The bow preserved by cold waters at the bottom of Lake Huron. (Photo: NOAA/ Undersea Vehicles Program UNCW)

Early in the morning on September 26, 1894, the crew of the 191-foot Ironton—a schooner barge—was in a panic. Cut loose from the steamer that had been hauling the boat and its crew through the frigid waters of Lake Huron, the Ironton was out of control. Buoyed by the wind as the crew failed to set the sails properly in the gale, the ship swung off course and collided with another steamer named Ohio. Both ships went down in the resulting collision, adding more vessels to the perilous region known as “Shipwreck Alley.” There the wreck lay in wait until the news of its recent discovery, in shockingly good condition, was announced.

The Great Lakes are a sight to behold, often surprising for most people who are not familiar with their large waves and vast open waters. The lakes were critical to shipping goods domestically and internationally in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the sheer number of ships traversing certain routes meant a ship out of control could careen into others as the Ironton did. The impact with Ohio punctured the Ironton‘s bow. It began to take on water like the Titanic. Unfortunately, the crew was not able to detach the lifeboat. While two members were able to cling to floating debris once in the water, the captain and four other crew perished. All of Ohio‘s seamen made it safely back to land.

After the sinking, the exact location of the wreck was lost to time. In 2017, research teams encountered Ohio, suggesting its doomed fellow may be nearby. In 2019, efforts of the Ocean Exploration Trust (which found Titanic) and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary turned up the Ironton at last. The team has since released images of the wreck—whose location has been secret for the last few years—almost perfectly preserved by the very cold waters of the deep lake. Investigating through sonar and remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the team discovered its three masts still standing upright with rigging attached to the spars. Even the lifeboat is still connected, hanging by a sad stretch of rope to the ship itself.

In the future, the location of the wreck will be marked by a buoy so that divers can safely visit the wreck, along with the many others in the region. Researchers hope to learn more about the Great Lakes themselves and the role they played in historical commerce.

The Ironton is a special find for historians. “It is hard to call it a shipwreck,” Jeff Gray, superintendent of the marine sanctuary, told The New York Times. “It’s a ship, sitting on the bottom, fully intact, and the lifeboat there, literally, is a moment frozen in time.”

Discovered recently within NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron, the ghostly wreck of the nineteenth-century ship Ironton is shockingly well-preserved.

Radar image of the schooner-barge Ironton. (Photo: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA)

The schooner sank in September 1894 after colliding with a steamer. Five of the Ironton crew died in the tragedy.

The lifeboat, still attached to the ill-fated vessel. (Photo: NOAA/Undersea Vehicles Program UNCW)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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Photo: CLAUDIODIVIZIA/Depositphotos

One way to understand the past is to listen to the music of the time. The Internet Archive is making that easier than ever with over 395,000 digitized records in the 78 RPM style, which dominated from 1900 to about 1950. The files are free to access, stream, and download. The collection is more than just entertaining, it is an important effort to digitize the sounds of history which have been preserved on brittle disks for almost a century.

The 78 RPM disc format became available in 1898. Made of shellac resin, they came in several sizes but were known for their 78 rotations per minute. They were recorded through a horn (later a microphone), with sound causing vibrations that engraved a pattern in the disc. The shellac material has not aged well, and some records can break from even being picked up. As such, digitizing these recordings is crucial.

The Great 78 Project, through the Internet Archive, is working towards this goal. George Blood, head of the audio-visual digitization company George Blood Audio, is a major contributor. “We’re currently delivering 5-6,000 sides per month,” said Blood to The Vinyl Factory, “and we’ll be working to get to 20,000.” The archive will be a “reference collection of sound recordings from the period of approximately 1880 to 1960.” This process is not easy; a record must be cleaned, conserved, and digitized. Files digitized by others can also be added.

“If we didn’t do this, 48,000 78s in a little library in Batavia III, Illinois, may have been lost. Same for a trove of more than 78,000 discs from a distributor that were packed up and abandoned in Rhode Island around 1947,” Bob George, curator for sound collections at the Internet Archive, explained. “If we didn’t do this, a family would never have discovered a self-recorded disc made by their late father when he was a child, 80 years ago–a record they never knew existed.” From sound effects to dance tracks to famous ballads to home recordings, the variety is endless.

Take a peek around the archive for yourself. You might just find an obscure gem or a favorite tune from Billie Holiday. If you or your family have 78 RPMs, you can donate them to be digitized and preserved. Help preserve musical and sound history for the whole world by supporting this excellent project.

Relive eras past with the sounds of digitized 78 RPM records from Billie Holiday's hits to those of young Frank Sinatra.

The Internet Archive’s George Blood collection offers over 385,000 records free to listen to and download.

Photo: BOSMAN.ERWIN@GMAI/Depositphotos

h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: Listen to 385,000 Vintage 78 RPM Records for Free on ‘The Internet Archive’

Photo: © Vatican Library

Recycling isn't something new. For thousands of years, different cultures have gotten creative about using the materials they had on hand. This includes medieval scribes, who were responsible for writing important manuscripts. When materials were scarce, they would look for existing texts considered to be of lower value and wash or scrape the ink off the pages. Then, they'd go about writing a new text on the fresh, blank pages. The result is something that modern scholars call palimpsest manuscripts. Incredibly, UV light can be used to reveal the invisible text—a beautiful marriage of technology and classic research.

