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TIL Japan has a Belly Button Festival, also known as Oh Matsuri. It was started in 1969 in Furano City, Hokkaido Prefecture, the symbolic "belly button" of the country, in an attempt to strengthen bonds through the belly button.

Read more ohmatsuri.com

via reddit.com

rNmjy TIL 15th century Korea developed the Geobukseon (turtle ship), a warship roofed with spiked plates to prevent boarding actions. Each Geobukseon was also designed with a dragon head on the bow that hid a cannon or could release smoke to inspire terror or cover ship movements.
ANXgg TIL about tintinnabulum - phallic wind chimes intended to ward off evil in Ancient Rome
VM85G TIL In 1967 Michael J. Adams (Maj USAF) flew an X-15 to an altitude above 50 miles and qualified as an astronaut according to the U.S. definition of the boundary of space. Moments later the craft broke apart, killing Adams and destroying the X-15-3. He was the first American space mission fatality.
69mDX TIL that the "microwave-safe" label on plastic containers only means they won't melt or warp, and doesn't guarantee that chemicals won't leach into your food when heated
LkEMp TIL that in 1833 Britain used 40% of its national budget to free all slaves in the Empire. The loan for the Slavery Abolition Act was so large that it was not paid off until 2015.