Read Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things Online
Authors: Charles Panati
Tags: #Reference, #General, #Curiosities & Wonders
wigs, 234
Eisenhower, Dwight D., 281
Electric toothbrush, 210
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 203, 204,212, 235.346
Emmett, Daniel Decatur, 289
Engagement rings, diamond, 22–24
Erasmus, 86–87, 199, 202, 312
Esquire
, (magazine), 361–62
Etherington, John, 309
Etiquette.
See also
Table manners and customs
books on, 83,85,87–88
Etruscans
dentures, 213
“thumbs up” and “thumbs down” gestures, 9–10
wishbone superstition and, 5–6
“Evangelist,” 42
Evil eye, 17–19
Ex-Lax, 264
Eye, evil, 17–19
Eye drops, 261–62
Eyeglasses, 264–67
Eye makeup, 18–19, 223
Fabergé, Peter Carl, 56–57
Facial powder, 224
Fairy tales, 168–79
“Bluebeard,” 178–79
“Cinderella,” 172–73
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” 177–78
“Hansel and Gretel,” 175
“Little Red Riding Hood,” 168, 169, 171–72
“The Princess on the Pea,” 176–77
“Puss in Boots,” 173–75
“Sleeping Beauty,” 168–70
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” 176
Fallopius, Gabriel, 334–36
Fans (personal accessory), 312–13
Farina, Jean-Baptiste, 242
Fashion.
See
Clothing and accessories
Fashion models, 325
Father Christmas, 73
Father’s Day, 60–61
Fauchard, Pierre, 209
Feast days, 32
Fedora, 309
Feltman, Charles, 397
Fertilizer, lawn, 163
Feuchtwanger, Antoine, 397
Feyerabend, Sigmund, 197
Fiberglass, 157
Fick, A. E., 269
Fico
, sign of the, 17
Fiennes, Celia, 185
Fifth Avenue parade, St. Patrick’s Day, 54–55
Fig newtons, 412–13
Filberts, 393
Finger, ring, 24–25
Finger bowls, 81
Firecrackers, 383–84
“First Day of Christmas, The” (nursery rhyme), 186
Flag, American, 278–80
Flagg, James Montgomery, 275
Flashlight, 137–38
Flatware, stainless steel, 89–90
Fleer, Frank and Henry, 417–18
Flour grinder, 96
Fluorescent tube, 137
Fluoride toothpaste, 213
Flush toilet, 203–4
Food processor, 114–15
Foods, 388–421
A.l. Steak Sauce, 403
almonds, 394
Betty Crocker, 409
bread, 400–1
breakfast cereal, cold, 414
chewing gum, 416–18
cookies, 411–15
Cracker Jack, 395
doughnuts, 415–16
Duncan Hines, 410
filberts, 393
fruit cies, 418
hamburger, 399–40
hot dog, 396–99
ice cream, 418–21
ice cream cone, 421
ice cream soda, 420
ice cream sundae and whipped cream, 420–21
ketchup, 401–3
mayonnaise, 404
Melba Toast, 401
pancakes, 406–8
pasta, 405–6
Peach Melba, 401
peanuts, 392–93
pies, 410–11
pistachio, 395
popcorn, 390–92
potato chips, 368–89
pretzel, 389–90
sandwich, 400
Tabasco sauce, 404–5
walnuts, 393–94
Worcestershire Sauce, 403
Foot products. Dr. Scholl’s, 262–63
Footwear, 294–99
Ford, Gerald R., 285
Fork, 78–79
crossing knife and, 81
Formica, 129
Fornachou, Arnold, 421
“Fornicate,” 347
Fortune
(magazine), 366
Foster Grant, 267–68
Four-leaf clover, 8
Frafengerg, Ernst, 334
France
aluminum ware, 101
April Fool’s Day, 58
aspirin, 272–73
clothes dryers, 146
coffeepots, 119
designer clothes, 324–25
fairy tales, 169, 171, 178–79
fork, 79
handkerchief, 311–12
high-heeled shoes, 297–98
knives, 80–81
neckties, 305–6
safety razor, 215–16
sewing machine, 147–48
Statue of Liberty, 291–93
suits, 306
Teflon utensils, 105–7
wallpaper, 149–50
Francis de Sales, Saint, 51
Francis I, king of France, 315
Frankenstein
(Shelley), 180–81
Frankfurter, 396–97
Franklin, Benjamin, 266–67, 350
Frazer, Sir James, 47
French-fried potatoes, 388
Fresneau, François, 320
Friday the thirteenth, 13
Friendship ring, 22
Frigga, 13, 69
Frisbee, 327–73
Frisbie Pie Company, 372, 373
Fruit ices, 418
Fuller, Alfred Carl, 142, 143
Fuller brushes, 142, 143
“Gadget,” 99–100
Gaius Diocletianus, Roman emperor, 72
Galen, 227–28
Galloway, Elijah, 152
Galoshes, 320
Gamble, James, 218
Games.
