Many of us know that diamonds weren’t always considered the go-to stone for engagement rings. In the grand scheme of things, they haven’t even held the title that long. It was only thanks to a certain clever marketing ploy in 1948 that convinced us diamonds were “forever” that they became the standard in the first place.  Before that, engagement rings have come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials throughout history…some interesting, some inspiring, and others a bit more baffling when viewed through a modern lens.  No stones, no problem Ancient Egyptians, for example, exchanged braided hemp or reed rings, believing the circle symbolized eternity. Romans adapted this by giving iron or copper betrothal rings often featuring tiny keys, symbolizing that the wife was her husband’s property. Perhaps some rituals are best left in the past.  Puritans in the 1600s, on the other hand, gave engagement thimbles, which wives would use to sew their own wedding dress. While not the most romantic upon first glance, that thimble would then be cut into a ring. All in all, a pretty clever way to serve both practical and sentimental purposes…which sounds very on brand for Puritans.  A thimble in front of a sewing machine, Canva When rings delivered tiny poems Meanwhile, in Medieval Times all the way through the Renaissance, brides-to-be were given gold-banded posy rings (derived from the French word “poesy,” meaning poetry) featuring short, intimate inscriptions engraved on the inner or outer surface. These could be romantic promises, religious sentiments, or even secret messages. According to jewelry site Berganza.com, it’s likely that goldsmiths of the day had a book of stock phrases from which the customer would pick, two of the most popular being “A true friend’s gift” and “a loving wife during life.” Two engraved gold bands, Canva In some ways, these rings feel ahead of their time, considering personal messages engraved inside jewelry are still a popular choice today.  The vibrant era before diamonds took over When it comes to stones specifically, colorful, meaningful gems like sapphires, rubies, and emeralds were among the most popular. Sapphires were particularly favored for their durability and symbolic meanings—representing love, commitment, and royalty. Sapphire engagement rings date back to Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Even today, they remain a top diamond alternative, celebrated for their rich, distinctive hues.  More than one way to symbolize commitment For all the cultural power diamonds hold today, history suggests that engagement traditions have always been quite flexible. Across different countries and time periods, people attached meaning to whatever felt valuable within their own communities, be it from rarity, usefulness, or how it told the story of a relationship.  If you yourself are not convinced diamonds are your best friend when it comes to an engagement ring, take comfort in the fact that there are countless other alternatives.  By the way, jeweler Mason Mignanelli, who made the video above going through some alternative wedding rings throughout history, has a pretty fascinating e-book delving even further into this topic, which you can read for free here.  The post Thimbles, sapphires, and other things that served as engagement rings long before the diamond reigned supreme appeared first on Upworthy.

One of the most iconic American images is American Gothic, a 1930 painting by Grant Wood of a farmer holding a pitchfork, standing next to his annoyed daughter (or wife). It’s been parodied everywhere from Homer and Marge standing in the pose on The Simpsons, to advertisements for Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton’s The Simple Life (2003 to 2007), to Magenta and Riff Raff recreating the painting in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). To modern eyes, the painting appears to be a traditional depiction of a couple living on the farm. It’s as wholesome as America gets. However, when it was first hung in the Art Institute of Chicago, it was a cultural Rorschach test that offended rural Americans and delighted city slickers. “We should fear Grant Wood. Every artist and every school of artists should be afraid of him, for his devastating satire,” writer Gertrude Stein said of the painting. Why was American Gothic so controversial? With American Gothic, context is everything. The painting was released on the precipice of the Great Depression at a time when the Dust Bowl was killing American agriculture. It was also after a great migration when Americans left farms in droves for city life. Rural Americans were mocked for their simpler, conservative ways, with cultural voices such as H.L. Mencken referring to rural Americans as “booboisie.”  The painting showed a dour, joyless couple wearing simple clothing and was painted in a style that could be called medieval—no doubt, a comment on their traditional ways. After the painting caught the public’s attention, an Iowa farmer’s wife phoned Wood and didn’t hold back. “She claimed she wished to come over and smash his head for depicting her countrymen as grim Bible-thumpers,” Art History School host Paul Priestley said, according to Open Culture. Museum patrons looking at American Gothic. Credit: Kevin Dooley/Wikimedia Commons The artist’s background also plays a big role in how the painting is interpreted. Wood grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but often traveled to Europe to study Impressionism. This meant that he had one foot in the world of Bohemian Europe and another as an Iowa farm boy.  