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Dec

Holiday Foods Around the World

by Meredith Mullins on December 17, 2018

Christmas Pudding, showing the cultural traditions of holiday food around the world. (Image © Bruce Goldstone/iStock.)

‘Tis the season
© iStock

‘Tis the Season for Cultural Traditions

The holiday season is here, and thoughts turn to twinkling lights, frenetic shopping, food traditions, celebrations with family and friends, decorated trees, wreaths and menorahs, holiday songs, festive food, stockings hung by the chimney with care, animated store windows, seasonal food treats, red-nosed reindeer, roasted chestnuts, peace on earth, and . . . did I mention food?

There are many cultural traditions associated with the holidays around the world, and, in many cases, holiday food traditions play a major role. From roasted turkey to mince pies to babka and bibingka, every country is different. Read more...

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Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Worldwide Sites

Dec

Paris Hidden Treasures

by Meredith Mullins on December 3, 2018

The spirit of wanderlust on the towpath at Lagny sur Marne
© Annabel Simms

Feed Your Wanderlust Close to Home

Hidden travel treasures are everywhere—sometimes just around that corner where you’ve never been before and sometimes just a short adventure away.

You don’t always have to make plans months in advance— to grab the best transportation fares or lodgings—nor do you necessarily have to spend days reading TripAdvisor reviews to make your plans for far-flung corners of the world.

You can often feed your wanderlust close to home. Read more...

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Art of Travel/France (Paris)

Nov

Emoji Mojo

by Meredith Mullins on November 20, 2018

Set of emojis from Apple that show cultural and language, especially the universal language of emojis. (Image courtesy of Apple.)

Some of the 2018 new emojis
Courtesy of Apple

Are Emojis the World’s First Universal Language?

Imagine archaeologists finding a set of emojis 1000 years from now in a buried time capsule. Or, picture visitors from faraway galaxies stumbling on Earth’s emoji language.

What would they think of us as they looked over this strange range of pictorial symbols? Read more...