Have you ever wondered about the days of the week and why they have such strange names? Across the Africa and the Middle East, Slavic-speaking countries and Greece, the days are simply named “first”, “second”, etc. or given a name that describes their position within the week, such as “middle”. Why isn’t this the case in English? Drag your mouse over the icons in the picture to find out the meaning of each name and the story behind it.
As in many other things, it all begins in Rome. The Romans were great fans of giving fancy names to everything, and the more, the merrier. With the days of the week, they decided to name each day after a celestial object and the God associated with it: the sun, the moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
As the Romans met other people, such as the Saxons and Goths, they had a tendency to draw parallels between their deities and the Germanic pantheon, which resulted in the Germanic people adopting the same week, translating the name of the Gods with their own. If they hadn’t, our week would probably look like this: Sunday, Monday, Marday, Mercreday, Joviday, Venday and Saturday. Who are these gods the days are named after and what’s their story anyway?
I Can’t Believe These Ordinary Words Used to Mean That...
Let’s take a short journey back in time and trace the origins of 11 seemingly-ordinary words that have exceptionally-interesting histories.
7:56
6 Chemical Reactions that Changed the Course of History
Although we rarely pay much attention to the chemistry that constantly surrounds us, these 6 reactions changed history.
Macedonian 3D Artist Puts a Modern Twist on Mythology
Models of ancient gods and figures of myth with a modern twist
The Origins of Labor Day With Vintage Parade Photos
A brief history of Labor Day accompanied by original vintage photos from past Labor Day parades around the US and Canada.
What Life Looks Like for British Royal Babies
Discover the cool and surprising facts about the Royal family's babies, the only babies in the world who are given passports at birth.
18:27
What is the Story Behind the Scilian Mafia?
Explore the origins of the Sicilian Mafia, known as Cosa Nostra.
5:25
When 8 Hedgehogs Adopted One Cat Mommy...
In a heartwarming twist of fate at Kindred Tails, we bring you the story of Musya, a stray cat who stepped up when everyone else had given up hope.
The Viral Egg Poaching Hack That Actually Works
Poached eggs have a reputation for being tricky. The swirling water, the wispy whites floating everywhere, the timing - it's enough to put anyone off. But a simple trick that's been making the rounds online might just change all of that.
These Unlikely Objects Can Be Serious Fire Hazards!
Mirrors and reflective surfaces, in general, are way more dangerous and creepy than we think! These 11 photos are proof of just that!
10 Ancient Artifacts That You Won't See In History Books
Some human creations have survive for centuries and tell fascinating stories. Let's take a look at a few little-known ones.
When Inventors Met a Tragic End from Their Own Creations
While many inventors reaped the rewards of their work, a few unfortunate others paid the ultimate price.
6:21
Do You Know What Goes Into the Average Marshmallow?
Marshmallows are one of the most beloved treats in the US. But do you know what they're actually made of and hoe they are produced?
Did You Know These Interesting Facts About Colors?
A short article explaining why and how specific colors were chosen for everyday objects like cabs and police uniforms.
These Greetings Are For Wishing a Fantastic NEW YEAR!
A New Year is the time for resolutions, a fresh start and general optimism. Share these sentiments with a loved one with one of our amazing greetings.
Where Did These Common Sayings Come From? Fascinating!
You're probably aware of these common sayings, but where did they originate from? Fascinating!
The Great Mothers of History: 12 Famous Mothers!
History is laden with truly heroic moms, but we've gone to the trouble of picking 12 of the most heroic of all for you. Here are 12 of the best moms in history.
Do These Chores Once and Forget About Them for a Year
Are you wasting your time on these chores every day of the week? Don’t. Tackling them once a year is just fine.
14 Obsolete English Terms We Wish Were Brought Back!
Over the centuries, so many eloquent and useful English words fell out of use. We wish these 14 clever (but sadly obsolete) terms were used more often.
12 Mind-Blowing History Facts You Never Knew Were True!
These historical facts may not sound particularly likely, but trust us, they're really true!
Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills with These Great Tips
If you want to improve your critical thinking skills then you should take a look at these fantastic tips.
These 10 Facts Prove Amelia Earhart Was Extraordinary
To cleberate the legacy of the pioneer aviator, we gathered 10 fats on the life of Amelia Earhart you must know.
The Weird and Wonderful History of Perfume!
Perfume has been around for centuries and this article takes a look at its strange history.
