Street art, once dismissed as urban vandalism, has evolved into a globally respected art form influencing modern aesthetics, political discourse, and even fine art markets. Emerging in the 1970s and 1980s from the subways of New York City, early street artists used graffiti and stenciling as a means of protest and expression in underrepresented communities….
In the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya, a remarkable cultural tradition continues to flourish—one that blends human ingenuity with nature’s resilience. The indigenous Khasi and Jaintia tribes are known for their “living root bridges,” structures grown rather than built. Using the roots of the resilient rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica), villagers slowly coax the roots…
In 1859, a seemingly trivial incident on San Juan Island, located between Vancouver Island and the U.S. mainland, nearly escalated into a war between the United States and Britain. An American settler, Lyman Cutlar, shot a British-owned pig that was rooting in his garden, leading to a diplomatic standoff. This event, known as the Pig…
In the heart of Japan, an unusual cultural tradition called the “Naki Sumo” or “Crying Babies Festival” takes place annually at various temples, including the renowned Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. During this event, sumo wrestlers gently hold infants and try to make them cry, often by making silly faces or engaging in lighthearted gestures. While…
In 1986, one of the most bizarre and deadly natural disasters in history occurred at Lake Nyos in Cameroon, yet it remains little known to most. Unlike typical volcanic eruptions, this disaster involved a limnic eruption — a rare event where carbon dioxide erupts from deep lake waters, suffocating life in its vicinity. Overnight, over…
innovuscollege.com – The Balinese tooth filing ceremony, known as Metatah, Mepandes, or Mesangih, is a vital Hindu ritual marking the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Typically held between ages 6 and 18—often after a girl’s first menstruation or a boy’s voice change—this ceremony symbolizes spiritual purification and readiness for adult responsibilities, including marriage. It is…
Outsider Art, or Art Brut, refers to artworks created by self-taught individuals who operate outside the traditional art world. Coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972, the term translates the French Art Brut, introduced by Jean Dubuffet in the 1940s to describe art produced by those on the margins of society, such as psychiatric…
In the town of Tetela del Volcán, Mexico, a 350-year-old Easter celebration captivates locals and visitors alike. Central to this tradition are the “sayones,” participants who don elaborate costumes resembling Roman soldiers, complete with leather masks and towering, caterpillar-like hats crafted from hundreds of colorful tissue paper sheets. These vibrant processions, rooted in a blend…
As a cultural anthropologist with extensive experience studying Southeast Asian traditions, I find the Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand, to be one of the most fascinating and unique events. Held annually, this festival is a grand feast organized for the local monkey population, particularly the macaques that inhabit the area. The event not only…
On January 15, 1919, a bizarre disaster struck Boston’s North End when a massive storage tank containing over 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst, unleashing a sticky tidal wave through the streets. The tank, owned by the United States Industrial Alcohol Company, was poorly constructed and inadequately maintained, despite holding the syrupy liquid used to…