Wood would never admit that his painting was anything but an expression of genuine affection for its subjects. Wood “said he painted American Gothic to extol rural American values, real people in their well-ordered world: an image of reassurance during the onset of the Great Depression,” Priestly continues.  The home that inspired American Gothic. Credit: Ser Amantio di Nicolao/Wikimedia Commons How American Gothic’s meaning changed over time “American Gothic” was born at the beginning of the Great Depression, and its meaning would evolve over the difficult period. By the end of the decade, working people of the Midwest had begun to be seen as noble by city dwellers, who embraced folk music and workers’ rights. Further, mocking the “yokels” who were devastated by a natural disaster felt rather cruel.  The painting’s meaning evolved “because over the course of the thirties in the context of the depression and throughout World War II, it changed from being that satirical image to a national symbol of stability, order, prosperity, virtue and wholesomeness,” Steven Biel, historian and author of American Gothic: A Life of America’s Most Famous Painting, told Pop Entertainment.  Great pieces of art can mean different things to different people and evolve with the times. For many, in 2026, American Gothic is seen as simple American iconography and little more than a template for satire. But those who intend to tap into its cultural cache should first understand that it has undergone an incredible cultural arc: it redeemed those it intended to mock while softening the hearts of its jaded first audience. That’s something that the farmer’s wife (or daughter?) probably couldn’t even scoff at.  The post A seemingly innocent painting of a farmer and family member caused outrage in 1930 appeared first on Upworthy.

Sure, you could venture to Vegas to experience Phish’s legendary Gamehendge saga in 360 at the Sphere…but it would all pale in comparison to the palpable, electric joy that permeated throughout the audience after an elementary school cast decided to bring it to life.  A small town teacher with a big idea Every year, music teacher Kirk Kubicek, the leader behind this massive project, tries to give his students in the smaller schools throughout the mountains of Colorado something special for their year-end musical production, despite them not having access to the same resources that other schools in the flatlands might have.  View this post on Instagram “They have heart, they have courage, and they deserve every bit as much ambition and opportunity as anyone else. Every year I try to give them something bigger, something that asks more of them and leaves them with something they carry forever,” he wrote in an Instagram post.  This year, that meant telling the tale of Colonel Forbin, Icculus, and the Mockingbird, who help the “Lizard” community regain their sacred “Helping Friendly Book” stolen by the greedy King Wilson. With DIY costumes, cardboard sets, a four-person instrumental backing band, and a passionate teacher orchestrating it all, start to finish.  The result was something spectacular and heartwarming, whether you’re a card-carrying Phishhead/Phan or have never heard any of their songs.  View this post on Instagram “I wanted to recreate what it feels like to be at a Phish show,” Kubicek told Rolling Stone. As you can see in the video above, that mission was certainly accomplished.  Not only did Kubicek and his merry band of kindergarten through 5th graders recreate peak Phish vibes, but they stayed true to the themes presented throughout the album (and arguably through all of Phish’s work), including community, sharing wisdom, and, most importantly, “surrendering to the flow.”  “This elementary adaptation celebrates those same values: that knowledge shared becomes more powerful, that true importance comes from connection rather than control, and that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is remember to have fun and embrace the vibration of life,” the program reads.  Why Gamehendge means so much to fans For longtime Phish fans, Gamehendge occupies an almost mythical place in the band’s history. The rock opera originated as guitarist Trey Anastasio’s senior thesis project at Goddard College in the late 1980s and became the foundation for some of Phish’s most beloved songs. Instead of releasing it as a traditional album with widespread radio promotion, Phish allowed the story to evolve through live performances over the years. That helped turn Gamehendge into something fans passed down almost like folklore, with audiences eagerly waiting for rare full performances. The story itself blends fantasy, humor, and surprisingly heartfelt messages about kindness and knowledge. Which, in hindsight, makes it a pretty perfect fit for an elementary school production. A wholesome, inspiring memory for all  Part of what makes the video so charming is how fully committed the students are to the material. Nobody appears self-conscious. They sing, dance, act, and throw themselves into the wildly imaginative world with complete sincerity, thanks in no small part to the teacher who gave them the encouragement to do so.  That enthusiasm clearly rubbed off on the crowd as well, many of whom can be heard cheering throughout the performance like proud parents witnessing the world’s sweetest jam band concert.  And then for us online viewers, we got to witness how live music, when performed with passion, still brings people together in the best possible way. Basically, for everyone involved, the production became something much more magical than a simple school activity.  Graciously, the full production of Gamehendge was posted on YouTube and is available for viewing below. Enjoy.  The post Colorado elementary school puts on 75-minute Phish musical, and it was delightfully epic appeared first on Upworthy.

