BIG QUESTIONS

Pink slips have had a lot of different meanings over the years.

Why Is Being Fired Called ‘Getting the Pink Slip’?

Getting laid off has long been associated with getting a fancy pink invitation to the unemployment line. Why?

What Exactly is Christmas Tree Flocking?

There’s something so nostalgic about a well-flocked Christmas tree. Here’s how professionals manufacture this holiday sight for sore eyes.

Building snowmen is not a new winter activity.

Why Do We Build Snowmen?

From children decorating them with hats and carrot noses to giant sculptures of fan-favorite characters, where there is snow, there will be snowmen. Here’s a brief history of why we build them.

The Supreme Court has weighed a convicted person’s right to refuse a pardon in three major cases.

Can a Person Refuse a Presidential Pardon?

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in at least three cases on a person’s right to refuse a presidential pardon.

Let’s investigate the high-stakes world of Social Security trivia.

Was the First-Ever Social Security Number Really 001-01-0001?

In 1936, someone got bragging rights to having the lowest possible Social Security Number—but only after several others turned it down.

Illustration of people enjoying wassail, circa 1800.

What Is Wassailing, Anyway?

Here‘s everything you need to know about this beloved Christmas tradition, from how it evolved to a fun guide for doing it yourself.

The origins of Hanukkah’s blue and white color scheme are in the Bible and 19th-century poetry.

Why Are Blue and White the Colors of Hanukkah?

In 1864, the Jewish poet Ludwig August Frankl named blue and white “the colors of Judah” in a poem not so surprisingly called “Judah’s Colours.”

A stack of gifts ... or are they presents?

What’s the Difference Between a Gift and a Present?

Those brightly wrapped packages we exchange around the holidays and other special occasions: Sometimes we call them “gifts,” sometimes “presents.” Is there a difference?

A holly sprig is considered a traditional part of the garnish.

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?

Jack Frost pops up in a number of wintery tales.

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?

Those little packets keep your flowers fresh.

What’s In Those Little Packets That Come With Bouquets of Flowers?

Three ingredients in the “flower food” packet stapled to the cellophane around your bouquet can help the blooms stay vibrant.

Why Does Your Body Jerk Awake As You’re Trying to Fall Asleep?

Up to 70 percent of people have experienced hypnic jerks, but they’re usually nothing to worry about.

Why Aren’t Classical Statues Very Well-Endowed?

Cultural values have changed a lot since ancient Greece.

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?

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.

If they were in separate glasses without their cans, could you tell them apart?

What’s the Difference Between Diet Soda and Zero-Sugar Soda?

Are Diet Coke and Coke Zero really that different? Here are the differences and health factors in the diet soda vs. zero-sugar soda debate.

Elf vs. Gnome: What's the Difference?

These two tiny titans of folklore might appear similar, but they couldn't be more different.

Why Is It So Hard to Sleep in a New Place?

Whether you’re at a hotel on a business trip or crashing at a relative’s house for the holidays, getting quality sleep on the first few nights can be a challenge. Here’s why.

Why Do So Many Products Come With ‘Do Not Eat’ Packets?

And what happens if you chow down on one anyway?

Why Do Christmas Crackers Come With Paper Crowns?

Let’s crack the history wide open.

Christmas trees are an essential part of the holiday.

How Did Evergreen Trees Become a Christmas Symbol?

Discover the origins of the Christmas tree tradition that brings joy to millions each season.

You'd be surprised about a few of these theories.

Why Are Red and Green the Colors of Christmas?

While there may be no definite consensus on how red and green became the official colors of Christmas, there are a few interesting explanations.

Why Don’t Casinos Have Windows?

Most casinos lack windows, and gamblers like it that way.

Why Do the Lions and Cowboys Always Play on Thanksgiving?

Why do the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys always take to the field for a Thanksgiving football game? Because it’s tradition! But how did this tradition begin?