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TIL that Christmas is banned in North Korea and instead of Christmas, the birthday of Kim Jong-suk (grandmother of the current supreme leader of North Korea) is celebrated on Christmas eve. However, some North Korean Christian believers still celebrate Christmas in secret.

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via reddit.com

PYGeE TIL the South Pacific island of Niue was named "Savage Island" by Captain James Cook, because the natives he saw were painted in what looked like blood (it was actually hulahula, a native red fe'i banana). That name was used until the original name "Niue", meaning "behold the coconut", regained use
DNPD TIL that Caffeine is a pain killer, and when used with other pain killers, such as Acetaminophen or NSAIDs, potentiates their effects significantly.
PkDG TIL that in 539BC, Persian King Cyrus the Great issued the first ever decree on human rights. He freed slaves, declared that all people had the right to choose their own religion, and established racial equality.
oBPdR TIL that the five Olympic rings were introduced in 1912 with the five colors representing each and every colour that appeared on the flags of the Olympic's competing nations at that time
W7yBo TIL that in the D-Day landings of 1944, only about 14 percent of the force were infantry, 6 percent were tank crews, and the rest were "rear area functions," - Logistics, medical staff, etc.