Cultural Traditions
Cultural traditions include events, rituals and customs that a society shares. Read about the wide variety of cultural traditions in these articles.
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Recognized by its bright colors and rows of bold, woven patterns, kente cloth is more than a piece of fabric. Each kente cloth has meaning, which is conveyed through its colors, patterns and symbols.
Floriography — the association of flowers with special virtues and sentiments — has been a practice from antiquity to the present day.
By Carrie Tatro
Today's gospel and blues music and the freedom songs of the civil rights movement all have historical roots in traditional slave spirituals, which were songs of sorrow, but also jubilation at the promise of freedom.
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Baseball, hot dogs, mom and apple pie. Of all these iconically American things, the apple pie holds a special place in the lexicon of American symbolism, but why?
This Scandinavian lifestyle term has become very popular in the rest of Europe and the U.S. But what does it really mean and how can you incorporate it into everyday life?
How exactly did these two fried friends get together and become so beloved in the U.K.? Like many a national cuisine, its roots started in faraway lands.
By Dave Roos
Every year, the city of Santa Fe collectively shouts "Burn him!" and sets fire to Zozobra, "the enemy of all that is good."
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June is Pride Month, when the LGBTQ community comes together to celebrate their struggles and to raise awareness to issues they still face.
Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery or just another way of causing offense.
Nineteenth century lawyer and naturalist Peter A. Browne put together the world's greatest collection of ... yes, hair. Today, it's valuable for the DNA it contains.
It's called geophagy and it's a relatively common practice all over the world, but nobody's completely sure why.
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Founded by Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus is considered one of the most influential art movements of the 20th century.
March 8th, International Women's Day, has been celebrated around the world for more than a century. So, what are we actually celebrating?
If you think celebrity kid names like Apple and North West are odd, at least they're easy to remember. These five famous people have names so long, you couldn't recall them if you had to.
You know what's totally useless? A pair of umbrellas shoes. But they're so fun you know you want them anyway. Welcome to chindogu.
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In the Netherlands, children get gifts from St. Nicholas, who's accompanied by his servant Zwarte Pieten (Black Pete), always wearing blackface. Many Dutch denounce him as racist while others claim it's just part of the culture.
By Dave Roos
The Incas were technologically advanced but never invented a system of written language. Turns out, they encoded more in textiles than we could have imagined possible.
Although many people use the two terms interchangeably, they don't mean the same thing.
By Dave Roos
Love your sexy red-soled Louboutins? Did you know that way before they came along, high heels were worn by men as a sign of power and privilege?
By Carrie Tatro
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While most generalizations are gross, Americans who have traveled to Europe probably have noticed that certain practices they take for granted are non-existent there. Likewise, Europeans who visit the U.S. are amazed at some habits Americans have.
By Alia Hoyt
Mohammed bin Salman seems to be modernizing the Middle Eastern country, but is it for real, or is it just for show?
By Diana Brown
Although there's no official record that the late Fats Domino and Chubby Checker ever met, these music legends have common ground.
Cornelia Bailey was the unofficial historian of Sapelo Island, Georgia, who helped spread the word about its unique Geechee culture. But after recent death, will residents be able to hold on to their heritage?
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They're been living in Myanmar (formerly Burma) since the 12th century, yet they've been persecuted by the Buddhist majority for decades. Here's why.
The Danish people are among the happiest on the planet. Here are 5 reasons why.
By Dave Roos