I'll Tell You Why

Macaroni and cheese is an American staple and without the American revolution we may have never gotten this culinary staple.

The military's K9 Corps needed recruits to get started and it began with people giving up their pets.

Eating three meals a day isn't rooted in health or human needs. It's rooted in the industrial revolution, a moral conundrum and the British Navy.

Kids didn't always have summer vacation and we have some of America's most iconic families to thank for why schools are out for summer.

There are 3 main stories as to why coffee is called a "cup of Joe" and one involves a very annoyed boss.

A1 Steak Sauce was created for a king, but the bottle says it was made smack dab in the middle of the Civil War. This is the story of a royal recipe and a business opportunity one man couldn't resist.

When Albert Marr enlisted in the military, he asked to bring his pet baboon with him. This is the story of a great war, fierce bravery and an unlikely friendship.

Tipping is more common in the U.S. than in Europe which is weird since Europeans actually gave Americans the idea. This is the story of aristocracy, slavery and the potential for economic upheaval.

McDonald's may reign supreme for fast food, but the franchise was actually really late to the drive thru game. This is the story of efficiency, military rules and revolutionizing how people eat.

"Jersey Shore" is celebrating its 15th anniversary and the show did something few others have been able to. But, it almost was a show about people competing to be the ultimate Guido.

Shopping malls are iconic and have been a staple of American life for decades. But, Victor Gruen, the father of the mall, hated them. This is the story of bringing a piece of Europe to America, a cultural phenomenon and deep regret.

Jeans weren't invented to be a fashion statement, they were created for survival. This is the story of California gold, a woman tired of mending her husband’s pants, and a global sensation.

Before we had "In God We Trust," American money featured a way cooler 3 word slogan. One that, honestly, we should bring back. This is the story of revolution, threats to America and some very compelling letters.

Baby showers may seem like a modern thing, but celebrations of babies actually goes back centuries. This is the story of superstitions, purification and the art of gift giving.

A giant rabbit being used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus may seem kind of crazy, but it's not as big of a leap as you may think. Thi sis the story of ritual burials, fertility, and folklore.

Cartier's iconic love bracelet was really revolutionary for its time and people love it so much, they're willing to lock it onto their wrist. But, the bracelet was born out of heartbreak and search for a symbol of everlasting love.

It's possible dogs first started hanging out with humans when they smelled their food at a campfire, but it would be centuries before we brought them into our homes. This is the story of survival, companionship, and thousands of years of evolution.

Champagne is a staple of drinking culture, but at one point in time, French people avoided it and even tried to prevent the bubbles from happening. This is the story of monks, an accident and a woman who decided to bet on herself.

Andy Cohen is the face of reality television. But, did you know he almost killed off one of Bravo's biggest franchises? And reality TV actually got its start over a decade before he was even born. This is the story of life after war, a chance meeting and a winning formula for entertainment.

Happy Hour goes all the way back to 1914 and is actually illegal in one U.S. state. This is the story of entertaining soldiers, pregames and the government needing to make money.

We say "hello" all day, every day, but if one very influential man had his way, we'd all be saying "ahoy" instead. This is the story of a groundbreaking invention, two brilliant men and an opinion that would change the world.

Blush is a staple of makeup routines, but throughout history it's served bigger purposes than just changing a person's looks. This is the story of healing, changing face shapes and a poison that destroyed marriages.

In World War II, a bear officially joined the Polish Army and joined in the capture of a pivotal battle. This is the story of loyalty, the power of animals and an unlikely friendship.

Valentine's Day is all about love, but it wasn't always that way. With a very, very dark origin, this is a story of retribution, beheadings and a very famous poet.

While college football games started halftime shows with marching bands, the first professional football half time show started out with dogs. This is the story of a lot of failure, an attempt to keep viewers and a plan to sell dogs.

Groundhog's Day is a staple of the American winter, but it's a tradition that started 5,000 miles away and didn't start with a groundhog.

Saying "bless you" after someone sneezes is almost a reflex. And most people think it's because of how deadly illnesses spread. But, this is actually a story that starts with evil spirits and positive signs from God.

Donald Trump is being inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20. But, inaugurations weren't always in January and they weren't always big events. This is the story of a congressional mandate, raucous parties and a powerful oath.

The Hermes Birkin bag costs over $15,000 dollars and is one of the hardest bags to buy. But, it wasn’t always popular and the creation of it is thanks to a chance encounter and a succession change.

Times Square's ball drop on New Year's Eve is absolutely iconic. But, dropping a large ball at a certain time didn't start off as a New Year's Eve tradition. This is the story of a creative time-telling system, a broken up New Year’s party and a publisher’s brain child. 

Playing dreidel is a staple of Hanukkah, but one origin story has a major plot hole in it. And it’s possible the game wasn’t even invented by the Maccabees. This is the story of how Hanukkah’s favorite game became so popular.

I know we all think farmers are to blame for why we have Daylight Saving Time but they actually HATE it. And one of America's Founding Fathers who gets credit for with coming up with the idea actively is trying to convince people he isn't to blame. So, why do we have it? This is the story of energy conservation, world wars and a years-long fight.

Americans love the lottery, but one man's greed almost ended it forever. This is the story of building empires, corruption and government's being unable to manage their money.

Christmas cards are a staple of the holiday season, but believe it or not, Hallmark didn’t invent the tradition. It all started with a man in England who was so popular, he didn’t have time to write out over 1,000 holiday notes. So, he changed the way we sent season’s greetings.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an iconic American tradition. But, why did Macy’s decide to start the annual tradition? And how did the balloons get added? This is the story of a business’s gamble, an elaborate prank, and a well thought out marketing plan.  Jingle Bells by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100187 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Have you ever wondered why we drive on the right side of the road when other parts of the world drive on the left? Well, I have. This is a story of changing military strategy, robberies and a car that changed the world.

Everyone knows how Christian Louboutin came up with his iconic red bottom heels. But, before there were Louboutins there were two fashion icons who were doing red bottoms first – King Louis XIV and his brother, Philippe. This is the story of power, prestige and the kind of flair only an absolute monarch could muster.

Let's travel back to the 19th century and a very different -- and public -- form of voting for a story of election parties, an unmotivated society and illegal bribes.  Learn how the iconic "I Voted" stickers got their start in this Election Day special episode of "I'll Tell You Why."

Let's travel over 3000 miles across the Atlantic ocean to Ireland for an old Celtic legend about the devil, a candle and a heavenly rejection. The story behind our favorite Halloween tradition.