Mental Floss

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(It might have something to do with sick days.)

The day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, has a rather sinister label: Black Friday. How did that happen?

Jake Rossen


















In German, the word for ‘gloves’ translates as “hand shoes.”

Germany is the land of Oktoberfest, Christmas markets, and super literal compound words like Glühbirne (“glow pear,” a.k.a. “lightbulb”) and Baumwolle (“tree wool,” otherwise known as cotton).

Sophie Lau