• The History Of Yule Logs Explained

    Despite its long affiliation with the Christian holiday of Christmas, the Yule log actually has its roots in pagan Norse mythology. The tradition originated in Scandinavia, then spread to the Celtic Brits and Gaelic Europeans, who believed that burning a yule log would bring good luck.

    By Aimee Lamoureux November 26th, 2020 Read More
  • How B.o.B's Beliefs May Have Ruined His Career

    For many people -- celebrities included -- conspiracy theories and crank ideas come to cause untold damage to their professional and personal lives. One example is rapper B.o.B, aka Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., who shot to fame in 2009 after his hit single, "Nothin' On You," reached number 1.

    By S. Flannagan November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Reason Evander Holyfield Lost His Money

    For a long time, Evander Holyfield, four time heavyweight champ, had the funds to live a lavish lifestyle. That's what a tough chin and hard hands will get you. But there came a point when this former International Boxing Hall of Famer was losing more money than his fists could bring in.

    By Nick Vrchoticky November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Truth About Keanu Reeves' Motorcycle Accidents

    Apparently a motorcycle remains Keanu's "preferred mode of transportation" not only because of its ease in getting him to his many appointments, but also because he enjoys "the physical sensation of riding, the wind, the smell, the sights, the connection to the machine, the living-in-nature."

    By Karen Corday November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • How Colonial America Celebrated Christmas

    Celebrating the Christmas holiday was actually banned in Massachusetts from 1659 through 1681, per Time magazine. Early American Life magazine notes that Puritans "abhorred the excesses of church celebrations" and saw Christmas as just another day on which to work hard in the name of Lord.

    By Karen Corday November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Incredible Real-Life Story Of Shirley Chisholm

    In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress, and in 1972, she became the first Black person to campaign seriously for the presidency on a major party ticket. She maintained her independent spirit throughout her career, sometimes to her detriment. Here is her story.

    By Natasha Lavender November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why Do We Hang Christmas Wreaths?

    As with most holidays, Christmas is rife with symbols that we take for granted, but of course there is lots of rich history behind them. Just like Christmas trees, candy canes, and mall Santas, the tradition of hanging wreaths had to start somewhere, and exactly where kind of depends on who you ask.

    By Cody Copeland November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Jingle Bells Explained

    "Jingle Bells" is a favorite everywhere, from Christmas radio stations to seasonal concerts, as a cheerful holiday melody that everyone can sing along to. But it was never originally intended to have any connection to Christmas at all.

    By Aimee Lamoureux November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Origin Of Christmas Lights Explained

    People used to put candles on their Christmas trees, explained Popular Mechanics. The tradition was brought to England by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who grew up in Germany. A magazine published an illustration of the Queen's family gathered around a tree with candles adorning it.

    By Emilia David November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why People Hang Stockings At Christmas

    Hanging decorated stockings by the fireplace, with the hope that Santa Claus will fill them with treats, is a popular tradition. In 1823, the practice was commemorated in song with the publication of the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," better known today as "The Night Before Christmas."

    By Aimee Lamoureux November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Story Behind Boxing Day

    One theory posits that employers distributed "Christmas boxes" full of gifts, money, and leftovers from their holiday feasts to their servants on December 26, as the servants would have worked on Christmas Day. The boxes were the 1800s' version of holiday bonuses.

    By Karen Corday November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Many Homes Of Santa Claus Around The World

    Santa Claus at the top of the world in a winter wonderland. His workshop bustles in the Arctic Circle while his helpers pump out toys for billions of kids. But the North Pole at the top of the world isn't the only place that Santa calls home. You can find the jolly saint in several different places.

    By Nick Vrchoticky November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of The Snowman Explained

    In a common sense way, it's understandable why ancient people would have used snow to craft a human figure, or even just play with (if they weren't trying to avoid freezing to death, that is). After all, cave paintings, tribal figurines, and hand-hewn statues all depict the human form.

    By Richard Milner November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why The US Army Was So Afraid Of The Apache

    The relationship between the US and the indigenous people of North America has been infamously bloody, cruel, and usurious. In a single century, from 1784 to when the Dawes Act was signed in 1887, native lands were stolen, bit by bit, until only tiny fragments of modern-day reservations remained.

    By Richard Milner November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of The Hollywood Walk Of Fame Explained

    It's perhaps the most famous sidewalk in the world, but not many people know the true history of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, even though it has some very interesting tales to be told. Here is the history of the Hollywood Walk of Fame explained.

    By Branden C. Potter November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason We Haven't Been Back To The Moon

    On July 20, 1969, one of the most momentous events in human history occurred: Men walked on the Moon. Eventually the United States completed six Moon landings, bringing a total of 12 astronauts to the Moon's surface by 1972. Then we stopped. This is the real reason we haven't been back to the moon.

    By Jeff Somers November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Untold Truth Of 'Schlitzie The Pinhead'

    Schlitzie the Pinhead was one of the most famous circus sideshow acts ever. Schlitzie's unusual "pinhead" appearance brought swarms of audiences to the circus sideshows he called home. But Schlitzie's life was incredibly hard behind the scenes. Here's the untold truth of "Schlitzie the Pinhead."

    By Asher Cantrell November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason Rockets Launch From Florida

    If you were one of the thousands who watched the SpaceX launch, you might have noticed that the feed came from Florida. A lot of space shuttles and rockets take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, and there's a reason for it. But no, it isn't because astronauts get to enjoy the fun and sun.

    By Emilia David November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The Origin Of Mall Santas Explained

    Thousands of old men would impersonate our altered vision of what St. Nick looked like and sit in shopping malls to let countless children sit in their laps to ask if they're real. That last one is a Christmas staple these days, but exactly how did it get its start?

    By Cody Copeland November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why We Eat Candy Canes At Christmas

    The National Confectioners Association reports that candy canes are the most popular non-chocolate candy during December, with 90 percent of them sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This comes to 1.76 billion candy canes produced in the United States each year. But where did they originate?

    By Karen Corday November 25th, 2020 Read More
  • The History Of Christmas Elves Explained

    Where did these staunch Christmas helpers come from? Why exactly does an immortal, bearded man with a magic, toy-spawning bag of holding need slave elves to manufacture said toys before the toys are teleported into said bag? This (and other yuletide mysteries of the ages) clearly needs unraveling.

    By Richard Milner November 25th, 2020 Read More