See
Toys and games
Garden hose, 165–66
Gardens, 161
Gaslight, 135–36
Gas ranges, 98–99
“Gay,” 348
Gayetty, Joseph, 204
Gelasius, Pope, 51
General Electric, 137, 210, 379–80
George, Edwin, 163
George IV, king of England, 403
Gerhardt, Charles Frederick von, 272
Germany
amphetamines, 270
birthday cake and candles, 33
Christmas tree, 69–70
detergent, 152–54
fairy tales, 175–76
glass window, 156–57
Groundhog Day, 49–50
porcelain pots and pans, 100–01
shampoo, 219–20
whistling teakettle, 119
Gerson, Thomas, 276
Gibson, Charles Dana, 359, 360
“Gibson Girl,” 359, 360
Gillen, Denver, 75
Gillette, King, 215–16
Girl Scouts of America, 285–86
“Give the cold shoulder,” 94
Glamour
(magazine), 356
Glass
drinking, 82
mirror, 229–30
safety, 157–58
window, 156–59
Gloves, 310
“God bless you,” 10–11
Godey’s Lady’s Book
, 66, 71
Godiva, Lady, 39, 185
Goetz, Charles, 420–21
Goldgar, Michael, 62
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears” (fairy tale), 177–78
Good Housekeeping (magazine
), 353–54
Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, 354
“Good Morning to All” (song), 34–35
Goodrich, Benjamin Franklin, 164, 166
Goodrich, B. F., Company, 317
Goodyear, Charles, 165, 298–99
Goths, marriage customs, 21–22
Grace, saying, 92–93
Graham, Rev. Sylvester, 414
Graham crackers, 413–14
Grandparent’s Day, 62
Granola, 414
Grass
lawn, 160–62
mowers, 162–63
weed-free, 163
Greeks, 15, 19
bedrooms and beds, 327
birthdays, 31, 32
brassiere, 341
clothes irons, 143–46
cosmetics, 222
dolls, 385
gardens, 161
hair styling, 231–32
hats, 308
horseshoe superstition, 4, 5
marriage and wedding customs, 29
medicine, 246
mirror practice of divination, 11
mirrors, 229
perfumes, 239–40
pies, 410
Green, Adolphus, 413
Green, Benjamin, 261
Green, Nancy, 407, 408
Greenwood, John, 211
Greeting cards
Christmas, 71–72
Father’s Day, 61
Grandparent’s Day, 62
Mother’s Day, 60
Mother-in-Law’s Day, 61
Valentine’s Day, 51–53
Greeting customs, 42–44
Gregoire, Marc, 106
Gregory, Hanson, 415–16
Gregory, Pope (the Great), 10–11
Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, 171–72, 175,176
Grinder, flour, 96
Grooming implements and accessories
combs, 237–38
electric shaver, 216–17
hair dryer, 236–37
hairpins, 236
mirror, 229–30
razor, 214–16
wigs, 234–36
Groundhog Day, 49–50
Guerlain, Pierre and Jacques, 242–43
Hadden, Briton, 364–66
Hair coloring, 231–33
Hair dryer, 236–37
Hairpins, 236
Hair powdering, 232–33
Hair styling, 231–33
Hale, Sarah Josepha, 66–67, 193
Hall, Charles Martin, 101
Hall, Otis, 261–62
Halloween, 62–64
“Ham,” pejorative use of, 94
Hamburger, 399–40
Hamilton Beach, 236, 237
Hamwi, Ernest, 421
Hand, Judge Learned, 273
Handkerchief, 311–12
Handler, Ruth, 385–86
Handshake, 42–43
Handwerker, Nathan, 397
“Hansel and Gretel” (fairy tale), 175
Hanway, Jonas, 319
“Happy Birthday to You” (song), 34–35
Hardie, Thomas, 105–7
Hare, Easter, 55–56
Hare’s foot, 3
“Hark, Hark” (nursery rhyme), 187
Harrington, Sir John, 203–4
Hat(s), 308–10
“eat one’s,” 93–94
tipping of one’s, 43
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 161
Hearse, 37–38
Heater, electric, 133
Heating, central, 131–33
Hebrews
marriage certificate, 30, 31
mirrors, 229
Heinz, Henry, 402–3
Heinz Tomato Catsup, 402
Hellman, Richard, 404
Helmont, Jan Baptista van, 135
Henry VII, king of England, 185, 186, 315
Henry VIII, king of England, I
Heroin, 258
Heublein company, 403–4
“Hey Diddle Diddle” (nursery rhyme), 187–88
Hill, Jessica, 35
Hill, Mildred, 34–35
Hill, Patty Smith, 34–35
Hines, Duncan, 410
Hippocrates, 10
Hodgson, Paul, 380
Hoffman, Felix, 272
Holbein, Hans, 315
Holidays and other celebrations, 45–75
April Fool’s Day, 58
Christmas, 67–75
Easter, 55–58
Father’s Day, 60–61
Grandparent’s Day, 62
Groundhog Day, 49–50
Halloween, 62–64
Mother’s Day, 58–60
Mother-in-Law’s Day, 61
New Year’s Day, 45–49
St. Patrick’s Day, 53–55
St. Valentine’s Day, 50–52
Thanksgiving, 64–67
Holland
bleaching method, 155
doughnuts, 415
St. Nicholas, 73
Holly, 69
Honeymoon, 28 “Hooker,” 348
Hoover, Susan, 140
Hoover, William, 140
Hoover vacuum cleaners, 139–40
Homer, Thomas, 190
Horseshoe, 4–5
Horsley, John Calcott, 71–72
Hosiery, 343–44
Hot cross buns, 57–58
Hot dog, 396
House Beautiful
(magazine), 356–57
Howe, Elias, 148–49
Howells, William Dean, 355
Howland, Esther, 52
Hubert, Conrad, 137–38
Hula hoop, 370–71
“Humpty Dumpty” (nursery rhyme), 188
Hunt, Waller, 148–49
“Hush-a-bye, Baby” (nursery rhyme), 183–84
Hyatt, John Wesley, 126, 127
Ice cream, 418–21
Ice cream cone, 421
Ice cream soda, 420
Ice cream sundae, 420
Ices, fruit, 418
Ideal Toy Company, 374
I. G. Farben, 269
Incandescent lamp, 136
India
Parcheesi, 377–78
rosary, 39–40
Indians.
See
American Indians
Instructions of Ptahhotep, The
, 77
International Planned Parenthood Federation, 338