Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.
100 Mind-Blowing Family Facts
“Opposites attract” is a common myth. People are attracted to people who look like family members or those with a similar personality type.
The pumpkin is a member of the cucurbit family, which are gourds, such as cucumbers and squashes.
In Halden prison in Norway, guards are encouraged to interact, play sports, and eat with the inmates. This is to prevent aggression and create a sense of family.
December 12th is Ding-A-Ling Day – a day to call friends and family that you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Someone left a family photo on the Moon. When Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke landed on the Moon in 1972, he decided to leave behind a photo of himself, his two sons and his wife. The photo remains on the Moon to this day.
Vanilla is a member of the orchid family. This means “those little brown flecks in your vanilla bean ice cream are vanilla orchid seeds,” per the Smithsonian Institute.
Marla Gibbs continued to work as a flight attendant for two years after being cast on a hit TV show. Before taking her place on the stoop of 227, Marla Gibbs played the housekeeper Florence on The Jeffersons (a spin-off of All in the Family). In a 2015 interview, Gibbs told the Washington Post that despite it appearing as though she had gotten her big break, she kept her job as a flight attendant for American Airlines for two more years—just to be safe.
The British royal family is named after Windsor. You’d think Windsor Castle was named after the House of Windsor, but it’s the other way around. The royal family changed its name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1917 so it would sound less German and chose Windsor because they had ties with the English town.
5 countries in the world don’t have airports. If you’re a jet-setting traveller, it’s hard to imagine not having an airport nearby for your next family gathering or work event. However, Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Andorra somehow make it work!
A musician named Jim Sullivan mysteriously disappeared 6 years after recording an album called “U.F.O.“ The 1969 album featured strange lyrics about leaving his family and being abducted by aliens. Sullivan disappeared six years later with only his abandoned car found on a desert road in New Mexico as evidence.
Chickens are eaten for their whole life cycle. A not-so-fun fact for the chickens, but one of the fun facts to ponder: when you’re eating chicken katsu or a chicken omelette, you could be eating a whole family. You’re essentially eating a chicken before (AKA, the eggs) and after its birth. Oh, not to mention day-old chicks.
Queen Elizabeth II owns the swans in England. Not only does she own generations of corgis, but this monarch also co-owns most of the geese in England. Why? Swans are the British royal family’s symbol. As of the 12th century, legislation was passed stating that all mute swans were owned by the Crown. In the 15th century, two other entities were entitled to the swans in the River Thames.
Pigeon poop is the property of the British royal family. Pigeon poop was used to make gunpowder in the 18th century, so King George I confirmed all the droppings as property of the crown.
Millie the White House dog earned more than four times as President Bush in 1991. Once known as the most famous dog in White House history, Millie was one of Bush’s family dogs. One of her amazing feats? The $900,000 in royalties earned from Millie’s Book easily outsold the $2,291 earned in 1991 by the President for his 1988 campaign autobiography, “Looking Forward.”
The first roller coaster was invented to stop sinful behaviour. When LaMarcus Thompson created the first roller coaster in Coney Island, he did it to stop the sinful lifestyle of New Yorkers. The rise of brothels in the late 1800s disgusted Thompson who wanted to provide a family-friendly way to indulge.
The longest-running primetime animated series is The Simpsons, which began in 1987. Before the reign of The Simpsons, there were the Flintstones. However, towards the end of the 90s, a new family was in town. Matt Groening’s The Simpsons quickly overtook the Flintstones in terms of profit. The show is currently in its 19th season, with a running total of 672 episodes.
Queen Elizabeth is a trained mechanic. During her time as a princess, she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service during WWII. This also makes her the only member of the Royal family to have served in the military.
Bamboo is a form of grass. Because of the great lengths, bamboo can grow, they are considered as the largest members of the grass family. In total, there are around 91 genera and over 1000 bamboo species.
The garlic mustard is a member of only one family. It is a member of the mustard family. Garlic mustard is a biennial plant that has a life span of two years.
