Rituals and Traditions
Swedish Man Discovers Trove of Bronze Age Treasures Hidden in Plain Sight
A high-status woman once adorned herself with these items, which a local found buried beneath the forest floor
Did a Neolithic Cattle Cult Build These Sprawling Structures in Saudi Arabia?
The roughly 7,000-year-old mustatils, or rectangular monuments, predate both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids
Did Vikings Host Rituals Designed to Stop Ragnarök in This Volcanic Cave?
New findings at a cavern in Iceland point to decades of elite ceremonial activity aimed at preventing the apocalypse
Ten Cultural Experiences to Put on Your Post-Pandemic Bucket List
From a lantern festival in Korea to camel racing in Oman, these traditions have us dreaming of future travel
Eleven-Year-Old Boy Discovers Ancient Fertility Amulet in Israeli Desert
The 2,500-year-old ceramic figurine was likely created to provide protection and promote conception
A Medieval Woman Wore This 'Birthing Girdle' to Protect Herself During Labor
Researchers found traces of bodily fluids, as well as milk and other materials associated with pregnancy, on the ten-foot long parchment
Explore 200 Years of Tattoo History With This New Book
Celebrated tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher shows off designs from around the world in images from his private collection
New Online Portal Chronicles the Culinary Legacy of the African Diaspora
"Feast Afrique," a digital tool created by food historian Ozoz Sokoh, features nearly 200 texts spanning 1828 to the present
Inscription Offers Earliest Evidence of Christianity in Israel's Jezreel Valley
The fifth-century engraving, found repurposed in a Byzantine building's wall, references "Christ born of Mary"
This Polynesian Cruise Ship Has a Resident Tattoo Artist
Sailing between Tahiti and the Marquesas, Eddy Tata provides passengers with Polynesian-style tattoos based on their life stories
Researchers Unearth Ritual Bath Dated to Jesus's Time Near Garden of Gethsemane
The 2,000-year-old "mikveh" represents the first Second Temple–era archaeological evidence found at the site
Christmas Wasn't Always the Kid-Friendly Gift Extravaganza We Know Today
How a once-raucous holiday became a time of childlike wonder and beribboned consumerism
This Holiday Season, Travel With Your Nose
The scents that you find most comforting can help you feel like you're on the road, even when you're not
A Globe-Trotter's Guide to Holiday Games
Staying home for Christmas and New Year's? Try one of these festive traditions from around the world
How Denali National Park's Sled Dogs Prepare for Winter
For nearly a century, park rangers have relied on dogsledding to patrol the public land and collect data for scientists
The Aztecs Constructed This Tower Out of Hundreds of Human Skulls
Researchers in Mexico City recently discovered a new section of a macabre late 15th-century structure
Eight Elaborate Christmas Displays Across America—and the People Behind Them
In her new book, photographer Danelle Manthey captures a distinct type of American folk art: Christmas light decoration
The First Commercially Printed Christmas Card Scandalized Victorian England
Two rare copies of the 1843 greeting card, which depicts a child sipping from a glass of wine, are now up for auction
Medicinal Plant May Have Evolved Camouflage to Evade Humans
In places where people harvest the plant most aggressively, its color has changed to blend in with the rocky environment
This Halloween Is Scary Enough. Tell a Joke Instead
The tradition in St. Louis is for trick-or-treaters to focus on humor more than horror
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