Rituals and Traditions
Halloween Is Spooky. But So Are These Eight Other Celebrations Around the World
From Setsubun in Japan to Fèt Gede in Haiti, these festivals relish in the macabre
A Secret Sculpture Built for John F. Kennedy's Grave Vanished in the 1970s. Half a Century Later, the Mystery Has Been Solved
The bronze wreath immortalized the moment when the members of the Honor Guard removed their hats and placed them on the president's grave during his burial
Archaeologists Discover Intricately Decorated Coffins Belonging to the Only Daughter of an Ancient Egyptian Governor
The 4,000-year-old burial chamber featured hieroglyphs referring to the woman, known as Idi, as the "lady of the house"
See 24 Beautiful Photos of Fall Foliage in Its Most Vibrant Colors
These highlights from the Smithsonian Photo Contest celebrate the autumn
Why the World's First Pet Cemetery Was Revolutionary
A new book charts the history of pet cemeteries and honors the universal experience of grieving an animal companion
Europeans Were Using Cocaine in the 17th Century—Hundreds of Years Earlier Than Historians Thought
Scientists identified traces of the drug in the brain tissue of two individuals buried in the crypt of a hospital in Milan
The Rebellious History of Mooncakes, the Note-Passing Dessert That Liberated China
During Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese around the world eat the miniature molded and filled cakes to wish their families wealth and happiness
The Celtic Origins of Trick-or-Treating
The spine-tingling roots of a mischievous Halloween tradition
For 100 Years, Santa Feans Have Burned New Mexico's Boogeyman in a 'Sacred Rite of Purification, Laughter and Rebirth'
The original “burning man” was the brainchild of a local artist and involves volunteers constructing a 50-foot-tall villain
See 15 Photos of Real-Life Cowboys and Cowgirls Wrangling Cattle and Riding Bucking Broncos
Giddyap and get a look at these stunning selections from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Researchers Unearth Mysterious Structure Beneath Maya Ball Court
Featuring painted stucco walls, the structure likely dates to between 200 and 600 C.E.
China Plans to Open Ming Dynasty Tombs to the Public by 2030
The sprawling burial complex on the outskirts of Beijing was built to hold the remains of 13 emperors
Archaeologists Unearth 4,000-Year-Old Ceremonial Temple in Peru
The structure appears to predate Machu Picchu, the country's best-known archaeological site, by 3,500 years
Archaeologists Stumble Upon Marble Statue of Greek God in Ancient Sewer
The 2,000-year-old statue, which likely depicts Hermes, is a monumental discovery for Bulgaria
Sticks Discovered in Australian Cave Shed New Light on an Aboriginal Ritual Passed Down for 12,000 Years
Both Western analyses and traditional Aboriginal knowledge helped the research team learn about a cultural practice dating to the last ice age
Trove of Tombs Sheds Light on How Ancient Egyptian Families Lived—and Died
The finds include mummies from many social classes, some of whom were buried alongside relatives after succumbing to disease
The Festival Where Scotland's Violent History Comes Back to Life
Every year in the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders, one of Europe’s largest equestrian events commemorates a lawless time that shaped the region’s identity
The Island Known as the Birthplace of Apollo Is Sinking
Researchers say climate change is to blame for the Greek island of Delos' slow demise
A Jewish Soldier Found in a German Mass Grave Has Been Reburied in an American Cemetery
Nathan Baskind received a Jewish burial exactly 80 years after his death in World War II
At Coney Island's Mermaid Parade, Thousands Channel Aquatic Weirdness
Crowds decked out as fantastical sea creatures flocked to Brooklyn's amusement district for the summer kickoff event
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