Like in China, New Year’s in Vietnam springs to life on January 23rd. From bamboo and peach blossoms to interesting rules around what you should and should not eat, we’ll take a look at what happens before, during and after the big day.
In celebration of the year of the dragon, brighten up your classroom with these easy-to-make lanterns. There’s nothing more iconic than the lanterns that light the streets in China during their New Years celebration. The tradition can be traced as far back a 250 B.C. when Buddhist monks carried torches on New Year’s Eve, hoping Read More …
Looks like it’s time for resolutions… We, at Explorica, resolve to keep bringing you more and more cultural insights, of course. And while some of us are still settling on goals (eat healthier, exercise and read more), another part of the world is just beginning their countdown to the New Year. January 23rd is the Read More …
Make mine a Moroccan minty! Mint tea is so popular in Morocco that you’ll find it everywhere—in homes, restaurants, bazaars, religious gatherings, parties, weddings and funerals. An ancient Moroccan proverb says, “The first glass is as bitter as life, the second glass is as strong as love, the third glass is as gentle as death.” Read More …
Tea was first introduced to Japan in the 12th century by a Zen monk called Eisai. (Well, tea is central to Zen tradition after all). And Eisai had pretty high hopes for his cup of tea. He suggested that it would cure loss of appetite, boils on the skin and even paralysis. Some say that Read More …
Some say that tea is one of the world’s most popular drinks (second only to water). In Britain it’s considered the national drink. Americans and Canadians drink 80% of their tea iced. And people in the United Arab Emirates out-drink the rest of us by far. In 2009, they drank a whopping 220 ounces of Read More …
In the heart of Lucerne, Switzerland’s most populous city, winter brings out one of the quirkier festivals in Europe. And it’s teeming with some of the kookiest of costumes and customs. Every year towards the close of winter, revelers take to the streets to hunt down and cast out the cold, grim spirits of Read More …
Our next stop in Explorica’s three-part winter festival series is for Three Kings Day, which is also known as Epiphany. Three Kings Day is a Christian festival that is celebrated twelve days after the birth of Jesus when the three kings are said to have first set eyes on the newborn baby. But if you Read More …
Brrr… Winter can get mighty cold in some places. And if that makes you think about hunkering down, historically, it’s been the perfect time for a party! As early as 9000 B.C. people have celebrated the year’s harvest with fingers (tightly) crossed that it’d be enough to keep the community fed through barren January to Read More …
Scots take great pride in their New Year’s celebration, so much so that they have their own name for it, Hogmanay. (Say that ten times fast!) While the origin of the word is somewhat obscure, it can be traced back to either a French, Norse or Gaelic roots. How’s that for a toss up? What Read More …
