-ego to an obsession with 'The Office.'
Wikipedia’s 25 Most Popular Pages of 2023
Four of the most visited Wikipedia pages involve cricket.
13 Facts About Charlemagne, the First King of the Franks
Charlemagne built one of the greatest empires in world history, but less than a century after his death, it was gone.
8 Magical Facts About ‘The Nutcracker’
Peek behind the curtains of ‘The Nutcracker,’ Tchaikovsky’s famous Yuletide ballet.
47 Fun Facts About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Since the 1920s, Macy's has sent more than 90 versions of its famed Thanksgiving Day Parade down the streets of Manhattan.
12 Surprising Facts About Britney Spears
Britney Spears’s songs, music videos, and live performances defined an era and inspired an entire generation of future pop stars.
Why Are Elections Held on Tuesdays?
There are a few reasons—including a little something to do with the horse and buggy. Find out more about the history of Election Day.
10 Facts About Louis Wain, the Cat-Obsessed Victorian Artist
Louis Wain sketched, painted, and even animated cats throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
15 Surprising Facts About Winter Weather
Whether you like bundling up in your coziest gear or are counting the days until spring, you’ll enjoy these facts about winter weather.
11 Fascinating Facts About Octavia E. Butler’s ‘Parable of the Sower’
When Octavia E. Butler wrote her science fiction novel ‘The Parable of the Sower,’ she vowed to include only things that could actually happen.
10 Things You Need to Know About the Johnstown Flood
The Great Flood of 1889 killed more than 2000 people, swept away 1600 homes, and caused $17 million in damage. And it wasn’t the last time Johnstown would flood.
100 Facts That Will Make You Go “WTF”
Weird but fascinating facts about everything from the guy who dragged cars with his nipples to frogs shedding (and eating!) their own skin.
10 Chilling Facts About Permafrost
About 11 percent of the Earth’s surface is perpetually frozen, though that will surely change as global warming continues.
11 Illuminating Facts About the Movie ‘Twilight’
It’s never a bad time to talk about the baseball scene in ‘Twilight.’
Why Alaska is Home to America’s Easternmost Point
To find the easternmost point in the United States, look west.
10 Facts About Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios
In the weeks leading up to Halloween, the family-friendly characters that normally populate Universal Studios are replaced with killer clowns and chainsaw-wielding maniacs.
15 Spooky Halloween Traditions and Their Origins
Love Halloween costumes and spooky decorations? Let’s dig a little deeper and learn the creepy stories behind the holiday's traditions, from carving pumpkins to munching on candy corn.
8 Cool Facts About Disney’s ‘Frozen’
Disney’s 'Frozen' might have come out in 2013, but it’s still a hit with kids (and Disney adults) to this day.
1 Fact About Every Country in the United Nations: Part 1
In this episode of The List Show, we cover one fact about EVERY country in the United Nations—with Part 1 going up to the letter G.
12 Surprising Facts About ‘Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn’
The 'splatstick' horror classic was shot inside of a junior high school and owes its very existence to Stephen King.