This has led to amazing discoveries. Most recently, medievalist Grigory Kessel from the Austrian Academy of Sciences was studying a manuscript in the Vatican Library when his UV light brought forth something spectacular. Hidden under two layers of text was a previously unknown chapter of the Bible. Written in Old Syriac over 1,500 years ago, the fragment of text is a more detailed version of  Matthew 11-12 in the New Testament.

“The tradition of Syriac Christianity knows several translations of the Old and New Testaments,” shared Kessel. “Until recently, only two manuscripts were known to contain the Old Syriac translation of the gospels.”

Photo: © Vatican Library

The discovery is important because it offers new insight into the history of the Gospels and how their stories were transmitted. The Old Syriac version, which was written at least a century before the oldest Greek translations, offers subtle nuances that are missing from the standard version that most people are familiar with.

For example, while the original Greek of Matthew chapter 12, verse 1 says: “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and his disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat,” the Syriac translation says: “[…] began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them.”

The translation that Kessel discovered was first written in the third century CE and copied in the sixth century CE. Its discovery is part of the Sinai Palimpsest Project, where researchers seek out these palimpsest manuscripts in order to recover important information hidden in the recycled materials.

For Claudia Rapp, director of the Institute for Medieval Research at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Kessel's discovery solidifies the vital role that technology plays in academia. “This discovery proves how productive and important the interplay between modern digital technologies and basic research can be when dealing with medieval manuscripts.”

h/t: [IFL Science]

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Photo: Stock Photos from Svitlana-ua/Shutterstock

Happy Easter! As you hop into the holiday spirit, you may find yourself embracing a tradition or two, whether you're filling a basket with fake grass and fun goodies or dyeing a dozen hard-boiled eggs. While you may not think twice about these seemingly silly activities, they're actually age-old practices packed with history, springing from ancient rituals, medieval folklore, and more modern incarnations.

Want to learn more about Easter and its technicolor traditions? Before we take a stroll through the holiday's history, it's important to understand its origins—both in spirit and in name.

What is Easter?

Domenico Pagliarolo, “Resurrection, in an initial A,” Last quarter of the 15th century (Photo: Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Easter is Christianity's oldest festival. According to the religion's core belief, Jesus Christ—the son of God who was born to the Virgin Mary on December 25, Christmas Day—rose from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is believed to have occurred on a Sunday, the third day after his crucifixion and subsequent burial.

In the Christian faith, this Sunday—now known for centuries as Easter Sunday—is the most important day on the liturgical calendar.

Egg-cellent Etymology

Johannes Gehrts, “Ostara, 1901 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

The word Easter derives from the Old English Eosturmonath. According to Saint Bede, a Benedictine monk born in the 7th century, this term means “Month of Ēostre,” with Eostre being an ancient Germanic goddess of fertility, spring, and renewal.

By Saint Bede's time, however, “Month of Ēostre” denoted “Paschal season.” Paschal describes a relationship to Passover or Easter Sunday, which are both observed in March or April—though, when referenced by Saint Bede, this “Month of Ēostre,” exclusively referred to April.

Why is Easter historically associated with April? Unlike most other holidays that fall on the same date each year, Easter is based on the lunar calendar. Specifically, it is held on the first Sunday that follows the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. This also means that Lent—the liturgical season that commences with Ash Wednesday and comes to a close 40 days later on Easter Sunday—encompasses different dates each year.

Technicolor Traditions

Photo: Stock Photos from galsand/Shutterstock

Since Easter refers to the day that Jesus Christ is believed to have been resurrected, you may be wondering why it occurs according to the moon. While Easter emerged as a Christian holiday in the 2nd century, its origins go back even further. In fact, Easter's traditions can be traced back to cultures that predate Jesus himself.

Dyed Eggs

Photo: Stock Photos from Steve Cukrov/Shutterstock

Dipping eggs in dye has become an Easter staple. Like many mainstream holiday traditions—including trick-or-treating on Halloween or playing pranks on April Fools' Day—this pastime has pagan roots.

In ancient times, equinoxes and solstices were seen as sacred times. The spring solstice, specifically, was celebrated for putting an end to winter's cold and ushering in a time of rebirth. In Pagan spring festivals—celebrating the goddess of Earth, Eostre—unhatched eggs were used to symbolize new life. This concept was adapted by the Christians in Easter's early years.

“Eggs, as a symbol of new life, became a common people's explanation of the resurrection,” Carole Cusack, a professor at the University of Sydney, explains, “after the chill of the winter months, nature was coming to life again.”

Centuries later, medieval people would build upon this model. Following mass on Easter Sunday, they would feast on decorated eggs, a symbolic snack that doubled as a means to mark the end of Lenten fasting.

Today, people keep this age-old tradition alive by dyeing eggs that have been boiled or blown—and munching on replicas made out of chocolate.

