English borrowed about 30% of its vocabulary from French, primarily after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The tradition of the white wedding dress was popularized by Queen Victoria in 1840 — before that, brides wore any color.

Couples who spend quality time together regularly report higher happiness.

Calligraphy is considered one of the highest art forms in East Asian, Middle Eastern, and European medieval traditions.

The most translated document in history is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Alfred Hitchcock never won an Academy Award for directing despite five nominations.

The word 'assassin' comes from the Arabic 'hashishin,' a term for a secretive Islamic sect.

Chocolate was consumed as a bitter beverage by the Aztecs long before it was made into solid bars.

The Popol Vuh is the Mayan creation myth — humanity was made from maize after earlier attempts from mud and wood failed.