Culture & Tradition

For those looking to taste out of the box, chicha—a fermented beverage from Latin America—may not be the obvious choice. The drink encounters some resistance, largely due to the fermentation process associated with it, which involves chewing starch-rich ingredients—such as corn and yuca—before spitting them into a container to ferment.

The Choctaw creation story, as told by Isaac Pistonatubbee at the end of the 19th century and recorded “word for word in his native tongue” by Henry Halbert who published the story in volume 4 of the Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, begins with a vivid depiction. According to Pistonatubbee, the narrative of these tribes' emergence from Nanih Waiya—a sacred site in Choctaw tradition—unfolded as follows:

Folklore around the world is filled with strange creatures, each reflecting the cultural fears, beliefs, and imaginations of the societies that created them. These beings often served as cautionary figures, teaching moral lessons, explaining natural phenomena, or simply embodying the unknown. Below is a collection of ten weird and unsettling creatures from ancient folklore, each representing a different corner of the globe.

Watching Encounters at the End of the World, Werner Herzog's 2007 documentary about scientists living and studying in Antarctica's harsh climate, was one of the most enjoyable cinematic experiences I’ve had to date. If I share any trait with arguably one of the greatest film directors, it’s my fascination with unique, offbeat individuals driven by passion and living outside the boundaries of convention.

The roots of Halloween can be found in an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. According to legend, during the three days of Samhain (October 31 to November 2), the Celts would attend great feasts, sit around huge bonfires that lit up the night sky, and perform various rituals designed to salute or placate their gods and the other moody and unpredictable beings that lived alongside them.

In a remarkable fusion of software technologies and human imagination, we are now able to experience disparate worlds simultaneously. Seamlessly intertwined, the past meets the present and cultures collide through immersive and extended reality. The possibilities are endless, as demonstrated by the innovative projects pioneered by OurWorlds.

Popular throughout Central and South America, the tamal is a traditional dish made from ground corn filled with a variety of ingredients, wrapped in leaves, and steamed until cooked.

You may be familiar with gazpacho, but ajoblanco, also written as ajo blanco, is another, older, cold soup from Spain. It is quick and easy to prepare, has delicate, refreshing flavors, and is a wonderful appetizer or start to a tapas meal on a hot day.

These days, town halls tend to equate unsanctioned graffiti with vandalism, identifying it as a costly “problem” or eyesore. All too often local administrations prioritize the quick removal of graffiti, following the lead of the now defunct broken windows theory, proposed by James Q.

Since the dawn of humanity, countless civilizations have engaged in ritual sacrifice. Often, these sacrifices involved other humans, and were so common they were considered a normal aspect of life. In some cultures, it was even an honor to be the one chosen for sacrifice!