China; China -- History; China -- social life and customs; Fireworks; Firecrackers; Chinese New Year; Holiday decorations
Many Asian cultures, including people of China, celebrate the New Year in the spring. Because the Chinese calendar is based upon the lunar cycle, the New Year falls on a different day each year, usually in January or February. It symbolizes the...
Papua New Guinea; Sawos (Papua New Guinea people); Papua New Guinea -- Social life and customs; Implements, utensils, etc.; Bandicoots
The Sawos peoples from the Middle Sepik River Region of Papua New Guinea make these beautiful bowls to serve sago, a starch made from the pulp of native palm trees. The bowls are often decorated with abstract representations of Sawos beliefs and...
Dance; Clothing and Dress; Headgear; Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea--Social life and customs
Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the tropical island of New Guinea (which it shares with the Indonesian territory of Irian Jaya) as well as numerous smaller islands and atolls in the Pacific. The Blackwater River originates from...
China; China -- History; China -- social life and customs; Lanterns; Chinese New Year; Lamps; Lanterns
Lanterns are displayed during many different Chinese festivals. They come in many shapes, sizes, and materials and often depict characters of Chinese mythology or popular cartoons. Many are red, the color for happiness and good luck. The Lantern...
China; Folk art--China; Paper work; Paper sculpture; Decoration and ornament- China; Paper work--China; China--Social life and customs; Chinese New Year
The art of making decorative papercuts has a long history in China. It developed soon after the invention of paper during the Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C. - A.D. 8). Chinese papercuts are completely hand-cut using only scissors and engraving...
Cliff-dwellers; Indians of North America -- Southwest, New; Pueblo Indians; Implements, utensils, etc.; Anasazi
The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) lived in the present-day Four Corners region, which includes New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. They lived in this area from AD1 and AD1300 and are thought to be the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians now...
Papua New Guinea; New Guinea -- Social life and customs; Sago palms; Implements, utensils, etc.
Sago is the pulp found in various palm tree species. Papua New Guinea peoples gather the sago from these trees, and then pound the fiber to extract the starch. The starch is used in various dishes. On this particular pounder, the handle resembles a...
Papua New Guinea; New Guinea -- Social life and customs; Implements, utensils, etc.; Lime
Men in Papua New Guinea use gourd or bamboo containers to hold powdered lime that is chewed with the betel nut or used for specific ceremonies. The container includes a long spatula used to spoon the lime from the container. The spatula, made from...
A new hat for a new hairstyle! During the 1920s, the cloche hat fitted closely to the bobbed haircut – almost to the eyebrows! As the most popular hat for women, the cloche came to represent the social reforms women worked for including the right...
Snails -- Manus Island (Papua New Guinea); Shells; Endangered species -- Manus Island (Papua New Guinea)
This endangered species of tree snail lives on Manus Island, off northern New Guinea. Its distinctive coloring makes this a favorite with shell collectors. As the coating on the shell wears off, a yellow layer is revealed underneath.
Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea - social life and customs; Marriage customs and rights; Shells; Dowry; Brides
Among many of the indigenous peoples of Papua New Guinea, items from their environment, like shells and ivory from boar's tusks, were valuable. Traded from group to group, resources from the coasts could be obtained by people living further inland....
Yams; Masks; Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea - social lfie and customs; Abelam (peoples); Abelam (peoples) - social lfie and customs
Yams are an important food source for many indigenous tribes of Papua New Guinea. Men cultivate them and take great care and pride in creating the largest yams. The Abelam peoples hold elaborate yam harvest ceremonies and festivals, during which...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Southwest, New; Navajo indians; Navajo art; Handicraft -- Southwest, New; Motorcycles; Harley-Davidson Incorporated; Wood-carving
This sculpture was made by the self taught Navajo artist, Delbert Buck. Highly observant, he often depicts his Navajo neighbors doing everyday activities, like riding a bike. Some sculptures characterize his family members, like his grandmother...
In 1939, those who went to the New York World's Fair caught a glimpse of the future. There were exhibits that featured new things like electric washing machines, television, and refrigerators that made their own ice. There were many souvenirs like...
Cliff-dwellers; Indians of North America -- Southwest, New; Pueblo Indians; Bowls (Tableware); Anasazi
The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) lived in the present-day Four Corners region, which includes New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. They lived in this area from AD1 and AD1300 and are thought to be the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians now...
18th Century; New England; New England - social life and customs; Cradles; Children's Furniture; Children's furniture; United States--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
As soothing beds for babies, rocking cradles have been popular in many cultures for generations. Made in New England, this cradle first held a baby about 1790. How is it different from baby beds today?
China; China -- History; China -- social life and customs; Folk dancing, Chinese; Lions; Dance; Costume; Headgear; Chinese New Year
According to Chinese belief, lions chase away evil spirits and bring good luck, most likely because of their size, strength and fierce nature. Chinese lions are depicted as very colorful and stylized. This mask is a smaller version of a full-sized...
Cliff-dwellers; Indians of North America -- Southwest, New; Anasazi; Storage jars; Pueblo Indians
The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) lived in the present-day Four Corners region, which includes New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. They lived in this area from AD1 and AD1300 and are thought to be the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians now...
China; China -- History -- Han dynasty, 202 B.C.-220 A.D.; Lions; Lions in art; Sculpture
Chinese lions may not look much like actual lions from Africa, but they share many characteristics with mythical lions found in folklore traditions around the world. According to Chinese belief, lions chase away evil spirits and bring good luck,...
Geologists often walk along rocky beaches near the town of Glenafric on the South Island of New Zealand. These scientists look for large gray rocks called concretions. When one of these rocks is located it is first gently examined, and then...
