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Arts & Culture / Trends & Traditions

Snowshoe racing has become an increasingly popular sport. Last January more than 5,000 people competed in the 37th running of La Ciaspolada Snowshoe Race.

The History of Snowshoe Racing

For some athletes, there is no such thing as cabin fever, as the snowy outdoors provides yet another outlet for competitive sport

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There Was an App for That

Software applications changed the course of history

Food has always been a powerful symbol, especially during rites of passage, such as the start of the new year.

Lucky Foods for the New Year

Pigs, fish, beans and cakes are among the many delicacies consumed around the world to celebrate the new year

Fox River Promotion Booklet, 2006Designed by Marian Bantjes (Canadian, b. 1963)Booklet designed by Rick Valicenti (American, b. 1951) and Gina Garza (American, b. 1979)

Postmodernism’s New Typography

In an act of rebellion against the prevailing Sans serif aesthetic, designers looked to celebrate creativity in their digital fonts

Smithsonian magazine's top 10 articles of 2010.

Our Top 10 Stories of 2010

From scientific mysteries to secrets from the Revolutionary War, here are the most-read stories on Smithsonian.com this year

In 2008, Ted Gup was handed a battered suitcase by his mother; it contained conceled checks and old letters addressed to "B. Virdot". Thus began a search for the stories behind the letters.

A Yuletide Gift of Kindness

Ted Gup learns the astonishing secret about his grandfather’s generosity during the Great Depression

"If you try to tell your kid to mow the lawn, he will cite a study published in Geophysical Research Letters..."

Daughter Knows Best

Kids have discovered a diabolical new use for science: rebutting their parents

Using Ancestry.com, Ted Gup was able to track down the recipients of his grandfather's generosity.

Ted Gup on “The Gift”

"Paionian—which was spoken in Illyria (or possibly Thrace) some 2,2000 years ago—is one of many languages that have survived only as fragments."

Fluent in 60 Seconds

Learning a new language is a breeze—as long as it’s Paionian

Pumpkin Carving Ideas From Around the Smithsonian

Print out and tape these stencils to your Halloween pumpkin for a different kind of jack o’lantern

Has technology created a nation of zombies?

My Big Hang-Up in a Connected World

One man’s rage against the communication revolution and the dying of civility

"If you're an immigrant with an accent, as I am, your days will be filled with conversations with nice people."

So Where You From?

Why must a foreign accent always invite an inquisition?

Cleveland is slowly beginning to recognize its role in creating the superhero who stood for "Truth, Justice, and the American Way."

Cleveland, the True Birthplace of Superman

Comic book fans and city activists hope that people think of the Ohio city, and not Krypton, as the home of the Man of Steel

Findings from the first major study on human-robot marital discord since the passage of the Automaton Marriage Act of 2050.

Married, With Glitches

Will human-robot interactions be undone by technical difficulties?

"The idea of musical chops—instrumental mastery—will still be around," says Laurie Anderson.

Laurie Anderson on the Sounds of the Future

The multi-faceted artist sees a future in which artists change our auditory experiences

Perhaps the most exciting discovery at this year's Orphan Film Symposium was With the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain, by photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Orphan Films - Recapturing Lost Snippets of History

Buffs gather from around the world to watch newly uncovered films by the likes of Orson Welles, Henri Cartier-Bresson and others

For officials, the road to the World Cup is as competitive and demanding as it is for players.

How to Train a World Cup Referee

Just as the players on the pitch have trained for years, the referees for the World Cup are required to be physically fit for duty

This 1956 photograph was taken during the short time that two Nite Owls sat cheek-by-jowl in Fall River, MA. Soon the old lunch wagon was carted away and demolished, replaced by the gleaming diner.

A Life Devoted to the American Diner

With a career spent chronicling the best of American diners, curator Richard Gutman knows what makes a great greasy spoon

As a mother of two young boys, I've come to realize that many popular children's books are rife with malice and mayhem.

Green Eggs and Salmonella?

Beware the hidden hazards lurking within popular children’s books

In each place that Steven Raichlen visits in his quest for great barbecue, he finds not only history and great food, but a look at who we are.

A Worldwide Quest for Barbecue

Steven Raichlen made a career teaching Americans all about barbecue, then an international tour taught him new ways to grill

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