Woven Baskets

Photo: Stock Photos from PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock

Whether laid by a chicken or made by confectioners, Easter eggs are traditionally placed in pretty pastel baskets. This custom is also based on pagan ritual, as, according to Saint Bede, the Germanic goddess Ēostre was known for carrying around a basket filled with—what else?— eggs. Worshippers would also place their offerings to Ēostre in baskets.

Over a millennium later, the Germanic people would revisit this ancient lore when they created an early version of the Easter basket. Intended to look like nests, these baskets were crafted with a very special visitor in mind: Osterhase, an early ancestor of the Easter Bunny.

A Visiting Rabbit

Photo: Stock Photos from Ramona Heim/Shutterstock

According to Germanic legend, the Osterhase—an egg-laying hare—would visit children's homes on the eve of Easter. Using their bonnets, children would craft makeshift “nests” for the hare to fill with colorful eggs. Eventually, the creature's gift-giving habits evolved, and candies, chocolates, and trinkets were added to the mix.

Why was a hare selected to serve as this special visitor? The answer, again, is rooted in spring symbolism, as rabbits and hares traditionally represent fertility.

Egg Games

Photo: RRRmmm22/Depositphotos

The Easter holiday is also associated with many games for kids, most of which incorporate decorated eggs.

An Easter egg hunt is among the most popular, during which children must find dyed eggs, chocolate eggs, or fake eggs filled with candy hidden in different locations.

President Barack Obama hosting the Easter Egg Roll at the White House in 2009. (Photo: Pete Souza via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Another popular game is egg rolling. Originating in Europe, this game was played by children who rolled eggs downhill. Today, the Easter Egg Roll is also a well-known event that is held at the White House every year, wherein children must guide an egg through the grass with a spoon.

The Holiday Today

Photo: Stock Photos from Barbara Neveu/Shutterstock

Today, Easter is celebrated around the world. True to its roots, it is typically regarded as both a religious holiday and a celebration of spring. Born out of its blended history, this allows the holiday to simultaneously serve as Christianity's most important festival and as a fun pastime for children—a balance that has allowed Easter to blossom into the “hoppy” holiday it is today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Easter based on a pagan holiday?

Yes, the word Easter derives from the Old English Eosturmonath, which translates to the month of Eostre—who was a pagan spring goddess of renewal. In these pagan festivals, unhatched eggs were used to symbolize new life. This concept was adapted by the Christians in Easter's early years.

Why do we celebrate Easter with eggs?

In pagan spring festivals, unhatched eggs were used to symbolize new life. This concept was adapted by the Christians in Easter's early years.

This article has been edited and updated.

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Photo: anamejia18/123RF

The volcanic eruption that hit Pompeii in 79 CE destroyed the bustling Roman city and covered it in ash. This ash ultimately preserved the city, which remained untouched until the 19th century, thus giving us the unique opportunity to see what an ancient Roman city looked like. But aside from preserving buildings, the ash also preserved the bodies of the 2,000 people living in Pompeii who were killed when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

The organic matter of these bodies had long since deteriorated by the time excavations began; however, in 1863, Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli discovered human-shaped voids in the ash. The shape of the corpses was retained in the ash, and archeologists began making casts of the bodies. Today, many of these casts are displayed on site in Pompeii, giving the public a unique perspective on this catastrophic event.

Over 100 casts were made, showing the exact position of the bodies at the time of their deaths. Some were hugging, others were faced down with their hands covering their faces, and some appeared to have been sound asleep at the time that they met their fate. Of late, researchers have been using scans and DNA tests to try and discover more about the victims of Mount Vesuvius. The results have been interesting.

Photo: Giorgio Sommer via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

One of the most famous Pompeii casts was dubbed “The Two Maidens.” Locked in an embrace, the duo was romanticized for the fate they met. But in 2017, researchers in Pompeii announced that these “maidens” were actually men. They came to this conclusion based on a CAT scan and DNA testing. It's believed that one man was around 18, while the other was at least 20. While their position—one man's head resting on the other's chest—suggests familiarity, researchers clarified that the two men were unrelated.

“When this discovery was made, that they were not two young girls, some scholars suggested there could have been an emotional connection between the pair,” shared Massimo Osanna, director-general of the Pompeii archaeological site at the time. “But we are talking about hypotheses that can never be verified.”

And these two figures aren't the only ones that appear to have been misgendered. Another cast of a person labeled Victim Number 10, was long thought to be a girl. The body was discovered lying face down with their head resting on their right arm next to the body of a man who was lying on his back.

In his 1877 guide to the Pompeii casts, Fiorelli described the cast in the following manner. “Young woman [no.10], face down, with her head resting on her arm. She is denuded in part of her clothing, save for some traces on her shoulders, and her tresses are still visible, with hair knotted behind her head.”

Photo: Bruno Rijsman via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

However, in a 2015 project to analyze the casts came to the conclusion that Fiorelli's description wasn't entirely accurate. The Pompeii Cast Project, which was led by researchers from the University of Sydney, used x-rays and CAT scans as well as analysis of remains when possible. The team studied 26 casts, including Victim Number 10, and in a 2020 article, the team laid out the results of their investigation.

