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What Is Figgy Pudding, Anyway?
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?
HISTORY
13 Fascinating Facts About Friday the 13th
Cut through the half-truths and urban legends to find out more about Friday the 13th, allegedly the unluckiest day on the calendar.
Cats Invited to Egyptian Exhibit for ‘Meowseum Nights’ in Shanghai
The Shanghai Museum‘s “Meowseum Nights” allowed cats to witness their history.
Who Is Jack Frost?
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?
11 Frightful Facts About ‘Nosferatu’
The 1922 German silent film shamelessly plagiarized Bram Stoker’s novel ‘Dracula.’ But if ‘Nosferatu’ had never been made, the vampire genre so embedded in pop culture might never have taken off.
The Pagan Origins of Christmas Ham
The tradition of eating ham on Christmas dates back to Nordic animal sacrifices.
6 of History’s Worst In-Laws
From Ivan the Terrible to Herod the Great, these historical figures weren’t the best relatives.
12 Amazing Facts About Petra
Carved from rock in modern-day Jordan, Petra prospered for centuries under Nabataean and Roman rule. This dazzling settlement is now one of the region’s greatest attractions.
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“Dominick The Donkey,” Lou Monte's 1960 holiday earworm, is a novelty song even by Christmas music standards.
10 Old Christmas Traditions We Don't See Anymore
These lost festive traditions are no longer part of modern Christmas celebrations.
From Thomas Edison to LEDs: A Brief History of Christmas Tree Lights
The history of how these mass-produced novelty lights became a holiday fixture is a distinctly American Christmas tale.
10 Ancient and Contemporary Yule Traditions
For millennia, people have celebrated the longest night of the year with these Yule traditions.
Why Aren’t Classical Statues Very Well-Endowed?
Cultural values have changed a lot since ancient Greece.
Can You Identify the Real Historical Euphemism for Sex?
People in the past had a way with words when it came to describing activity between the sheets.
Why Do We Call It an “Allen Wrench”?
The six-sided tool helped make IKEA a household name. But did anyone named Allen have anything to do with it?
Watch Queen Elizabeth II Deliver the First Televised Christmas Broadcast
The transition from radio to a televised broadcast marked a new era for the monarchy.
7 Formidable Facts About the Tower of London
The Tower of London inspires awe, fear, and intrigue. Here are seven facts you may not know about the iconic British fortress.
In Outer Space, Where Does a Compass Point?
On Earth, compasses always point north—but when you’re drifting outside our planet’s magnetosphere, things get more complicated.
8 Fascinating But Not-So-Jolly Legends About St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas may have inspired Santa Claus, but the two figures were remarkably different.
A Brief History of Eggnog
Eggnog started out as a fancy English drink called posset and made its way into American holiday celebrations.
20 Maps That Changed the World
The Mercator Projection, Ptolemy’s ‘Geographia’, the Fra Mauro Map, and even Google Maps have all shaped how we experience the world around us.
When People Thought the ‘Back to the Future II’ Hoverboard Was Real
The Mattel hovercraft was a figment of imagination, but that didn't stop kids (and their parents) from demanding where to buy one.
9 Facts About Krampus, St. Nick’s Demonic Companion
St. Nick brings the gifts. Krampus brings the pain. Here are some things you might not have known about Santa’s demonic companion.
Meet Crom Dubh na Nollaig, Scotland’s ‘Dark Crooked One of Christmas’
Scotland‘s Crom Dubh na Nollaig is a Christmas monster who scares children into behaving well.