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TIL a common prank in the 1800s involved putting the end of a thread from a spool through a clothes seam and getting unsuspecting strangers to try to pull out what they think is a loose thread. The spool unwound as they pulled, and the prankster enjoyed a jolly good laugh.

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XE4Yk TIL of the "Petticoat duel"; in 1792, Lady Almeria Braddock challenged Mrs. Elphinstone to a duel in London's Hyde Park over remarks the latter made about the former's true age; they duelled with pistols, then with swords, until Mrs. E agreed to write Lady A an apology.
N9jM TIL that the tongue of a blue whale can weigh as much as an elephant and an entire football team could stand on it
xnkg TIL Ancient Babylonians were so serious about brewing beer that if anyone brewed a bad batch they would drown him in it as a punishment
6Jb7 TIL that Hurling, a wildly popular sport in Ireland, is considered completely amateur, and the players get no pay, despite playing in stadiums that hold 80,000+ fans who pay admission.
OG8We TIL about Senate Bean Soup which has been on the menu continuously at U.S. Senate restaurants for over 100 years (except for one day during WWII due to rationing)