It turns out that Victim Number 10 isn't necessarily female, as the “volume rendered image of the CT scanned cast does not display female features.” They also came to the conclusion that the victim was an adult based on an analysis of the bones in the victim's forearm.

This work only serves to show us just how much is still unknown about Pompeii and how technology can help dispel some of the mysteries behind the people who met their fate that day. In fact, the successful sequencing of a Pompeii man and woman's DNA in 2022 proves that researchers are just getting started when it comes to learning more about the catastrophic event and its victims.

When Pompeii was excavated in the 19th century, archeologists made over 100 plaster casts of the victims that had been engulfed in ash.

Photo: Thomas Henry Dyer via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

These casts are still on display today, and show the victims in the positions they held at the moment that Mount Vesuvius erupted.

Photo: Mary Harrsch via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Researchers are now using DNA analysis and CAT scans to learn more about those who lost their lives in Pompeii.

Photo: natursports/123RF

Photo: izanbar/123RF

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Mount Rushmore before the faces were carved into it. (Photo: National Park Service)

Carved into a rock cliff towering over the South Dakota landscape, Mount Rushmore is the quintessential American monument. Four presidential faces peer down: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Gutzon Borglum, the designer and sculptor of the monument chose each figure to represent the founding, growth, development, and preservation of the United States, respectively.

Though it is primarily referred to as Mount Rushmore now, this wasn’t always the case. When construction began in the 1920s and 1930s, the mountain was originally known as “Six Grandfathers” (Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe) by the Lakota, one of the Indigenous peoples to whom the Black Hills region of South Dakota belongs. Peer back into history with these images from the mountain's transformation to understand more about Mount Rushmore and its place in complex American history.

History of Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore was, by any measure, an impressive architectural feat. From 1927 to 1941, workers blasted rock away with dynamite, chisels, and drills. Workers climbed 700 steps to the top of the mount, then were lowered on thick metal cables to work the stone face. Dynamite was strategically planted in the rock to detonate away unwanted material. The rough shape was then perfected by a technique called honeycombing. Drill holes were made in the stone to give it the appearance of honeycomb and weaken it for hand carving. A bumper tool smoothed on the finishing touches.

Even during construction, Americans were interested in Mount Rushmore. The National Park Service reports that early visitors sought to take home pieces of the granite mountain. As each figure was completed, the heads of the presidents were dedicated with ceremonies attended by the like of present-day presidents. The site quickly drew tourists from around the country. It even featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 thriller North by Northwest.

Controversy of Mount Rushmore

These images of Mount Rushmore before—and during—construction show the impressive amount of work that went into the massive monument’s creation, but they are also reminders of great controversy. The four faces represent “the great white man” theory of history which held sway in the academy until the later 20th century. The presidents include two slaveholders (Washington and Jefferson), an imperialist who believed in the superiority of white people, and Lincoln. (The latter, while popularly remembered as a heroic president, ordered the largest mass execution in American history, the hanging of 38 Sioux warriors.) Christine Gish Hill, professor of anthropology at Iowa State University, highlighted the problem of Mount Rushmore—engraved with these legacies—becoming “a space for uncomplicated patriotism.”

So what is the more complicated story? To begin, the mountain has a long and ongoing history as a sacred place for Indigenous people on the Great Plains, especially the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. The Black Hills region—a beautiful and unique landscape in South Dakota—was home to many. As white settlers from the east pushed west under theories of “manifest destiny” and in search of gold, the Indigenous residents of the Dakota were forced to try to stop the displacement by treaty. The United States government promised the Black Hills to the Lakota Sioux in the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868, signed by the famous General William T. Sherman.

Like many treaties made to Indigenous people, this promise did not last long. The brutal Great Sioux War of 1876 included Custer's “Last Stand” at Little Bighorn, where Indigenous warriors defended the Black Hills. The United States officially broke their treaty in 1877. White settlers overran the area, but the Lakota tribes eventually took their fight to the courts, accusing the U.S. of theft in the 1920s. The Six Grandfathers were eventually carved and dubbed “Mount Rushmore” after a New York lawyer. Yet still today, protests and calls to return the stollen sacred land ring strong.

These images of Mount Rushmore before and during its construction show a view hard to imagine today. Crafted by a sculptor associated with the Ku Klux Klan, on stollen sacred land, and featuring four historical figures with grave deeds to their name—Mount Rushmore is a monument to wrestle with, to consider, to contest. How it came to be is part of a larger, complex, not always pretty American story, and the best way to avoid “uncomplicated patriotism” is to engage with this past, present, and future.

Mount Rushmore Before & During Construction

Photo: National Park Service

Photo: National Park Service

Photo: National Park Service

Photo: National Park Service

Photo: National Park Service

Photo: National Park Service

Photo: National Park Service

h/t: [PetaPixel]

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Happy April Fools' Day! Every year on April 1st, fun-loving jokesters dupe, deceive, and play pranks on others—all under the guise of honoring an unofficial holiday.