9:01
Learn With a Smile: A Funny History of Japan
If you've ever wanted a crash course in Japanese history without it being too dull - this is the perfect video for you.
What Toll Does a Bad Economy Take on Our Psyche?
This article examines how a bad economy affects our mental health, including common psychological responses like anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and heightened financial stress.
This Struggling Single Mom's Story Will Warm Your Heart
A good story is all you need to restore your faith in humanity, and the story of single mom Billie, from Florida, is definitely one to do just that.
15 Amazing Items of the Past People Found in Their Homes
The nooks and crannies of our homes may contain some really fascinating vintage items...
8 Novels Any History Lover Must Read
If you're in the mood for time travel, grab one of these acclaimed and immersive historical novels.
These Inventions Changed the World Beyond All Recognition
Some inventions meant that the world changed beyond all recognition. In this interactive video post, you'll see nine of the greatest.
Service Dogs Are the Most Loyal & Courageous of Creatures
These 20 photos stand as a testament to the courage and devotion of service dogs, which have fought with and served humans throughout our history.
These Are the Most Expensive Liquids in the Entire World
The world's most expensive liquids are incredibly valuable for a variety of reasons. Discover what they are and why they're so valuable in this list.
Impress Your Friends With These Quirky Latin Phrases
Make yourself look wiser and more romantic by using these ten Latin phrases on a daily basis.
1:25
This Beautifully Restored Video Makes the 1930s Come Alive
This brilliantly restored video from 1939 features a lively scene of women swing-dancing the Lindy Hop.
Watch These Old Historical Photos Come Magically to Life
Russian animator Alexey Zakharov has managed to achieve something amazing: he animates old photos and turns them into film. You've got to see this.
20 Safety Fails That Will Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
You'd be surprised to see how often people just throw safety regulations to the wind with these 20 heart-stopping images
Eccentric Rulers: 6 Bizarre Monarchs Throughout History
These eccentric monarchs throughout history have quite a story to tell...
We Bet You Never Knew the Origins of These Common Idioms!
We bet you use the following 8 common idioms all the time, but have you ever stopped to take the time to think about where they came from?
These 11 Quotes Don’t Belong to Those You Think They Do
Surprising quotations that were completely miscredited. Some have commonalities with the supposed authors, while others are completely off...
The 12 Moonwalkers: The Men Who Touched The Lunar Surface
Here's a look at the only 12 men in history to have walked on the surface of the moon.
24 Amazing Antarctica Facts to Thrill Your Friends With
Antarctica is the place that people know least about. But after you read this, you'll be able to amaze them with some stunning facts.
7:20
Hallelujah! Watch Leonard Cohen Perform His Popular Song
Watch Leonard Cohen spellbind a London crowd with his magical rendition of the "Hallelujah" song.
8 Incredible Historical Predictions that Actually Came True
Here, we present some truly remarkable fictional predictions made in history that actually turned out to be true.
The Surprising Origin of 5 Everyday Practices and Items
We all know the Ancient Greeks gave us democracy but what about birthday cakes? These are 5 everyday things you didn't know originated in Ancient Greece.
1925: World Events That Made the News a Century Ago
Let's jump back in time and revisit the major events that captured the world's attention exactly a hundred years ago.
2:42
A Soulful Harp Cover of the Song 'The Sound of Silence'
Don't miss this soulful and dreamy harp cover of the classic song 'The Sound of Silence' by Simon & Garfunkel performed in a forest!
Men vs. Women: What Does the Science Say?
10 studies and articles that dive into the real differences between the sexes, asking the meaningful questions and looking at real data.
I Bet You Never Knew These U.S. Geography Facts...
Do you consider yourself to be a proud American who knows all there is to know about the good ol’ U.S. of A.? We bet you didn't know these facts!
23 Extraordinary Vision Facts That'll Open Your Eyes Wide
The eye is an amazing body part, but did you know how amazing? These 23 facts will open your eyes to the extraordinary truth.
8 Facts You Learned at School that Are No Longer True!
The passage of time leads things that were once accepted as facts to actually be proven as incorrect. Here are 8 supposed facts that aren’t really true.
These Bygone Terms for ‘Happy’ Need to Be Brought Back
There were some really cool ways to describe happiness back in the day.
To enable your Ad-Free Subscription, please fill the fields below
Your subscription was successful, now you can enjoy an ad-free experience!! Note: To make sure you get no ads, please make sure to log in to your account. If you are logged in already, then refresh the page. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.
