Arts & Culture
Who Is Sadie Hawkins — And Why Is a Dance Named After Her?
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Article
The Sadie Hawkins dance is a familiar tradition to most Americans, best known for the custom of girls asking boys to the dance instead of the other way around. In a world where women run businesses, lead governments, and head nearly half of U.S. households, setting aside one special night for girls to take the lead can feel unnecessary and outdated. Still, the story behind Sadie Hawkins herself offers a fascinating window into Depression-era America and the surprising ways popular culture can shape real-life traditions for generations. Mind you, Sadie Hawkins wasn’t a real person. ...Read More
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Arts & CultureFact8Gargoyles on churches were originally drain pipes.
If you’ve ever wondered whether gargoyles serve a function beyond looking cool in a vaguely sinister way, just check the etymology. The word “gargoyle” comes from the Old French gargole,…
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Arts & CultureArticle65 Things Movies Get Wrong About the Medieval Era
There’s a reason you’ve never heard Nicole Kidman say, “We come to this place for a history lesson,” in her AMC commercials. Movies don’t have the best track record when…
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Arts & CultureFact24Horse-riding librarians delivered books during the Great Depression.
During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration, one of the most visible New Deal programs, hired unemployed Americans to develop public works projects. These public works included libraries —…
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Arts & CultureFact4Town planning was an Olympic sport.
Nowadays, we tune in to the Olympic Games to see feats of athleticism, from daring ski jumps to stunning gymnastic routines. But athletics is a narrower focus than in some…
