Per an official decree, English-speaking Catholics will now recite certain portions of the mass that are closer to the original Latin translation, in the most earth-shattering changes to Mass since its English translation more than 40 years ago. Some are upset because the translation was meant to fulfill the goal of a more "shared liturgy" with other Christian denominations. Plus, it kind of snaps you out of your peaceful trance when the same thing you've been incanting for four decades is changed. But according to the Times, Corpus Christi Church in Morningside Heights has been giving the ecumenical finger to the Vatican since the 60s, and in effect, the church is catching up to them. Who's the cafeteria Catholic, now? more ›

Earlier this week, we traveled backwards through time to check out the New York Public Library's fabulous collection of the Thanksgiving menus of yesteryear. Today, the NYPL is trying to archive the Thanksgiving menus that your great great grandchildren will look upon fondly. The Library is looking for photographs, stories, videos and audio clips of different Thanksgiving traditions, old and new alike, and they need your help. more ›

Apparently grief runs its course after 10 years: The traditional reading of the names on the anniversary of 9/11 might see some changes after this year. Mayor Bloomberg announced on his radio show yesterday that after this year's ceremony, the 9/11 Memorial Foundation (which he heads) intends to discuss with 9/11 survivors, families and first responders the prospect of discontinuing the reading of every victim's name on future anniversaries. This comes on the heels of news that the Tribute in Light will be going dark after this year if there are not enough donations to support it, as well as news of the first time someone has ever tried to use the ceremony for political gain. more ›

The annual chicken sacrificing ritual known as kaparot that takes place around this time of year (near Yom Kippur) always gets the demonstrators out. According to the NY Post, the ASPCA is the latest to step up to the protest plate, and a Brooklyn man says they all but forced him to stop the tradition at his place of business yesterday. more ›

Speaking of stadium streaking, NYU's commencement ceremony is at Yankee Stadium today, and there's talk that the new ballfield could get its first buff job to match last night's Citi Field christening. You'll recall that last year NYU graduate Will Lopez made news by dashing onto the field (video) in boxers and his gown, rounding third, and getting tackled by security. Lopez tells the News, "I have a bunch of friends that are graduating this year. All of them are like, 'One of us has to carry the torch.' It would be great if somebody tried to make it a tradition. But I'm not sure if any of them have the guts to do it." This from the guy who "streaked" with underwear on because he "thought they might nail me for public indecency." Anyway, his buddies' fifteen minutes of fame is going be tougher to come by this year because security is definitely on the lookout for such shenanigans, and the keynote speaker is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But come on, bros, you aren't seriously going to let the Secret Service stand in the way of tradition? more ›

Yesterday afternoon, as the air temperature was around the 20-degree mark, the Polar Bear Club celebrated New Year's Day in their traditional style: in the freezing cold waters off Coney Island. TIME Magazine takes a look at the tradition and talked to the club's head honcho. They note that the annual plunge has been going on since 1903, and that this year, nearly 700 were expected to take a dip while thousands watched from land. more ›

Last night, the International Debutante Ball was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Forty-seven young women from all over the world arrived to be "presented to society" (in earlier eras, it meant that the young lady was officially on the marriage market). The AP reports, given that "A debutante's family pays $14,000 for a table plus thousands of dollars for couture gowns, hairdressers and other expenses," some people are wondering if the tradition is antiquated.

"All of that excess. It kind of makes me gag a little," said Rachel Weingarten, an expert on marketing and trends and the author of "Career and Corporate Cool: How to Look, Dress and Act the Part at Every Stage of Your Career." more ›