Yale College in New Haven, CT, is well-known for its tomb societies—also called senior societies, and landed societies. These elite, secretive self-run student organizations have been around for... »

Memento Mori, Rites and Rituals, Eccentric Homes | Edited by JWOcker and Rachel

In the devoutly Muslim lands of Pakistan, the presence of the pagans in the Kalasha Valleys is quite an anomaly. The three valleys of the Kalash people, Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir, form a cultural... »

Cultures and Civilizations , Rites and Rituals, Lost Tribes | Edited by Tawsam and Rachel

Every year, thousands flock to Saut d’Eau Waterfalls on a religious pilgrimage to bath in the waters, asking for favors and praying for healing from the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. Located... »

Watery Wonders, Cultures and Civilizations , Rites and Rituals | Edited by MaudeSwift and Rachel

Two rival parishes on the Greek island of Chios engage in a most unusual and dangerous Easter tradition that has been taking place quite possibly since the Ottoman era. The churches, which sit on... »

Cultures and Civilizations , Wondrous Performances, Rites and Rituals | Edited by Rachel, Dylan and others

The lifelong dream of prolific calligrapher, Donald Jackson, to create a hand-illumanited and hand-written bible came true in 1998 through what is now known as the "Bible project". The Bible... »

Astounding Timepieces, Rites and Rituals | Edited by bboas, Annetta and 2 others

Chucuito is one of the few ancient sites in the world that is likely to elicit a few giggles. In many ways, you're supposed to giggle when you walk through the walled-off complex covered in row... »

Hoaxes and Pseudoscience, Rites and Rituals | Edited by serflac and atimian

Although public officials are met with far less rotten fruit and tomatoes, the annual Mayor Weigh-In in High Wycombe, England still draws a crowd ready to boo an increase in the mayor's weight.... »

Retro-Tech, Cultures and Civilizations , Rites and Rituals | Edited by atimian and Seth Teicher

Hanging inauspiciously in a dark corner of the American Natural History Museum is a mysterious figure covered from head to toe in the coat of a leopard. Although easy to miss, the dark mannequin... »

Cultures and Civilizations , Rites and Rituals, Lost Tribes | Edited by atimian

As the tale goes, late in the summer of 1817, a vicious, evil witch began to terrorize the Bell family on their Tennessee farm. She kept them up late at night with strange, eerie noises, violently... »

Rites and Rituals | Edited by atimian and HJHausman

Each year in the days preceding Fat Tuesday, townspeople of Ivrea divide up into nine different squads. Dressed in their battle attire, they make their way to certain streets of Ivrea that are... »

Wondrous Performances, Rites and Rituals | Edited by atimian, Dylan and others