Ancient and medieval maps were not prone to have "HIC SVNT DRACONES" (there's one instance, which probably refers to Komodo dragons) and certainly not "Here there be dragons." What they would write instead was "HIC SVNT LEONES" -- here there be LIONS.

The fabric taffeta was valued for the loud rustling noises it would produce, a simple way of conspicuous consumption, but in the movies, an actress could not faint in taffeta but had to wear crepe de Chine, to avoid the microphone. Beaded dresses were also a problem.

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The king of Bantam, hearing of the English merchants celebrating Ascension Day (of Queen Elizabeth) with revelry, commended them for holding their prince in such reverence from so far away.

The Portuguese learned to sail about Africa by sailing far out into the Atlantic and then south, because sticking near the coast was to fight the prevailing winds.

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In Nineveh, it was held to be a good omen if black ants were seen about a new foundation -- the house would be built and the owner would live to ripe old age. But if a fox ran through a public square, the town would be devastated.

In two estates in 18th century Sweden, some women -- widows -- could vote as burghers or as peasants, though burghers later removed the right. (Peasants debated but decided farm-owning widows should keep the vote.)

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Spelling bees are, as a rule, a practice only among English speakers.

Various Scandinavian legends about trolls that threatened travelers and were tricked into being out when the sun rose end with the new stone formation being a guide to travelers as a landmark.

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In Latin American wakes, it's very important to keep awake for fear that the soul of the dead move into your body if you drowse off.

One saying recorded of an ancient Spartan was after an Athenian had been convicted by a court of idleness, the Spartan praised him, saying he had only been convicted of being free.

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Dogs are found carefully buried in old Mesoamerica sites. This may have to do with the modern belief that dogs help lead into the afterlife.

China did not prepare for the Opium War, declaring that a few days' lack of Chinese rhuburb and tea would end it through British constipation and loss of vision.
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A Tokugawa Japanese advice writer cited a proverb that a family's status could be judged by the hour of their rising. (Late rising meant declining status.)

The use of a bass viol to set pitch in rehearsal did not keep Congregationalists from objecting when it was introduced into services, and when they accepted it, the organ took still longer.

In Tibet, a dead soul was accompanied by three animals: a sheep to guide the soul, a horse to ride, and a yak to fight the wrathful spirits along the way.
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In China, it was said that an instrument strung with lion sinews would, by being played, cause all the other strings in the orchestra's instruments to break.

Early modern industrialization used up so much wood in England as to produce a shortage. The first solution was for Parliament to forbid farmers from using any woodland not within two furlongs of their home.
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On trains in India during the 19th century, first-class and second-class had things "reserved for ladies." Third-class, and later fourth, had "women only." One tea planter, arriving in India, had it impressed on him by the British whom he met, that only dire financial exigency would allow him, being British, to take a second-class ticket; if he could possibly afford a first-class, he had to take it, and of course, third was impossible.

A Chinese emperor banned Manichaeism, and then Buddhism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism with the stated reason of increasing the supply of money: bells and statues were to be melted down for coins.

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Mayan cosmology held that the gods made several attempts to make men, but the first ones could not keep time or worship the gods properly. One of them survives as monkeys.

Coleridge commented on the quaint customs of the Germans. For instance, at Christams time, everyone in the family would give the others presents.

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