Gas prices always fluctuate, but when the price at the pump approaches an all-time high, we all feel it. The road trip this summer feels like a budget buster, and even a quick drive to the grocery store requires a second thought. Using less gas is smart both environmentally and economically, no matter what gas prices are doing. But when gas prices are ridiculous and every dollar counts, it becomes a necessity. “Drive less” is obviously the best approach, but that’s not always an option. Here are 11 lesser-known ways to maximize your gas dollars: @a_times3 Damn near $5 a gallon for premium in #houston #gasprices #crazy ♬ original sound – Torrell Tafa 1. Drive the highway ‘sweet spot’ speed as much as possible Bad news for leadfoots: Speeding on the highway is bad for fuel efficiency. And it’s not a tiny difference. According to the Department of Energy website, “It can be assumed that each 5 mph driven over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.27 per gallon for gas.” But that’s assuming gas costs $3.83 a gallon. When gas prices are closer to $5.00 a gallon, or in some places over $6.00 a gallon, slowing down on the freeway becomes an even bigger savings. 2. Stop ‘topping off’ the tank For many people, topping off the tank by giving the gas pump a few extra squeezes after it stops is habitual. Stop it. First of all, you may actually be doing damage to your car by topping off the gas, according to Consumer Reports. Secondly, you’re wasting gas. When the pump automatically stops, it means the tank is full, so anything you pump doesn’t actually go into the fuel tank. It spills over into your vapor canister and ends up releasing toxic gas vapor unnecessarily. At least one state, Oregon, has made it illegal to top off your gas. 3. Don’t idle more than 10 seconds There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about how long you should let the car idle before it becomes a waste of gas. Obviously, leaving the car running for long periods of time wastes gas, but since it takes an initial injection of gas to start up an engine, how long makes sense to wait before turning the engine off instead of idling? It might be less time than you think. According to a report shared by the Deaprtment of Energy, the threshold is only 10 seconds. “Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel andemits more CO2 than engine restarting,” the report reads. So if you’re waiting in a drive-thru, picking up a kid, or otherwise waiting in your car, if it’s going to be longer than 10 seconds, turn off the engine. 4. Ditch the junk in your trunk The weight of your car affects its gas mileage, and unnecessary weight just makes you waste fuel for no reason. If you have something heavy in your trunk, take it out. If you store stuff to take to Goodwill in your car for months, maybe prioritize that drop-off. ‘Whatcha gonna do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk?’-a song about the goodwill donations that have been in my trunk since 2019— Emily (@emily_tweets) March 18, 2021 5. Only use Premium gas if your car requires it Consumer Reports says that if your car manufacturer only recommends Premium gas, it can run just fine on Regular. They tested whether Premium made fuel efficiency difference and found that there was no performance or fuel-economy benefits for many cars. And the price difference can definitely add up. So basically, check your manual and don’t feel pressured to use Premium gas unless the manufacturer requires it. 6. Check your tire pressure An often overlooked source of fuel inefficiency is underinflated tires. “When your tires aren’t at the proper pressure, your engine is working harder to move the same speed and distance. This means more fuel consumption and, ultimately, lower MPG,” Firestone shares on its auto care website. Many tire companies will let you check your tire pressure and use their air pumps for free. Some will even do it for you, so make it a monthly habit for the best gas mileage. @dadadvicefrombo Life skill in 50 seconds. Learn to check your tire pressure and know it for life. It’s SO easy. How to check and fill your tire pressure or put air in your tires. Love, Dad ♬ original sound – DadAdviceFromBo 7. Buy gas on Sunday or Monday The gas price comparison app GasBuddy analyzed the data to see which day of the week gas tends to be cheapest. Here’s what they found: Sunday = cheapest