Have you ever wondered why we have a day dedicated to making mischief? Although pinpointing the exact origin of the humorous holiday is tricky, countries around the world have reveled in their own versions of April Fools' Day for centuries. Here, we sneak a peek at the history of April Fools' Day to understand how it turned into the silly celebration we know and (sometimes) love today.

What is April Fools' Day?

Photo: Stock Photos from bigjom jom/Shutterstock

April Fools' Day is a celebration that takes place annually on April 1st. On this day, people traditionally play practical jokes on each other. A typical April Fools ruse concludes with the trickster revealing their deception, usually by shouting “April Fools!”

In addition to individuals pulling pranks on one another, it is now customary for mass media to trick their audiences with large-scale hoaxes. This has become particularly popular in the age of the internet and has drawn increased attention to April Fools' Day.

A Light-Hearted History

Netherlandish (possibly Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen), “Laughing Fool,” ca. 1500(Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Due to its prevailing popularity in contemporary culture, April Fools' Day may feel like a modern phenomenon. In reality, the idea of April 1st serving as a day of silliness has existed for centuries—perhaps even extending as far back as ancient Rome.

Possible Predecessor

Jan Brueghel the Elder, “Garland of Flowers around an Allegory of Farming,” 1615 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Like other holidays (including Halloween, Valentine's Day, and even Mardi Gras), April Fools' Day is believed to have evolved from a pagan celebration. Specifically, historians have linked it to Hilaria, a series of ancient festivals honoring Cybele, the mother of the gods.

Hilaria was held for several days surrounding the vernal—or spring—equinox, with a feria stativa (or holiday) occurring on March 25. On this day, people refrained from working and instead partook in festivities, including a solemn procession and silly games. The most highly anticipated event, however, was likely the masquerade. This jovial custom of putting on disguises enabled people from all walks of life to escape everyday life's monotony and, most importantly, make mischief—a concept that would be at the core of April Fools' Day centuries later.

Plausible Origins

A colored illustration of Chanticleer and the fox, ca. 1501 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Much like the details of its possible precursor, the exact date and details of the first April Fools' Day are not known. However, historians have noted a few possibilities, including a Middle English tale, an official date change in France, and a Flemish poem.

The Canterbury Tales

A popular theory behind the emergence of April Fools' Day can be found in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century collection of 24 stories, The Canterbury Tales (1476). In one of these chronicles, called the “Nun's Priest's Tale,” Chanticleer, a conceited cockerel, is fooled by a fox on Syn March bigan thritty dayes and two—or the 32nd of March. However, some scholars have attributed this nonsensical date to a copying error (they believe Chaucer intended the excerpt in question to read “32 days after March”) and not as a clever reference to April 1st.

The Edict of Roussillon

Another possible origin story begins with the 1564 Edict of Roussillon, an official order that declared January 1st New Year's Day in France. Prior to this proclamation, the start of the new year depended on the diocese, with a celebration lasting from March 25 through April 1 as a popular choice. Seeking consistency, Charles IX, the king of France at the time, ruled in an edict enacted in Roussillon that January 1st should be considered the start of the new year across his kingdom.

As legend has it, however, some people missed the memo. As they continued ushering in the new year in the spring, they mockingly became known as—what else?—”April Fools.”

“Refrain on errand-day / which is the first of April”

A Flemish poem written in 1561 offers a final popular explanation for April Fools' Day. In “Refrain on errand-day / which is the first of April,” a comical work by Bruges-born poet Eduard De Dene, a nobleman demands his servant complete a series of futile tasks on April 1.

Though the servant, aware that it is “Errand Day” (a holiday historians believe to be an early form of April Fools' Day), catches on, his master denies any tomfoolery and simply continues to send him on “fool's errands.”

Traditions Today

Photo: Stock Photos from niso/Shutterstock

Today, April Fools' Day materializes as different customs around the world.

In Ireland and Scotland, the Flemish idea of “fool's errands” has been adapted, culminating in a gag in which a person is asked to deliver a letter, which infinitely instructs the recipient to have the messenger bring it to someone else, and so on. In France, where the day is known as poisson d'avril, or “April Fish,” pranksters attach paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting people. In the United Kingdom and the United States, people carry on the popularized tradition of shouting “April Fool” or “April Fool's” after a successful practical joke; while, in Poland, not a single word should be taken at face value until noon.

Scotland has its own interesting traditions on April 1st. Gowk Day, or Huntigowk Day, is celebrated. Gowk is the Scottish word for cuckoo or fool and the day involves the pranks that you would come to expect. The tradition is so strong that it's been expanded into a two-day affair, with Gowk Day followed by Tallie Day. This day often involves playing pranks that involve someone's derriere, like placing a tail on them or a kick me sign.

Ultimately, while its origins and traditions may appear to blur, it's crystal clear that, to cultures around the world, April Fools' Day is no joke!

This article has been edited and updated.

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Suffragette Parade, 23 October 1915. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

International Women's Day is celebrated every year on March 8 around the world. The occasion invites us to reflect on the progress made in women’s rights, encourages calls for change, and celebrates famous women from history whose courageous acts helped define our future.

