Disney’s “The Parent Trap” starring Lindsay Lohan turns 18 this week. Cinematographers have long included this film in the ranks of greats such as “Citizen Kane,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Clueless.” When speaking of movie’s influence on American culture, it is not uncommon to hear “The Parent Trap” uttered in the same breath as “Star Wars.” Today, let's take a time out from our busy lives to thank “The Parent Trap” for all the ways, big or small, it has changed our lives.
Spelling
From the very opening of the movie, “The Parent Trap” was prepared to make history. While Elizabeth James and Nick Parker are dancing and watching fireworks together, “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole plays in the background. This song introduced to the world the technique of using letters to form words, better known as spelling. This breakthrough has influenced such artists as Gwen Stefani, whose song “Hollaback Girl” taught the masses how to spell “bananas.”
Poker
In a dark cabin surrounded by preteen girls, Hallie Parker and Annie James play the first known game of poker. Today, the card game takes many forms and is played professionally in tournaments. In many iterations of the game, the royal flush remains the rarest and most sought after hand of all.
Wine
Wine was invented by Hallie and her father. Before this movie, nobody had ever thought of fermenting grape juice.
Allergies
Before “The Parent Trap” premiered, allergies had largely been un-researched by modern medicine. Thankfully, that changed when Annie and Hallie each bravely admitted their own strawberry allergy. Today, people are openly allergic to all sorts of things, ranging from peanuts to dust bunnies to shellfish.
Pierced ears
Before this movie, women and men around the world walked around with adorned necks, wrists, and fingers. Their earlobes, however, remained bare. It was not until the premier of this movie, in which Hallie pierces Annie’s ears using a needle, an ice cube, and an apple slice, that it became commonplace to decorate one’s ears with studs, hoops, or dangly things.
Cornbread and Chili
Some things go together perfectly. Like peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, mad scientists and evil henchmen. We, as a nation, would never have experienced the wonder that is the pairing of cornbread and chili if not for this groundbreaking film. For this, we are eternally grateful. 
Tie-Dye
Tie-Dye is a pattern of clothing distinguished by the tying of fabric in order to uniquely spread out dyes in an interesting pattern. This look was first worn by Tie-Dye girl, one of Hallie’s camp friends. The tragedy of this innovation stems from the fact that Tie-Dye girl died shortly after her scenes were filmed, so nobody ever knew her name.
Hats
Picture it: a tense scene during a photo shoot in Elizabeth James’ bridal shop. It is impossible for her to get the shot she desires, between showcasing the intricate back of the gown and completing the look with a veil. What happens next is one for the record books. Hallie cleverly picks out a raised head covering and hands it to her mother, who places it underneath the bride’s veil. This moment goes down in history as the first known usage of a hat, which now come in all kinds of shapes and styles.
Speedos
As soon as the butler, Martin, walked out onto the silver screen dawning a skimpy blue bathing suit, swimming as we knew it changed. Before this momentous occasion, men had to decide between swimming trunks and swimming in the nude. There was hardly an option for the in-betweeners. This is another example of the modern binaries of society coming crashing down after a show of extreme risk and courage.
