How Purple Clothing Made Its Way Into the Mainstream
The color purple’s association with royalty dates back to the ancient world. But the exclusivity of the color stems from more than just its rich, bold hue.
Culture
Meet Krampus, the Scary Counterpart to St. Nicholas
Many people have heard of the legend of Krampus thanks to references in pop culture — including a 2015 film titled Krampus. But the roots of this half-goat, half-demon monster date back much farther.
How Countries Around the World Contribute to Christmas Traditions
Roughly 90% of Americans say they celebrate Christmas every year. But many of the traditions Americans participate in throughout the season can be traced back to other countries — and in some cases, other holidays.
The Origins and Evolution of Thanksgiving
Why do we enjoy such a huge meal on Thanksgiving? The origins of the holiday help shed light on this food-focused tradition.
The Slow and Steady Evolution of the Cappuccino
Given the popularity of large coffee shop chains, recent years have seen the invention of many trendy new coffee concoctions. But you’ll find some classics on most menus as well — for instance, the cappuccino has origins that date back hundreds of years.
The Rich History of Día de los Muertos
Given its close proximity to October 31st, many people think the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos is the country’s take on Halloween. But the true origins and meaning of the holiday go much deeper.
Witches: Evil-doers or the victims of a centuries-long misrepresentation?
Witches often get a bad rap as spooky, sinister beings, as seen in the classic Halloween imagery that invokes them. But there’s more to their story than meets the eye.
5 Lucky Items From Around the World
Four-leaf Clover While it’s unclear exactly where the origin of the four-leaf clover superstition began, one thing is certain: four-leaf clovers are one of the most recognizable good luck symbols in the Western world. Some legends claim that the four leaves are supposed to stand for faith, hope, love, and luck, while others claim that these clovers …
11 YouTube Trivia Shows to Watch if You Want to Get Smarter
The days of searching for answers on the internet have transformed. While Google remains a classic platform for finding answers, there is another that has come to challenge its reign. YouTube, once known mostly for its silly cat videos, has become a source of Trivia and learning for many. Whether it be makeup techniques, how to build a table, or why the grass is green – YouTube has both an answer and a visual to match.
With that in mind, we thought we’d round up some of our favorite YouTube channels dedicated to spreading the wealth of Trivia knowledge across various topics. From history to chemistry and everything in between, these channels cover it all.
Who Was Leif Erikson, Anyway?
Columbus Day, or more aptly Indigenous Peoples’ Day in recent times, comes around each year. We’re widely taught that he is the first European to set foot on North America. However, what many don’t know is that there is someone else who technically set foot on North America hundreds of years before Columbus.
Enter: sort-of viking explorer, Leif Erikson. He was a leader and icon for many Scandinavians well past his time (and also notably doesn’t have a troubling history with treatment of the indigenous population of America). So it begs the question: Why are we celebrating Columbus Day instead of Leif Erikson Day? Yes, this is a real holiday; it’s not simply a made up holiday briefly mentioned in an episode of Spongebob Squarepants.