John Cage's 4'33" consists entirely of silence — performed in concert halls.

Shintoism, Japan's indigenous religion, venerates kami — spirits in nature, ancestors, and sacred objects.

The Olympic Games are held every four years.

In Chinese mythology, the Jade Emperor rules heaven and earth from his celestial palace.

The Tour de France is one of the most famous cycling races in the world.

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

Hip-hop culture originated in the South Bronx in the early 1970s and encompasses DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti art.

Elvis Presley never wrote any of his songs — he was almost entirely a performer.

Beethoven continued composing after going completely deaf, writing his Ninth Symphony while totally deaf.