Whether they are scientists, activists, politicians, or explorers, women have shown time and time again that they are powerful enough to combat prejudice and change the world. From fighting for women’s rights to leading scientific discoveries, these inspiring women undeniably changed the world for the better.

Here are 10 famous women from history who helped create a better world.

Marie Curie, 1867–1934

Marie Curie, c1920. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

French-Polish physicist Marie Skłodowska Curie was a physicist and chemist best known for her work on radioactivity. Her research paved the way for new effective cancer treatments that are still used today. Curie was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize, and was the first person to receive two. The first Nobel Prize she received was in physics, which she won together with her husband and Henri Becquerel. There other one was in chemistry.

Curie developed different ways to separate radioactive isotopes and discovered two new elements: radium and polonium. Radium is now used for many things, including to kill cancer cells. Curie is also responsible for establishing the theory of radioactivity; but unfortunately, she also discovered the fatal effect it can have on your health firsthand. On July 4, 1934, at age 66, Curie died of aplastic anemia caused by too much exposure to radiation in her laboratory.

Although Curie was becoming increasingly ill as she worked, she never lost her determination. Her legacy lives on in cancer society that bears her name and continues to help terminally ill patients all over the world.

Rosa Parks, 1913–2005

Rosa Parks, 1955. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

American activist Rosa Louise McCauley Parks is best known for her key role in the Montgomery bus boycott. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks refused bus driver James F. Blake's order to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus. Her protest was supported by many others and sparked the civil rights movement which, in the 1960s, eventually won equal rights for African Americans. The United States Congress called Parks “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement.”

Emmeline Pankhurst, 1858–1928

Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested outside Buckingham Palace, London while trying to present a petition to HM King George V, May 1914. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

British political activist Emmeline Pankhurst is best known for leading the UK suffragette movement and helping women win the right to vote. In 1903, Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union, which used militant tactics to protest for women's suffrage. The female activist was imprisoned 13 times, but never gave up the fight. Parliament granted British women limited suffrage in 1918; but sadly, Pankhurst died just before women were finally given full voting rights in 1928.

Ada Lovelace, 1815–52

Watercolor portrait of Ada Lovelace by Alfred Edward Chalon, c.1840. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer. She is considered to be the first computer programmer, as she’s known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. In the 1970s, the computer language ADA was named after her.

Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759–97

Portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft by John Opie, c. 1797. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

English writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft is known as an advocate of women's rights. She’s best known for her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792. Today, it is still seen as one of the foundational texts of modern feminism as it argued that women should have the same fundamental rights as men.

Florence Nightingale, 1820–1910

Florence Nightingale, c.1860 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Florence Nightingale was a British nurse, social reformer, and statistician. She wrote over 150 books, pamphlets, and reports on health-related issues, and she is also credited with creating one of the first versions of the pie chart. However, Nightingale is best known for efforts to improve the qualities of hospitals. She established St. Thomas’ Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860. Her efforts to reform healthcare greatly improved the quality of care in the 19th and 20th centuries.

During the Crimean War, Scutari Barracks was converted into a British military hospital. When Nightingale arrived with her party of nurses in 1854, she was horrified by the filthy conditions. She worked to improve the suffering of the patients, and implemented new systems so that no one would have to endure the difficult circumstances in the future. Nightingale became known as “The Lady With the Lamp,” because she would walk among the beds at night, checking on the wounded men while holding a light in her hand.

Amelia Earhart, 1897–1937

Amelia Earhart, c. 1928. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. She first took to the skies in 1921, aged 24, and went on to break the women’s altitude record the following year when she rose to 14,000 feet. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and over the next five years, she continued to break aviation records.

In June 1937, Earhart embarked on a flight around the world, becoming the first person to fly from the Red Sea to India. However, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared somewhere over the central Pacific Ocean, near Howland Island. The explanation of their disappearance is still a mystery, however there are multiple theories. Some believe Earhart and Noonan were taken prisoner by the Japanese, while others maintain that the pair made an emergency landing on Nikumaroro (then called Gardner Island). According to this theory, Earhart and Noonan lived as castaways on the tiny, uninhabited island, and eventually died there.

Although there is still no concrete evidence, the U.S. Navy concluded that Earhart and Noonan had run out of fuel, crashed into the Pacific, and drowned. A court order declared Earhart legally dead in January 1939.

Frida Kahlo, 1907–54

Frida Kahlo, 1932 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo created paintings and drawings that explored gender, class, and cultural identity. She became an important figure for social causes including feminism. Despite the harsh gender inequality of the 1900s, Kahlo was unafraid to be herself and boldly exaggerated her so-called “masculine” features in her self-portraits, such as her monobrow and mustache. Her paintings also explored female issues such as abortion and miscarriage. These topics were considered taboo at the time, and were rarely spoken of in public. Through her art, Kahlo exposed her physical and mental suffering, but she also paved the way for female empowerment.

