#cultural-traditions

#cultural-traditions

The drums started just after 10 a.m. Saturday, and suddenly there was nowhere to stand but in the middle of it-100 dancers in feathered headdresses and traditional regalia, their ayoyotes rattling with every step like rain on metal. The sound hit the chest hard. Smoke from sage and copal filled South Van Ness Avenue, the sharp smell of incense thick in the cold morning air.

Over the last decade, astrology has gone mainstream in a major way. It seems like every brand wants to offer you something-a coffee, a book recommendation, a t-shirt-based on your personal astrology. Because of this, whether you live in accordance with astrology or are only semi-aware of it, chances are you at least know your zodiac sign. ...or do you? Your birthday dictates your Sun sign. Adding birth location and time into the mix is enough to create an entire birth chart (a snapshot of the placement of the stars and planets the moment you came into the world and of your personality as a whole). But it turns out that different traditions assign these signs in different ways-meaning the zodiac symbol you identify with may not be your only (or even true) Sun sign.

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner can be hard to come by when you're overseas. How do Americans living abroad celebrate when they're far, far from home? Rita Maas/Getty Images Are you an American celebrating Thanksgiving abroad? Is it tough to get turkey or pumpkin for pumpkin pie? How do you explain Thanksgiving to your international friends? Has the holiday taken on a new meaning for you?

Known in Spanish as "Dia de los Muertos," the Day of the Dead is one of Mexico's most important annual festivities and a huge international attraction. Colorful costumes and parade floats are used to preserve memories and honor dead family membersImage: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images The festivities begin on October 31, when families welcome the spirits of deceased children. The parade also features colorful, fantastical sculptures known as alebrijesImage: Luis Cortes/REUTERS

For cross-cultural marriages, traditions from both backgrounds often dictate aspects such as wedding ceremonies, gender roles, career ambitions, and family dynamics. As a result, couples frequently navigate differences in expectations and traditions to foster their foundation. This blending of traditions necessitates ongoing negotiation and compromise. Partners learn to recognize which aspects of their respective cultures are most meaningful and decide together how to integrate (or adapt) them within their shared lives.

Four Seasons resorts and hotels are rolling out holiday experiences that are anything but ordinary, inviting travelers to create memories that last far beyond the season.

The repainting of the tricolor center line on Adams Street to yellow for traffic safety has sparked outrage among community members, who feel it disrespects their heritage.

Unlike the English-speaking tradition where speeches are a cornerstone of weddings, German weddings forego this in favor of a variety of unique games.

A bit of reading informed me that shoes carry in germs, bacteria, pesticides and a variety of other nasties such as carcinogenic asphalt sealants that are invisible but can linger in domestic dust.

May 1st is particularly significant in France not just for its connection to workers' rights, but also as a day when muguet, or lily-of-the-valley, is gifted as a token of good luck.

Das Frühjahrsputz encompasses not just cleaning but rejuvenating living spaces as seasons shift, turning deep cleaning into a cherished annual tradition.

Die Trauer is the German word for 'grief,' describing the deep emotional pain over a loss or misfortune that resonates universally after someone's passing.

Gun ownership in the U.S. reflects a deep-seated mix of individual rights and public safety concerns, with motivations for ownership often centered around self-defense.

Easter, the most significant festivity in the Orthodox calendar, sees the Bachkovo Monastery preparing 5,050 dyed red eggs, a tradition reflecting deep cultural beliefs.

The transformation of the former US Consulate in Hamburg into a luxury hotel aims to cater not only to tourists but also to the local community with added amenities.