Memories are powerful healers. They help soothe the loss of a loved one and offer a glimmer of joy in the midst of heartache. One young British seamstress has found a sweet way to bring potent memories to grieving people all around the world.
Category: Life
Réveillon Dinners: A Taste of Old New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana, is known for its tastes and traditions. From beignets to gumbo, old family recipes are revered and handed down from generation to generation. The “Big Easy” restaurant scene is taking one famous New Orleans food tradition, the “Réveillon Dinner,” and giving it a modern twist.
The Magic Tree of Bali’s Skull Island
Bali island in Indonesia is known for its beautiful beaches, crystal waters, and dazzling tropical landscapes. The village of Trunyan, however, practices a not-so tourist-friendly tradition that may come as a surprise to the island’s usual sunseekers.
Unraveling the Threads of Agnes Richter’s Straitjacket
German seamstress Agnes Emma Richter was 51 years old when she was admitted in 1895 to the Hubertusberg Psychiatric Institution near Dresden, Germany. Richter was initially transferred to a mental institution near her home after her neighbors lodged several complaints about her “erratic behavior.”
The Haunting History of Halloween
Halloween is one of the most popular days of the year – when revelers dress up in clever costumes and gorge themselves on candy and delicious fall treats. It is not just another modern holiday, however. It can be traced back over 2,000 years to a supernatural Celtic festival called “Samhain.”
More Than a Pumpkin: The Real Story of the Jack-O’-Lantern
When people think of jack-o’-lanterns, they usually think of bright orange pumpkins, lit by candles that shine out of cleverly carved faces. It may come as a surprise that the term “jack-o’-lantern” was first used to describe people.
Day of the Dead: Bringing Culture and Tradition to Life
Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead,” is a multi-day celebration of all five senses. Contrary to the somber tone that its name implies, the holiday is treasured in Mexican culture as an opportunity to honor the dead while celebrating the joy of life.
3,000 Jack-O’-Lanterns Usher in Halloween in Kenova
At the fork of the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers in Kenova, West Virginia, former mayor Ric Griffith and his small army of volunteers spend three weeks every year designing, scooping and carving 3,000 pumpkins. After the carving is done, the volunteers decorate the front of Griffith’s Beech Street house and yard with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.
The Sound of Silence: Touring America’s Most Historic Prison
Before the 19th century, most prisons were filthy, corrupt, and disorderly. They offered lawbreakers little chance to reflect and “repent” of their wrongdoings since prisoners were too busy trying to avoid disease, starvation, and abuse. The Eastern State Penitentiary, located in the residential Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia, was designed to remedy the ills of the prison system and offer inmates a chance to be “penitent” for their crimes.
The Vanishing Tradition of the Kulung Honey Hunters
For centuries, the Kulung people in eastern Nepal have harvested the honey from the Himalayan honey bees. Not a remarkable feat, except for the fact the harvesters must scale the sheer cliffs of the Himalayas – hundreds of feet or more – to reach the hives.