Pineapples were such a status symbol in 18th century England that you could rent one for the evening to take to a party.
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Tablecloths were originally meant to serve as towels with which guests could wipe their hands and faces after dinner.
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After Germany surrendered in WW2, people in Moscow partied until the entire city actually ran out of vodka.
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The Mint once considered producing doughnut-shaped coins!
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During the Black Plague, it was thought that bad smells were the cause of the plague. "Plague Doctors" therefore wore masks with long beak-like noses stuffed with flowers or smoke to hide the smells.
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The Canadian province of New Brunswick (which was part of the UK at the time) had a bloodless war with the US state of Maine in 1839
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