All over the United States, we celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, food, parades, and flags, all supplemented by local trends and traditions. In New York, fireworks will explode over the East River. In Washington, we’ll get a free concert on a Capitol Fourth. In Santa Fe, where I’m from, we’ll take over the town Plaza to eat pancakes. But what about Americans living overseas? For … Continue reading July 4th Around the World
Mardi Gras 2016 is this Tuesday—laissez les bon temps rouler! This terrific post about Mardi Gras in the U.S. was written by Rebecca Sheehan, Ph.D., back in 2009. Dr. Sheehan is an associate professor of geography at Oklahoma State University. The French Quarter is the quintessential center of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and traditionally what people associate with the celebration. Here, debauchery is at … Continue reading Weekly Warm-Up: Some Mardi Gras Thoughts and Memories
WORLD Diwali has become a national festival that is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs. (National Geographic Kids) Use our resources, including a video and photo gallery, to learn more about Diwali! Teachers, scroll all the way down for a short list of key resources in our “Teachers’ Toolkit.” Discussion Ideas Read our terrific study guide on Diwali. The article says Diwali … Continue reading Happy Diwali
#TBT alert! This blog post was originally published on October 31, 2013! UNITED STATES Is Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead, celebrated by Latinos around the world—”The Next New American Holiday”? This infographic makes a convincing case! (Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum) Use our resources to better understand Dia de los Muertos! Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ … Continue reading Who Celebrates Dia de los Muertos?
ARTS Colorful sawdust carpets coat the streets of Guatemala’s cities during their iconic Easter Holy Week processions. This year, the country has a new reason to celebrate—it has been recognized by Guinness World Records for producing the longest sawdust carpet in the world. (Daily Mail—be sure to look at the gorgeous photos!) What other “ephemeral art” can you find in our collections? Discussion Ideas The … Continue reading Sawdust Carpets Coat Guatemalan Streets