Almonds are one of the many members of the peach family. They are also referred to as the Queen of the Rose family. Other family members include the peach and apricot.
The inventor of the Pringles can be buried in a Pringles can. Fredric Baur was so proud of his ingenious invention that he wanted to take it to the grave. His burial Pringles can be bought on the way to the funeral. Baur’s family contemplated for a long time on which flavour they wanted to use.
A family in Kentucky had blue skin for generations. The Fulgates of Troublesome Creek are thought to have gained their blue skin from a combination of a rare genetic condition and inbreeding. Methemoglobinemia is what scientists believe causes this mutation.
Andy’s dad from Toy Story was not animated due to budgeting concerns. We may have seen the rest of Andy’s family, but his father remains unseen. Originally, Andy’s dad was supposed to make an appearance in the films. However, it takes a lot to render a 3d character, so it was scrapped in the end.
A classic violin is made with 70 different pieces of wood. Associated with class and elegance, the earliest version of a violin emerged in the1500s in Italy. The first known creator of the violin was Andrea Amati. He had been commissioned by the Medici family to create an instrument like a lute, but easier to play.
The longest-reigning King in the UK was George III. Reigning for over 59 years, George III had the longest run as King in the history of the Royal Family.
The house from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is now a family restaurant. After shooting the 70’s slasher, the suburban house that once saw the horrors of Leatherface was turned into a restaurant. Initially, it was a Texas Chainsaw Massacre-themed restaurant, complete with a Leatherface dummy. However, it was since rebranded as the Grand Central Cafe, with less of a gimmick on the venue being the Massacre House.
The British Royal Family can’t play Monopoly. It’s not really because of a royal decree (Like how the Queen can’t sit on the Iron Throne since she can only sit on hers!). One of the ridiculously unbelievable funny facts: Prince Andrew said playing the game “gets too vicious” for the Royal Family.
In Slovakia, they have a Christmas Carp that lives in the family bathtub for a few days before they are eaten. A traditional Slovakian Christmas dinner is a main dish of breaded carp with sides of cabbage and sausage soup, and potato salad. However, the WTF facts twist is that the carp has to live in the family bathtub before it is cooked.
There’s a family of people with blue skin in Kentucky. One of the most bizarre WTF facts: For generations, the Fugates of Kentucky had a condition called methemoglobinemia that turns skin blue. It was a rare genetic condition that was even more triggered by inbreeding.
People used to take photos with their dead relatives. The Victorian era was truly strange, but no other WTF facts can top this: People would take a recently deceased family member and take photos of them as if they were just sleeping.
Dracula was an actual person. Vlad the Impaler was a 15th-century Romanian ruler who consumed his enemy’s blood with meals. His being born in Transylvania, his disturbing habits, and his family name ‘Dracula,’ was the inspiration for the Bram Stoker novel.
The family faced severe financial difficulties, leading to mounting debts.
He meticulously planned the murders, ensuring each family member was killed in a different room.
He believed killing his family would save their souls from the perceived evils of the world.
List expressed remorse for his actions during interviews but maintained that he believed he was saving his family.
The List family home, known as Breeze Knoll, was destroyed by arson in 1972, a year after the murders.
His case is often studied in criminal psychology courses to understand the mindset of family annihilators.
Peyton List has a strong sense of family. She values her loved ones and often expresses gratitude for their continuous support in her life and career.
The Royal Family isn’t allowed to give out autographs.
Almonds are part of the peach family. Almonds are not true nuts but rather something called “drupes.”
The inventor of the Frisbee became one after he died. After Walter Morrison died and was cremated in 2010, his family turned him into the very toy he invented in 1955. It was known as the Pluto Platter before Wham-O renamed it the Frisbee.
Apples are a part of the rose family.
Cherries are a member of the rose family (Rosaceae) as are quince, pears, plums, apples, peaches, and raspberries!
Rangifer tarandus is the scientific name for the animal we most commonly call reindeer. They are in the same family as deer, and there are more than a dozen subspecies.
Apples are part of the rose family.
