%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
7 Wild Predictions About Y2K
Nuclear war. Prisons unraveling. And using toilet paper for money. People were freaked out about Y2K.
ALL STORIES
Ring in the New Year Like a Scot With First Footing—As Long as You Have Dark Hair
If you’re at a New Year’s Eve party in Scotland, don’t be surprised if a guest leaves the house a few minutes before midnight just so that they can re-enter as the first footer after the bells.
Our 40 Most Popular Stories of 2022
In 2022, Mental Floss readers had trucks, dogs, food, Wordle, and the royal family on their minds.
9 Surprising Facts About Prince Harry
In the midst of the incessant press speculation and gossip, many less well-known things about the Duke of Sussex have become lost in the shuffle.
Smash Knit: How Ugly Christmas Sweaters Took the Holiday Season by Storm
How did we get from one ugly Christmas sweater party in Vancouver to … here? It’s quite a yarn.
The Reason So Many Movies Open on Christmas Day
Christmas is one of the most profitable times of the year for film studios, who count on people desperate to get away from their families for a couple of hours.
4 Dickens Christmas Stories You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Such was the success of 'A Christmas Carol' that the four festive stories Dickens published after it—some overlooked classics, others critical flops and missteps—have since largely become eclipsed by their better-known predecessor.
8 Decidedly Unromantic Facts About Mistletoe
The tradition of kissing under mistletoe might stem from a mythological murder.
This Recipe for Roasted Root Vegetables Is the Perfect Winter Side Dish
You can use carrots, parsnips, turnips, or all of the above in this simple recipe for roasted root vegetables from the Institute of Culinary Education.
42 Festive Facts About ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’
‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ is the gift that keeps on giving (and you kind of have Stanley Kubrick to thank for its existence).
What Is Stiff-Person Syndrome?
Celine Dion recently announced that she has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare and progressive neurological disorder that only affects about one or two out of every 1 million people.
Can You Spot All 10 Differences Between These Two Festive Offices?
These Christmas-themed offices are harboring 10 differences and one adorable elf. Can you find them all?
What's the Kennection? #41
All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?
22 Pittsburgh Slang Terms You Should Know
Pittsburgh residents may seem like they speak a different language. And in a way, they do: Residents call their distinct dialect Pittsburghese. Here are some slang terms to know so you don’t look too much like a tourist.
12 Surprising Facts About ‘Black Christmas’
Nearly a decade before he made ‘A Christmas Story,’ Bob Clark turned a horror movie about an unsuspecting group of sorority sisters and a mysterious killer lurking in their attic into a different kind of holiday classic.
Sleigh It Ain't So: How to Talk to Kids About “the Santa Question”
When kids ask if Santa is real, is it time to come clean?
The Thrilling History of the Roller Coaster
In this episode of The History of Fun, Mental Floss producer and host Justin Dodd traces the topsy-turvy track of roller coaster history and explores the science behind being thrilled.
Why Watching Holiday Movies Makes Us Feel Good, According to Science
Holiday movies play to our nostalgia bias, a cognitive process that makes us long for past times because we think they were somehow better than now.
7 Surprising Facts About Michael J. Fox
What does the 'J' stand for? And when will he get his Oscar?
One VFX Artist On 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Was Mainly There For Fish Poop
Accuracy was important to the filmmakers behind the 'Black Panther' sequel—so much so that one visual effects artist was tasked with making sure the fish poop looked realistic.
Why Do We Only Say “’Tis the Season” During the Holidays?
Nobody will think you’re talking about baseball season, open season, or any other season. But why?
11 Wintry Books To Read Under Your Warmest Blanket
Get snowed in with the best books to read in winter, including “Snowblind” by Ragnar Jónasson, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” and other great reads.
An Eye-Popping History of the Red Ryder BB Gun From 'A Christmas Story'
Ralphie Parker's thirst for an air rifle was borne out of a real toy trend and a fake cowboy.
The 50 Best Christmas Movies of All Time, According to Rotten Tomatoes
‘Elf,’ ‘A Christmas Story,’ and ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’ all made the list. So did ‘Die Hard.’