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In 19th–20th century Germany, university students prized ... | funfact.wiki | funfact.wiki
In 19th–20th century Germany, university students prized facial scars from Mensur, an academic sword duel. Scars symbolized courage and elite status. Some students too afraid to participate sliced their own cheeks or paid doctors to create fake scars.
  • Germany
  • Duel
  • Culture
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The Navajo people intentionally weave a flaw into their textiles. They believe weavers intertwine part of their soul into the fabric, so they leave an escape route called a "spirit line" (Ch'ihónít'i) to keep the weaver's spirit from being trapped inside.
  • Navajo
  • Textile
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The Chinese zodiac animals vary by country. What is a dragon in Korea is a seagull in India, a whale in Iran, and a snail in Central Asia. In Vietnam, the "rabbit" position is held by a cat.
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  • Dragon
  • Cat
  • Culture
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In 1822, a stork was found in Germany with an African spear in its neck. It had flown from Africa wounded, providing decisive evidence that migratory birds travel between continents. Germans call such birds 'Pfeilstorch' (arrow stork).
  • Stork
  • Migratory bird
  • Germany
  • Africa
  • Animal
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A "rat king" occurs when multiple rats' tails become entangled into a single mass. In 1828, a rat king of 32 rats was found in Buchheim, Germany. It likely forms when blood or excrement acts as adhesive in cramped spaces, or when tails freeze together in cold weather.
  • rat
  • Germany
  • animal
  • mystery
  • tail
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Many European surnames originated from 'son of [father's name].' English -son (Johnson, Jackson), Celtic Mc/Mac (McDonald, MacArthur) and O' (O'Brien), Spanish -ez (Rodríguez, González), and Slavic -vić (Ibrahimović, Đoković) all trace back to a father's name that became hereditary.
  • Europe
  • English language
  • Spanish language
  • Language
  • Culture
  • Surname
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