Monday = also cheap Tuesday and Saturday = fluctuates, so compare prices Wednesday, Thursday, Friday = most expensive (Of course, these are based on averages, so good to do your own comparison in your local area.) 8. Open windows instead of using A/C Obviously, on very hot days, windows simply aren’t going to cut it. But the more you can roll down windows instead of using your car’s air conditioning, the better when it comes to gas usage. Your car’s A/C doesn’t use gas directly, but the power it requires means the car uses more gas when it’s running. People might ask if having the windows open creates drag that would affect fuel economy. According to Consumer Reports testing, the effect of opening windows didn’t affect fuel economy, even at 65 mph. (However, your hair probably won’t love that speed.) @pbandjammyy I think sometimes he forgets I’m here #fypシ #thevalley #956 ♬ original sound – Jammy 9. Coast more. Hard braking wastes the gas you used to get to the speed you’re driving. In other words, you held the gas pedal longer than you needed to. Adjusting your driving habits to take your foot off the gas earlier and coast more before braking means using a bit less gas overall. Note: Coast in gear, not in neutral. Old advice would tell you to put the car in neutral to coast, but in newer cars, that actualy is less fuel-efficient than keeping the car in gear. 10. Accelerate slowly. Some of us fancy ourselves efficient drivers by doing everything quickly. But accelarating quickly is actually less efficient when it comes to gas. According to the Department of Energy, aggressive driving (which includes rapid acceleration, hard braking, and speeding) can lower gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic. Go easy on the accelerating. (Photo credit: Canva) 11. Don’t sleep on loyalty programs and warehouse discounts While loyalty programs at gas stations and grocery stores that sell gas might seem like a gimmick, there is genuine savings to be had through them. And memberships at warehouses like Costco and Sam’s Club can also save you money at the tank. Some people like to stack those savings with credit card rewards as well, with some rewards cards offering extra points or cash back for gas purchases. While we wait (or at least hope) for gas prices to drop, these tips can hopefully help ease the pressure on the pocketbook a little bit. The post 11 sneaky ways to save money on gas when ‘drive less’ just isn’t an option appeared first on Upworthy.

For quite some time, we’ve watched as fast-food restaurants have continually added new chicken items to their menus. Chicken wraps, nuggets, sandwiches, and breakfast biscuits have had quite a moment. As summer 2026 approaches, trends appear to be shifting toward beverages. McDonald’s and Taco Bell have announced new menus for the upcoming warmer months, and Sonic said, “Hold my refresher.” Sonic plans to launch four brand-new frozen refreshers, and each sounds more delicious than the last. Get ready for sweet summertime. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SONIC Drive-In (@sonicdrivein) Sonic’s Frozen Refreshers Come in Fruity Flavors Sonic announced the new Frozen Refreshers in a news release. The lineup includes frozen versions of Mango Peach, Strawberry Passion Fruit, and Berry Citrus, as well as the brand-new summer flavor, Watermelon Peach. “Guests know and love Sonic for our frozen drinks, and we’re always finding new ways to push the category forward,” Barbara Williams, Vice President of Culinary Innovation & Category Management at Sonic, said in a news release. “No one does frozen drinks like Sonic, and Frozen Refreshers build on our signature Slush expertise and pair it with vibrant real fruit flavors, including our new seasonal Watermelon Peach, to deliver a Refresher experience only we can offer. It’s our take on an emerging trend, reimagined the Sonic way, and unlike anything else in the category.” You can get your hands on a Sonic Frozen Refresher on May 26, 2026, by downloading the Sonic App. The four flavors will roll out nationwide on May 31. Sonic will offer the 20-ounce Frozen Refreshers for $2.99 for a limited time. On our way to the first pool day of the summer, we will 100% stop at Sonic first for a Frozen Refresher. The hardest part will be deciding what flavor to try first. This story’s featured image is by Joe Raedle/Getty Images