Susan B. Anthony, 1820–1906

Susan B. Anthony, c. 1855. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

American social reformer Susan Brownell Anthony was born into a Quaker family who was committed to social equality. At age 17, she collected around 400,000 signatures in support of the abolition of slavery, and she continued to fight for equality of all kinds throughout her life. In 1856, she became the New York state agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society.

In 1852, Anthony attended her first National Woman's Rights Convention, which was held in Syracuse, New York. She spent the rest of her life championing for women’s rights, and became a key leader of the women’s suffrage movement in the U.S. She helped to merge the two largest suffrage associations into one—the National American Women’s Suffrage Association—and led the group until 1900.  She traveled around the country giving speeches and, in 1876, she led a protest at the 1876 Centennial of the nation’s independence. Sadly, Anthony never got to see the results of her efforts. She died in 1906, 14 years before the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Shirley Chisholm, 1924–2005

Shirley Chisholm, 1972. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

American politician Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress. She became known as a strong liberal who opposed weapon development and the war in Vietnam. She also founded the National Women’s Political Caucus, supported the Equal Rights Amendment, and legalized abortions throughout her career, which lasted from 1969 to 1983.

This article has been edited and updated.

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Photo: kazuend

Every year, villages, towns, and cities across Japan warmly welcome spring with waves of cherry blossoms. As the national flower of Japan (alongside the chrysanthemum and the iris), the cherry blossom—or sakura—holds a special place in Japanese culture.

For centuries, people have flocked to see the flora in full bloom, attending entire festivals dedicated to hanami, or “flower-viewing.” Occurring all over Japan, these festivals attract crowds of flower-loving tourists and locals alike, proving the undying popularity of the Prunus genus plant.

Hiroshige, “Cherry Blossom Time, Yoshiwara Nakanochō,” c. 1839–1842 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

What is the Significance of Cherry Blossoms?

Ephemerality

Why are cherry blossoms so significant? In addition to the beauty of its pale pink petals and its prevalence in Japan, the blossom is known for its distinctively short lifespan. Once this tree begins to flower, its delicate blooms will last only for a week or two before the “sakura snow” falls to the ground or is carried off by the breeze. Because of this fleeting phenomenon, the flowers have come to represent life's ephemerality and specifically, the fleetingness of human existence.

Photo: KimonBerlin via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Renewal

Similarly, cherry blossoms represent a time of renewal and rebirth. Year after year, the pops of pink mark the unofficial end of the bleak winter months and signify the long-awaited beginning of spring. This also overlaps with the beginning of the school year in Japan.

When is Japanese Cherry Blossom Season?

Hiroshige, “Cherry-Blossom Viewing at Asuka Hill,” c. 1830–1843 (Photo: Museo del Prado via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

While unseasonably warm weather can prompt a premature bloom and uncharacteristically cool temperatures can conversely cause a delay, cherry blossoms typically reach their peak bloom between March and mid-April, making this a prime time for hanami.

Hanami History

Hiroshige, “Cherry-blossom Viewing on the Hill of the Tenjin Shrine in Yasui,” 1834 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Though the custom of hanami is typically linked to cherry blossoms today, it is rooted in the appreciation of a different flowering plant: the plum blossom.

In the 8th century, during Japan's Nara period, upper-class individuals began hosting picnic-like parties beneath plum, or ume, trees. Arriving a month earlier than their cherry counterparts, the tree's sweet-smelling blooms are historically known as “the first important flower to blossom in the spring.”

During the Heian period (794 to 1185), however, picnickers started setting up camp beneath the branches of cherry blossom trees, too. Eventually, the sakura's popularity surpassed that of the ume, reimagining the deep-seated roles of the flowers and redefining the hanami practice.

Cultural Significance of Cherry Blossoms

The cherry blossom remains the most significant flower in contemporary Japanese culture. Its arrival is reliably commemorated in a number of fantastic fetes across the country, with Okinawa, Kyoto, Tokyo, and Hirosaki among the most popular hosts.

Much like the blossom itself, each festival functions as both a springtime celebration and a reminder to stop and smell—or view—the flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is cherry blossom season?

Cherry blossom  season, or sakura season in Japan, varies each year depending on location and what date Spring begins. Typically, cherry blossom season in Japan runs from the end of March to the beginning of April. You can check Japan's RailPass cherry blossom forecast for specific dates.

Do cherry blossoms have a special meaning?

Cherry blossoms signify life's ephemerality and renewal, due to their short blooming season which occurs at the beginning of spring.

What is hanami?

Hanami means “flower-viewing” in Japanese. These festivals occur all over Japan, attracting crowds of flower-loving tourists and locals alike to admire the beauty of blooms.

This article has been edited and updated.

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Photo: Stock Photos from natnatnat/Shutterstock

Though famously short in stature, leprechauns have landed a big role in Irish folklore. These “wee folk” have captured imaginations for centuries, enchanting generation after generation with green get-ups and promises o' gold.

Though the leprechaun is a staple of pop culture in the Emerald Isle and beyond, its origins are a bit more mysterious. Fortunately, if you've ever wished you knew more about these little sprites, you're in luck! Here, we take a look at the history of the legendary figure.

What is a leprechaun?

