Children’s Day or Kodomo-no-hi One of Japan’s busiest holiday seasons is Golden Week. Four national holidays take place within the seven days of Golden Week. The holidays start each year on April 29 with Showa Day or Showa no hi, the former Emperor’s birthday. On May 5, […]
Where is Polynesia? The Pacific Islands are divided into three geographic and cultural regions: Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. Polynesia includes islands scattered across a triangle shaped area covering the east-central region of the Pacific Ocean. Some islands within this region are the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, Rapa […]
The invention of coins is shrouded in mystery. Coins as we think of them today were first used as a method of payment around the 6th or 5th century BCE. According to the historian Herodotus, King Croesus of Lydia was “the first to strike and use coins of gold and silver.” But, […]
The History of Chinese New Year Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is China’s most important festival. It is also the most important celebration for families and includes a week, called the Little New Year, of official holiday. The history of the Chinese New Year […]
Who are the Yup’ik? The Yup’ik are one of the indigenous peoples of western, southwestern, and southcentral Alaska and the Russian Far East. They are related to the Alutiiq, Aleut, Inuit, and other Arctic peoples. Yup’ik, which is pronounced “yoop-ick”, comes from the Yup’ik word […]
What are Alebrijes? Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures depicting fantastical creatures or familiar animals. They can have horns, antlers, wings, fangs, fins, scales, human bodies, and some have all at once. No two are exactly alike, but all alebrijes are painted with intense, vibrant […]
