What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
The Ferris wheel, one of the most iconic of carnival rides out there, is named for its inventor George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. (1859–1896), who unveiled the very first "big wheel" at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
German physician and botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566) has the flowering plant fuchsia named after him, and by extension the vivid purplish color also known as fuchsia.
The saxophone, one of the world's most popular musical instruments, was invented in the early 1840s by Belgian inventor and musician Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax (1814–1894).
The macadamia nut was named after Scottish-Australian chemist John Macadam (1827–1865), in 1857.
British Army officer Lieutenant General Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842) is forever associated with the shrapnel shell. He began developing this new type of munitions in 1784; the first recorded use of shrapnel by the British was in 1804. The term "shrapnel" has been applied to fragmentation from artillery shells and fragmentation in general ever since.
American Presbyterian minister and dietary reformer Sylvester Graham (1794–1851) created the sweet-flavored Graham cracker in the mid-19th century. By 1880, the crackers were being sold across the United States.
We can thank the 19th-century American physician James Salisbury (1823–1905) for the succulent Salisbury steak. It's made from a blend of ground beef and other tasty ingredients.
Ignacio Anaya García (1895–1975)—better known by his nickname "Nacho"—was the Mexican maître d' of the Victory Club, a restaurant set near the border with Texas, when he invented the popular Tex-Mex snack known as nachos.
The bowler hat was designed in 1849 by the London hat-makers Thomas and William Bowler. The iconic headwear was created for English society gentleman Edward Coke.
Lieutenant General James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868) led the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. Styled as Lord Cardigan, the aristocrat often wore a knitted waistcoat, attire that became fashionable in England after he returned from the battlefield. Cardigan spun a huge yarn about how successful the military engagement had been, whereas in fact the British suffered numerous casualties. With the truth eventually revealed, his reputation was forever sullied. The cardigan, however, stood its ground.
American tinsmith John Landis Mason (1832–1902) was responsible for creating the screw-on lid for antique fruit jars, which subsequently became known as Mason jars.
American entrepreneur Earl Silas Tupper (1907–1983) is synonymous with Tupperware, an airtight plastic container for storing food that spawned house parties across America when the product was introduced in the early 1940s.
Where would we be without the sandwich? British statesman John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, (1718–1792) is the eponymous inventor of probably the most convenient finger food in the world.
Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913) is the German inventor and mechanical engineer who invented the diesel engine, in the late 19th century. It burns diesel fuel, both of which are named after him.
In 1829, French educator Louis Braille (1809–1852) announced his reading and writing system for use by people who are visually impaired. Unchanged and still in use today, we know it simply as braille.
Italian-American inventor Candido Jacuzzi (1903–1986) invented the pump that could be used in a bathtub for hydrotherapy. The Jacuzzi brand today is synonymous with luxury baths, pools, and saunas.
A legion of gymnasts and dancers owe French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1838–1870) a big thank you for designing the one-piece gym wear known as the leotard. A skilled aerialist, Léotard also developed the art of trapeze.
Henry Judah Heimlich (1920–2016) is credited with saving thousands of people from choking to death, thanks to the method he popularized in 1974, a technique of abdominal thrusts known as the Heimlich maneuver.
Mid-18th-century French finance minister Étienne de Silhouette (1709–1767) was a notorious scrooge, known for penny-pinching. His austere measures led the term à la Silhouette to be applied to things perceived as cheap, the name based on his hobby of creating a cheap shadow profile cut from black paper. Pictured is an 18th-century profile of German-Austrian painter Johann Ziegler.
Bluetooth technology got its name from an obscure 10th-century Danish monarch called Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson. His nickname is explained by the fact that he had a conspicuous bad tooth that appeared "blue."
Italian restaurateur, chef, and hotel owner Caesar Cardini (1896–1956) is the name behind the green salad of romaine lettuce and croutons spectacularly decorated with a medley of dressings and served as an hors d'oeuvre.
Named for the 18th-century English astronomer Edmond Halley (1656–1742), Halley's Comet is one of our best-known celestial wonders. Visible to the naked eye, if you missed the comet back in 1986 you'll have to wait until mid-2061 before its next appearance.
The eponymous blade wielded by James Bowie (c. 1796–1836) helped raise the profile of this 19th-century American pioneer and soldier to folk hero status.
In 1815, British chemist Sir Humphry Davy (1778–1829) invented his eponymous lamp. It was created for use in coal mines, the flame enclosed inside a mesh screen to reduce the risk of explosions due to the presence of methane. A modern-day equivalent of the Davy lamp has been used in the Olympic flame torch relays.
Sources: (The New York Times) (NASA Science) (Healthline)
See also: Foods with hilariously deceptive names
One of the most complex and best-selling puzzles of the modern age was invented by Hungarian architect Erno Rubik in 1974. According to the The New York Times, 350 million cubes have been sold globally.
Known commonly as Doc Martens, the footwear distinguished by its air-cushioned sole was invented by German doctor Klaus Märtens during the Second World War. The footwear company is today based in the United Kingdom.
Cowboys everywhere take their hats off to John B. Stetson (1830–1906), who created the iconic Stetson in 1865.
The polished leather boots worn by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), famous for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, became so popular that the Wellington boot was the must-have footwear for British aristocracy in the early 19th century. The name was subsequently given to waterproof boots made of rubber, and they are no longer associated with a particular class, though the "green wellie brigade" remain synonymous with monied landowners.
German general Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838–1917) took his military career to new heights when he invented the Zeppelin rigid airships. They dominated long-distance flight until the 1930s.
Millions of the firmest and fittest around the world have German physical trainer Joseph Pilates (1883–1967) to thank for inventing and promoting the Pilates method of physical well-being.
Things you had no idea were named after people
What's in a name?
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
Ever wondered about the origins behind the name Bluetooth? What about the Stetson hat? Come to think of it, why is the Salisbury steak so named, or the leotard? And how about Ferris wheels, diesel, and shrapnel? Believe it or not, all these things are named after or for people.
Intrigued? Well, here's your chance to catch up with some word associations. Click through and find out what's in a name.