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

In Irish folklore, a leprechaun is a type of fairy. The character is commonly depicted as a tiny, bearded man clad in an emerald ensemble comprising a waistcoat, buckled shoes, and a top hat. In traditional tales, they are shoemakers, fancifully represented by a distinctive “tapping” sound. “Lay your ear close to the hill,” The Leprecaun; or Fairy Shoemaker, an 18th-century poem by William Allingham, reads, “Do you not catch the tiny clamour, Busy click of an elfin hammer, Voice of the Lepracaun singing shrill As he merrily plies his trade?”

In addition to their signature look and sound, leprechauns are known for their love of making mischief. According to legend, they are not to be trusted, as they love playing tricks on people. On the other side of the coin, however, their deviousness makes them lucky; they will grant three wishes to anyone crafty enough to catch them.

Although the leprechaun is unique to Ireland, the figure is an archetype that exists in cultures throughout the world. Places including Iceland, the Philippines, and Indonesia, as well as the Indigenous people in North America, also have stories about little people with supernatural abilities known for their luck and guile.

Enchanting Evolution

While traces of the leprechaun legend date back to the 8th century, the character as we know it today is likely a conflation of two figures from Irish mythology: the luchorpán and the clúrachán. Over the centuries, elements associated with each of these enchanting creatures have mixed and mingled to conjure up the concept of the leprechaun.

The Luchorpán

Photo: Stock Photos from Marshall Courtney/Shutterstock

The word “leprechaun” likely derives from the Old Irish (the language spoken in Ireland between 600 and 900) luchorpán, a compound word whose roots, lú and corp, mean “small” and “body,” respectively.

The earliest recorded use of this term is found in The Death of Fergus mac Leiti, an 8th-century story about tiny water spirits—the luchorpán—who tricks a king into giving up his throne after attempting to drag him into the sea and granting him three wishes.

The Clúrachán

Leprechaun or clúrachán (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

A clúrachán is a solitary, household fairy. Legend has it that the clúrachán haunts wine cellars—a move motivated by the small sprite's love of drinking—and, like the leprechaun, revels in tomfoolery and trickery. They traditionally dress in green, which is likely where the leprechaun's signature color scheme came from. In fact, until the 20th century, leprechauns were customarily clad in red!

“But he is quite a beau in his dress, notwithstanding, for he wears a red square-cut coat, richly laced with gold, and inexpressible of the same, cocked hat, shoes and buckles,” Samuel Lover wrote in Legends and Stories of Ireland, an anthology published in 1831.

Over the last couple of centuries, however, the clúrachán‘s association with the color green has trickled into tales of the leprechaun, eventually becoming one of the sprite's most defining features.

The Modern Leprechaun

Photo: Stock Photos from babenkoirusa/Shutterstock

Today, the legend of the leprechaun has taken on a life of its own. In addition to elements borrowed from the luchorpán and the clúrachán, the modern leprechaun has come to be associated with other attributes—namely, a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. While the origin of this trope isn't crystal clear, a popular explanation is that the leprechauns would use their elusive treasure as a means to trick passersby and barter with their captors.

Leprechauns are seen throughout American culture, where they are the faces of breakfast cereals (Lucky Charms) as well as the mascots of basketball teams (the University of Notre Dame and the Boston Celtics).

Our perception of the enchanted creatures has changed over the years, culminating in the “toadstool sitters, with red Galway beards and green hats” that we associate with one particularly magical holiday: St. Patrick's Day.

The Leprechaun and St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a Christian feast day that falls on March 17. It celebrates St. Patrick, a Romano-British Christian bishop who converted the pagan Irish to Christianity in the 5th century.

He was made a patron saint of Ireland as a posthumous reward for his tireless efforts, which he recounted in an autobiographical letter. “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”

Given the holiday's heavily religious roots, why is the leprechaun is associated with St. Patrick's Day? In popular culture, St. Patrick's Day is less of a liturgical holy day and more of a celebration of all things Irish. This includes the evergreen leprechaun, who magically captures both the heritage and hue of the historic Emerald Isle.

Photo: detry/123RF

Children enjoy celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and a recent trend is a nod to their trickster side: kids and their parents set “leprechaun traps” each year. If the kids wake up and find that there are gold coins or treasure in the trap, they will know they caught the leprechaun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a leprechaun?

A leprechaun is part of Irish folklore and is part of the fairy world. These mischievous little creatures were cobblers in traditional tales, but today the modern leprechaun is known for his love of gold and for trying to trick people.

Why do leprechauns wear green?

Until the 20th century, leprechauns actually wore red. It's believed that the tradition of dressing their little bodies in green clothing came from the clúrachán, a solitary, household fairy whose personality slowly merged with that of the modern leprechaun. This traditional figure also loves trickery and dresses in green.

Why do leprechauns like gold?

The association between leprechauns, gold, and rainbows is actually quite new. It was not present in Irish folklore, and it's not totally clear where the connection began. Some scholars believe that their greed and love of hoarding gold are used as excuses for their trickery.

This article has been edited and updated.

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READ: A “Wee” History of the Leprechaun, a Legendary Character From Irish Folklore