If you have children, you likely read them Dr. Seuss’s books. These favourites have been around for generations. But, you are likely saying the famed author’s name incorrectly. According to friends and family, the name rhymes with voice, not deuce.
One Japanese man, Tsutomu Yamaguchi, was in Hiroshima for a business trip on August 6, 1945. This just happens to be the day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He somehow survived with burn injuries and went back home to Nagasaki. Then, on August 9, 1945, another atomic bomb hit that city. Yamaguchi and his family survived this attack, as well.
KILLER WHALES ARE DOLPHINS. Orcas, also known as “killer whales”, are the largest members of the dolphin family. They are one of the ocean’s top predators, preying on a diverse range of marine species, which include many fish species, penguins, seabirds, sea turtles, cephalopods and marine mammals such as seals and even whales larger than themselves.
Masters of camouflage, axolotls can adjust their colours to hide from predators and prey. This is a trait these clever critters share with other members of the salamander family.
One of Fleetwood Mac’s founding guitarists disappeared just before a show and was found days later as a newly initiated cult member. Jeremy Spencer was with Fleetwood Mac from the very beginning, but during a tour to the US in the 70’s he became quite disillusioned with his career and life in general. He met members of Children of God, a religious cult in California, and decided to join them instead of continuing on the road to stardom. Jeremy Spencer is still affiliated with the cult, now known as Family International.
Michael Jackson once had an entire supermarket closed so he could shop “like a normal person.” Being famous from a very young age, Michael Jackson was never able to do many completely normal (and rather tediously boring) day-to-day activities. When he mentioned that it was his dream to go shopping and put things in a basket, one of his friends shut down his store for a day and filled it with Jackson’s friends and family posing as employees. The superstar donned a single latex glove and went about his business up and down the supermarket’s aisles, later likening it to a trip to Disneyland.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
There’s a family photo on the moon.
One of President John Tyler’s grandsons is still alive today—and he was born in 1790. How is this possible? President Tyler, the 10th US president, was 63 when his son Lyon Tyler was born in 1853; Lyon’s son was born when he was 75. President Tyler’s living grandson, Harrison Tyler is 94. Lyon’s other son Lyon Jr. passed away in 2020 at the age of 95. The Tyler family still maintains the President’s home, Sherwood Forest Plantation in Virginia.
In Slovakia, they have Christmas Carp that live in the family bathtub for a few days before they are eaten.
‘Blackening the bride’. In rural parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, a tradition known as ‘blackening the bride’ was practised in the 18th and 19th centuries. Just before a wedding, friends and family would cover the bride and groom with all sorts of messy substances, such as soot, mud and feathers. This custom was believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the couple.
Keeping it in the family. The first time the Roman imperial crown passed from father to son, with the son being born in the Emperor’s lifetime, was when Commodus succeeded his father Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD. The pair had reigned jointly since 177. This was over 200 years after Augustus had first established the role.
Even with the advent of standardised time, people still struggled to keep their clocks in sync. One London family used this to their advantage and made a living by selling people the time. An astronomer named John Belville would set his pocket watch to the time at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. He would then travel around the city and visit his network of subscribers, who paid to set their clocks by Belville’s pocket watch. After Belville died in 1856, his wife, and then later their daughter Ruth, carried on the tradition. Ruth continued to sell the time until World War II. By then she was in her eighties, and a couple of factors led to her timely retirement: Improved technology had made her role less important, and the war was making treks around London too dangerous.
Windsor Castle in the UK is the oldest royal residence and the British Royal family still resides there.
On some selected British food products you will see a royal stamp and it means that the product has been bought by the Royal Family for at least five years.
Royal Stamp: Food products with the royal stamp have been purchased by the royal family for at least five years, indicating high quality.
Disregard the overall US national debt for a moment and consider that the amount of debt the US owes to China only equates to an average of $10,000 for every American family.
Remember “Charlie bit my finger?” The video racked up so many views that the family was able to purchase a new home with over $1.3 million in royalties and ads as of 2017.