Big Questions Answered, How and Why

A dish of Hoppin’ John is a delicious way to start the new year.

The humble black-eyed pea has become a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Southern New Year's traditions.

Frozen precipitation comes in many forms, and they all pose unique threats.

Drop this fact at your New Year’s Eve party.

The meaning of ‘ring in the New Year’ is now mostly metaphorical, but it used to involve literal ringing.

The ‘hidden headlamps’ were having a moment. Then pesky pedestrian safety cramped their style.

Next time someone confuses the two drinks, you‘ll know how to correct them.

Don’t let wine aficionados hear you confuse these two sparkling beverages.

She's probably looking at one of our map or dog pieces.

Content about maps, fascinating facts about everyday objects, language, and dogs was a hit among Mental Floss readers this year.

Experts say that it pays to proceed with caution.

Worried about the health risks that come with shoveling show? Here's what you need to know, plus a few tips for how to do it safely.

The ritual of marking time until the new year hits is a relatively recent phenomenon. It also has a lot to do with NASA.

What is a flapjack? If you’re in England, it’s not a fluffy round cake made from batter and fried in a pan.

If you’ve ever been jinxed into owing someone a soda, you should know why.

How do these two famous vampires compare?

Ahead of Robert Eggers’s adaptation of ‘Nosferatu,’ here’s a breakdown of the differences and similarities between the two iconic bloodsuckers.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?