Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 09/02/2026At the 1936 Olympics, Haiti and Liechtenstein discovered they essentially had the same flag. To avoid future confusion, Haiti added its national crest, and Liechtenstein added a yellow crown. Both are really, really ridiculously good-looking. 217443
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 30/01/2026While working at Toronto’s Second City Theater, Catherine O’Hara was made Gilda Radner’s understudy. When Radner left in 1974, O’Hara became a member of the company, and her ability to imbue her comedic characters with depth and humanity launched a decades-long career. 128545
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 21/01/2026Turns out cows may have beauty and brains. 820338
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 20/01/2026Aquarius’s representation as a man pouring a stream of water out of a jug may be because in ancient times, the rising of Aquarius coincided with a period of floods and rain in the Middle East. Another conspiracy theory for them to consider. 2637
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 14/01/2026Protestors are currently flying an old version of Iran’s flag, both in Tehran and worldwide as their movement gains momentum. Here’s some information on the old flag, as well as Iran’s current one. 28319
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 12/01/2026If lizards had legs, they'd kick you. (they do and they would) 1584
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 08/01/2026The Mercator projection is widely used for navigation charts, but is less practical for world maps, because the scale is distorted and areas farther away from the Equator appear disproportionately large. 621160
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 08/01/2026A timeline of the January 2nd U.S. military mission to arrest and remove Venezuelan Pres. Nicolás Maduro and his wife. 🧵⬇️ 45414
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 05/01/2026Loons feed mainly on fish, crustaceans, and insects, which you could say are their heated rivals. 18213
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 26/12/2025Over a third of Frida Kahlo's paintings were self-portraits. Although her paintings often mixed fantasy with realism, she said, "I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality." 1643
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 26/12/2025Of animal skeletons she collected, O'Keeffe said: “To me they are as beautiful as anything I know… . The bones seem to cut sharply to the center of something that is keenly alive on the desert.” 1492
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 26/12/2025While other painters at the time found sunflowers slightly coarse and unrefined, Van Gogh championed them in his paintings. After his death, friends brought sunflowers to his funeral. 1270
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 26/12/2025During his lifetime, Claude Monet painted more than 250 water lilies paintings, seemingly never stopping to say, “Enough. Enough for now.” 113227
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 22/12/2025Florida upside down kind of looks like the Grinch. Who knew the 27th state, consisting of mostly geologically young, low-lying plains, had such strong feelings about Christmas? 18518
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 22/12/2025FYI: “Capricornus” usually refers to the zodiacal constellation, and “Capricorn” usually refers to the astrological sign. Capricorns would want you to get that right. 18024
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 21/12/2025December 21 is the winter solstice, which means that in the Northern Hemisphere: - The path of the Sun is farthest south in the sky - The Sun travels the shortest path, giving the day the least daylight and the longest night - Things can only get lighter from here 9500139
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 19/12/2025During the height of the Victorian era, many Brits delighted in the bizarre and macabre, even during the holidays. We have them to thank for the quintessentially odd Christmas cards that still delight (and freak us out) today. "God bless us, everyone." 19721
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 19/12/2025The increased popularity of novelty cards also meant that middle-class families could own a piece of art to display in their homes. And who wouldn’t want a coy boot-wearing onion hanging on your wall?? 110914
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 19/12/2025Although the church and rigid social codes dominated Victorian culture, there are remarkably few religious themes. Instead, dark humor found its way into the designs. 1405
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 19/12/2025With the advancement of printing processes, cards became cheaper and more accessible. Card companies began commissioning artists to create designs specifically for Christmas cards. To keep up with competition, the designs became more original. 1404
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 19/12/2025The first Christmas card is thought to have been designed in England in 1843, the EXACT SAME YEAR that Charles Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Christmas (snow, big feasts, family cheer) was becoming a thing. 1,000 hand-colored copies of the card were sold in London. 1413
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 19/12/2025All I want for Christmas is…a painting of a mouse riding a lobster. Christmas cards during the Victorian Era tended to be rather unusual, reflecting an offbeat sense of humor before Christmas iconography had solidified into what it is today. Let’s shake this tree down. 🧵⬇️ 126160
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 19/12/2025Feel free to use this as your OOO message for the rest of the year: 115733
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 17/12/2025Reindeer generally stick to a plant-based diet, and in winter, they rely on high-carbohydrate lichens called reindeer moss, which they reach by digging craters in the snow. Bacon-wrapped scallops would certainly be a treat. 19913
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 16/12/2025During most kidney transplants, the diseased kidneys are not removed. The new kidney is added to the lower abdominal area to allow easy connection to the bladder. 518123
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 11/12/2025Another possible remaining Yule tradition is the Yule goat. Throughout Sweden during the Christmas season, large goats are constructed out of straw. This tradition might have originated as a tribute to the god Thor, who was said to ride in a chariot pulled by goats. 2806
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 11/12/2025One possible remnant of pre-Christian Yule is the Yule log. The original Yule log was a large log that burned throughout the entire multiday festival, for up to 12 days. A popular modern take on the Yule log is a roulade-style cake decorated to look like a log (do not burn this one). 1834
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 11/12/2025While its roots are difficult to trace, it is generally agreed that Yule celebrations began as a Norse festival called jól. Like most winter festivals, themes of light, fire, and feasting were prominent. Some historians think that sacrifices were a part of the observance. 2877
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 03/12/2025Who DOESN’T unwind with facts about tortoises, Greek gods, and the world’s oldest manufactured instrument?? 422125
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 02/12/2025The next evening, the show broadcast from the new 4,400-seat Grand Ole Opry House, which is still its home to this day. Opening night featured an appearance by U.S. Pres. Richard Nixon, who spun a yo-yo onstage. 1111
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 02/12/2025The Ryman was the program’s home until March 15, 1974. There to close out the night was Johnny Cash and Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family. 1130
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 02/12/2025In 1967, Charley Pride became the first Black solo singer to appear at the Opry. Two years later, singer Linda Martell became the first Black female artist to perform there. 1191
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 02/12/2025During the 42nd anniversary concert in 1967, Merle Haggard performed with singer Bonnie Owens and the bass player from his band "Merle Haggard & the Strangers." 1130
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 02/12/2025Entertainer and comedian Minnie Pearl performed at Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and was one of its most iconic figures. Her signature greeting, “How-dee! I’m just so proud to be here!” became a piece of Opry history. 1161
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 02/12/2025One of the first families of country music, the Carter Family, performed at the Opry in 1951, featuring singers June and Anita Carter. 1120
Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 02/12/2025Many storied events occurred at the Ryman, including Hank Williams’s Opry debut in 1949. He went on to set a record with six encores. 1120
