MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Can two snowflakes be exactly alike?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Can two snowflakes be exactly alike?

You’ve heard it for years… “no two snowflakes are exactly alike” but is that even true? It’s not actually. Back in 1988 a U.S. scientist in Boulder, CO named Nancy Knight found two identical snowflakes while she was studying snow crystals. The flakes were taken from a storm in Wisconsin and she made the discovery…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: When are you supposed to take down your Christmas Tree?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: When are you supposed to take down your Christmas Tree?

It’s January 6th and I feel like a lot of people still have their Christmas trees up. Which seems crazy to me, but apparently today actually is “National Take Down Your Christmas Tree Day” so I guess today’s the day. We took ours down the Sunday after New Years. Which seemed right. If you have…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why are they called Hershey Kisses?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why are they called Hershey Kisses?

You may have eaten a few handfuls of these over the holidays. Delicious Hershey Kisses. But why are they called that anyway? I always thought it had to do with the shape and how it’s a mold of when you pucker your lips to kiss. But that’s not it! It had more to do with…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What is the difference between white cheese and yellow cheese?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What is the difference between white cheese and yellow cheese?

If you’re like me you’ve been in the grocery store cheese aisle wondering should I buy the yellow or white cheese? And what’s the difference?! When it comes to American cheese they are actually both very similar, but not EXACTLY the same thing. Yellow cheese tends to have a higher fat content which makes for…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: How did the month of January get it’s name?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: How did the month of January get it’s name?

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2022. Another year begins with the month of January. But where did this month get it’s name from? January is named after the Roman god “Janus”. He had two faces so he could see the future and the past. Much like how we are looking into the new year and…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do we say “Ring in the new year”?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do we say “Ring in the new year”?

Before celebrating with champagne toasts, confetti, noise makers, resolutions we won’t keep… people used to say farewell to the previous year and welcome the new one by ringing actual bells, often in churches. Decades before people stood in Times Square for hours without going to the bathroom to watch the ball drop, crowds of people…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Can you eat your Christmas tree?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Can you eat your Christmas tree?

I know, I know, seems like an insane question. But you’ll be surprised by the answer! Here’s the thing… if you are really in to recycling, you actually can eat your Christmas tree. The needles provide vitamin C. And if your tree comes with pinecones, the pine nuts can be healthy too. Some Christmas trees…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What is the white string on a box of animal crackers for?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What is the white string on a box of animal crackers for?

This is a very random one today, but do you remember those old school boxes of animal crackers? The package had that white string on top. I always wondered why? Just a fun handle? To make it easier to hang in the stores? Nope. None of those reasons. It’s actually more festive than that. Animal…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why does Salvation Army collect donations using a red pot?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why does Salvation Army collect donations using a red pot?

It’s that time of year you’ve probably seen the Salvation Army red pots outside the stores lately. But why do they use the red pot? The first ever Salvation Army collection kettle took place in San Francisco at the Oakland Ferry located at the foot of Market St. It was actually a large crab pot…