Cultural information
When the Europeans arrived on the continent, they did not find the gold and silver they sought. Nor did they find exotic spices. But what they did find was an abundance of food, much of which they had never seen before. Many foods commonly eaten today were indigenous to the Americas. Whether they were first […]
Food, Glorious Food! Read More »
November is Native American Heritage Month. So for this month, my posts will concentrate on this theme with a different topic each week. As someone who enjoys learning about other cultures, I find language is particularly important, as it plays a significant role in any society. It is the method by which people communicate and
The Tracks We Leave Read More »
Folk traditions help you learn about different cultures. Our village celebrated Kirwa (kir-vah) this past weekend, a uniquely Bavarian tradition. So I decided to see if I could describe it to someone who had never attended one. At a glance, it looks like a miniature Oktoberfest with bratwurst and beer, singing and dancing. Initially, they
Germany is known for its half-timber medieval buildings, and many towns proudly promote these charming structures. But to my delight, each has also had a buried past. The cities are much older than they seem. In some areas, especially the south, you often find Roman ruins beneath them. And in Bavaria, in particular, there is
Peeling Back the Layers Read More »
I have a confession to make. I live in Germany and have never been to Oktoberfest. Shocking, right? We moved here in 2019, and it was on my radar, but we didn’t make it that first year. I could make the case that it was shut down in 2020 and 2021 because of covid. True,
In researching the final book in the MacKay Mystery series, I delved more into the relationship between the Native Americans and the Highlanders arriving in the colonies. I had always heard these two cultures identified similarities in each other and worked well together, often intermingling. But I had no research to support these theories. Google
Highlanders & Indians Read More »
Today, on the first of the month, I wondered where some of these traditions originated as I wished everyone a happy new month. The Greeks say Καλό μήνα (Kaló mína), which translates to a good month. But it should be the first thing you say that morning. Some British friends say Rabbit Rabbit, or White
Very Superstitious! Read More »
Several years ago, I took part in the National Geographic Genome Project. This study tracked migrations using DNA samples to compare to indigenous populations. Unlike the genealogical sites that compare submitted data to DNA, this looks at your ethnicity, not individual family members, and compares it to those populations. It was fun to participate and
In researching the next book in the MacKay mysteries, I am learning a lot about protesting, boycotting, and secret societies. As in many time periods, certain everyday items can take on new significance. In the Pre-Revolutionary period, homespun fabric represented the boycott of English goods. A red and white flag symbolized the Sons of Liberty,
(G)nomenclature: Dwarf or Gnome? Read More »
Have you ever attended a local fall festival? This week marks Lughnasadh, the fourth of the ancient Celtic quarter festivals celebrating the year’s passing. Ancient cultures divided the world into light and dark: day/night, summer/winter, sun/moon, and so on. It helped them understand life and the natural world around them. They began the year with
Celebrating Lughnasadh Read More »