Victorian

Published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in 1857, this iconic Christmas song was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893). 16th December...

The 1930s saw people describing popular blues songs as "rocking". As time evolved with rock 'n' roll music in the 1950s, the word "to rock" was lin...

Deer antlers are the fastest growing tissue on the planet, where at their peak, they can expand an inch every two days.

The first mention of the cupcake can be traced as far back as 1796. Written by Amelia Simmons in American Cookery, there is a recipe notation of “a...

Published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in 1857, this iconic Christmas song was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893). 16th December...

The Imperial Russian Ballet choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned Peter Tchaikovsky to compose the music for this fairy tale in 1891. The classi...

It is said that the longest sentence published in literature belongs to Victor Hugo from Les Misérables where there is a sentence which is 823 word...

The physical activity from gardening improves endurance, strength, mobility, flexibility, whilst having the added benefit of getting a solid connec...

A play on the Latin phrase “carpe diem”, usually translated as “seize the day”. The extended version of the phrase “carpe diem, quam minimum credul...

Text on the reverse side:The physical activity from gardening improves endurance, strength, mobility, flexibility, whilst having the added benefit ...

Honey represents prosperity, as well as immortality and rebirth. Due to their sweet flavour, it is also associated to delight. Bees have always bee...

Native American tribes saw the owl as a symbol of protection. Linked to wisdom and knowledge, they are also associated with magic and mystery, with...

Lewis Carroll’s personal copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – one of only six original 1865 editions known to exist – was sold for a record $...

The 1892 two-act ballet, with a score by Tchaikovsky, is popular world over especially in the Christmas season. Nutcracker wood-carvings in the for...

Clothing has always communicated more than personal taste. Changes in fashion reveal developments in technology, trade, class, gender and culture, ...

As an increasing number of people take on desk jobs, an increasingly common thing in modern society is the “dead butt syndrome” (also known as glut...

Prior to the introduction of railways, communities around the UK had their own local time (e.g. Bristol was 10 minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time.)...

Unlike the joy of sunbathing, or devouring a board of cheese and wine, the act of reading is a passion without any unwanted side effects - an act t...

A study showed that in as little as two weeks, listening to upbeat music improves the immune system, as well as boost happiness. A happy mood bring...

Life unfolds like a series of operas - some acts are filled with laughter, others resonating with deep emotions. Sometimes, we can be swept away in...

Text on the reverse side:A study found that moderate drinkers are less prone to depression with less cases of heart disease. The conclusion was to ...

Text on the reverse side:Most editions of Hamlet are slightly different as they all come from different sources. In the 1623 First Folio edition, t...

The first hot air balloon flight was demonstrated flying over the heads of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French court in Versailles in 1783....

This English proverb reminds us that no matter how rough the storm gets, keep on that journey and persevere. You will be better and stronger for it...

A study found that moderate drinkers are less prone to depression with less cases of heart disease. The conclusion was to keep the drinking moderat...

Most editions of Hamlet are slightly different as they all come from different sources. In the 1623 First Folio edition, the first printed copy of ...

1874 saw the introduction of the first commercial typewriters, but it was not until after the mid 1880s that they would commonly be seen in offices...

Tea is an integral part of British culture, and ‘My cup of tea’ is just one of the many tea-related phrases commonly used in the UK. Other phrases ...

People were using ceramic teapots 11,000 ago in Asia and the Middle East. This custom didn't reach the West until much later, as tea didn’t reach m...

Many of us love the smell of old books, with the aroma of dust and all its history. Other times we enjoy smelling brand new books, freshly printed ...

GPS has revolutionised navigation. Some thought it would threaten to make the magnetic compass obsolete - not so! GPS indicates position but not di...

Champagne has been served at royal courts across Europe for centuries. In 1884, Champagne was selected as the official drink for Queen Victoria’s r...

In case you have the urge to build a structure for a Champagne cascade, the optimum measurements are as follows: Base level with 60 glasses, level ...

The flight of a Champagne cork is part of the fun and the glamour of drinking Champagne, which can reach a speed of around 40 mph (64 kph). To date...

Tea bags were invented in the United States back in 1908 by Thomas Sullivan who created small silk bags for giving samples of tea to his customers....