Rituals and Traditions | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/rituals-and-traditions/RSS feed for Rituals and TraditionsenFri, 22 May 2026 11:00:00 +0000From the Shining Seas to the Sandy Sahara, These 15 Photographs Showcase the Sensational Scenery of Moroccohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/from-the-shining-seas-to-the-sandy-sahara-these-15-photographs-showcase-the-sensational-scenery-of-morocco-180988770/This selection of Smithsonian Photo Contest submissions amount to a stunning virtual tour of the Mediterranean nation that includes camels and cats, medina markets and mosquesFri, 22 May 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/from-the-shining-seas-to-the-sandy-sahara-these-15-photographs-showcase-the-sensational-scenery-of-morocco-180988770/A Discovered Trove of Bones and Teeth Yields New Clues to the Century-Old Mystery of 'Death Jars' in Laoshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-discovered-trove-of-bones-and-teeth-yields-new-clues-to-the-century-old-mystery-of-death-jars-in-laos-180988772/Scientists found bones of 37 people inside a giant stone jar at one of Southeast Asia’s most puzzling archaeological sites. The find suggests a multigenerational burial practiceWed, 20 May 2026 21:08:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-discovered-trove-of-bones-and-teeth-yields-new-clues-to-the-century-old-mystery-of-death-jars-in-laos-180988772/From Basket Weaving to Oyster Reef Conservation, Gullah Geechee Women Are Preserving a Living Heritagehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/from-basket-weaving-to-oyster-reef-conservation-gullah-geechee-women-are-preserving-a-living-heritage-180988762/Along America’s southeastern coast, descendants of enslaved Africans pass down traditions and knowledge of crafts, ecology and food through generationsTue, 19 May 2026 17:02:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/from-basket-weaving-to-oyster-reef-conservation-gullah-geechee-women-are-preserving-a-living-heritage-180988762/Archaeologists Unearth a Papyrus Fragment From the 'Iliad' Tucked Inside the Wrappings of a 1,600-Year-Old Egyptian Mummyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-a-papyrus-fragment-from-the-iliad-tucked-inside-the-wrappings-of-a-1600-year-old-egyptian-mummy-180988603/The excerpt from Homer's epic poem features his catalog of ships, a famous passage listing the Greek forces that sailed to Troy. It may be the first Greek literary text found in the context of mummificationThu, 23 Apr 2026 15:07:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-a-papyrus-fragment-from-the-iliad-tucked-inside-the-wrappings-of-a-1600-year-old-egyptian-mummy-180988603/In This Tiny Town in Florida's Panhandle, Fishermen Are Hooked on 'Worm Grunting,' and the Worms Are Still Taking the Baithttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/in-this-tiny-town-in-floridas-panhandle-fishermen-are-hooked-on-worm-grunting-and-the-worms-are-still-taking-the-bait-180988579/Luring earthworms out of the soil to use as live bait is a long-running tradition in Sopchoppy, home to the annual Worm Gruntin' FestivalMon, 20 Apr 2026 18:22:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/in-this-tiny-town-in-floridas-panhandle-fishermen-are-hooked-on-worm-grunting-and-the-worms-are-still-taking-the-bait-180988579/Songkran Is Thailand’s Splashing New Year’s Festival, When Everyone Gets Out a Super Soaker and Prepares to Get Drenchedhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-thailand-splashes-into-spring-with-songkran-a-new-years-water-festival-starting-april-13-180988536/The memorable tradition has a deep cultural history rooted in Buddhism and increasing global notoriety for its rowdy water fightsMon, 13 Apr 2026 16:38:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-thailand-splashes-into-spring-with-songkran-a-new-years-water-festival-starting-april-13-180988536/What Did Ancient Pompeians Burn as Offerings to Their Gods? New Research Reveals the Surprising Answerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-did-ancient-pompeians-burn-as-offerings-to-their-gods-new-research-reveals-the-surprising-answer-180988467/An analysis of incense burners discovered in the doomed city identified traces of resin imported from sub-Saharan Africa or Asia, testifying to Pompeii's extensive trade networksWed, 01 Apr 2026 18:29:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-did-ancient-pompeians-burn-as-offerings-to-their-gods-new-research-reveals-the-surprising-answer-180988467/This Spellbinding Exhibition Explores How Ancient Cultures Used Magic to Navigate Life's Challengeshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-spellbinding-exhibition-explores-how-ancient-cultures-used-magic-to-navigate-lifes-challenges-180988436/The Toledo Museum of Art is showcasing a treasure trove of masks, amulets, spellbooks and gems dating to between 2000 B.C.E. and 300 C.E.Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-spellbinding-exhibition-explores-how-ancient-cultures-used-magic-to-navigate-lifes-challenges-180988436/In One of the Wettest Places on the Planet, Indigenous People Build Bridges and Ladders Out of Living Tree Rootshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/in-one-of-the-wettest-places-on-the-planet-indigenous-people-build-bridges-and-ladders-out-of-living-tree-roots-180988405/For hundreds of years, Khasi and Jaintia people in Meghalaya, India, have woven the roots of Indian rubber trees into structures that help them navigate flooded areasWed, 25 Mar 2026 15:52:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/in-one-of-the-wettest-places-on-the-planet-indigenous-people-build-bridges-and-ladders-out-of-living-tree-roots-180988405/