Food and Drink

'Mammalucchi': The Venetian pastry delicacy created by accident

Venice Carnival's tastiest secret is out: mammalucchi, a mouth-watering fried, sugary pastry which began life as an accident, is the treat hankered after by gondoliers and masked revelers alike

17 February 2022

Culture news

February 15 is Serbia's National Day, but what are they celebrating?

Celebrated as one of the most culturally and historically significant days for Serbia, Statehood Day was first recognised as a national holiday in 2001.

15 February 2022

Food and Drink

The Italian Espresso makes a bid for UNESCO immortality

Far more than just a shot, millions find the classic infusion magical.

15 February 2022

Culture news

Here are some of the world's most unusual Valentine's Day traditions

We've scoured the world from Thailand to Serbia to find the unimaginable things people do to share their love on Valentine's Day.

13 February 2022

Italy

'It will be fun': Venice carnival kicks off hoping for a brighter year

After being hit by the pandemic for two years in a row, the world-famous Venice carnival has resumed.

13 February 2022

Culture news

Georgia rescues ancient wooden skate tradition in snowy mountain race

Locals of the remote, picturesque town of Mestia, deep in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia, are reviving an ancient local tradition for a new generation.

9 February 2022

Scenes

Meet the cholita skateboarders breaking down stereotypes in Bolivia

In partnership with Media City

"These clothes are not a costume. This is an identity. This is what makes them cholitas and they are proud of that."

7 February 2022

Art

Meet the calligrapher preserving Hong Kong's Chinese New Year crafts

In the run up to the Lunar New Year, Hong Kong's calligraphy artists set up on the streets. With brush and ink, they create traditional decorations that are a seasonal feature at homes and offices.

31 January 2022

Culture news

Spanish town welcomes back pagan monster 'Carantoñas' from COVID break

The tradition is a meeting of old and new as the pagan fertility figure takes part in a parade for local patron St Sebastien.

26 January 2022

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Tiger sculptures and totem poles decorate the streets of Taiwan

Tiger sculptures and totems decorate the streets of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, ahead of the Year of the Tiger on 1 February.

26 January 2022

Food and Drink

Tourists tuck in across Italy honour pizza patron Saint Anthony

Pizza-makers far and wide were hard at work making a cheesy, doughy national favourite on January 17 to celebrate the food's patron saint.

18 January 2022

Culture news

'Bacha posh: where young girls secretly live as boys in Afghanistan

'Bacha posh' presents both harrowing joys and traumatic limitations to families who choose to partake in the Afghan custom with their daughters.

18 January 2022

Culture news

Watch these incredible horses leap through bonfires to 'purify' Spain

Every year, the people of San Bartolomé gather to gawp at horses enacting a dangerous tradition. They are adamant it will bring them good luck for the rest of the year.

17 January 2022

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Beninese pray to Voodoo's sea goddess of fertility and beauty

The Beninese pay tribute to the deities of Voodoo, a religion that worships gods and natural spirits along with respect to revered ancestors.

11 January 2022

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Bulgarian Pomaks keep traditional wedding rite alive

The marriage of Nefie and her fiancé Schaban is an extravaganza of bright colours, flowers, feasting and dancing. But the bride, who comes from Bulgaria's Pomak minority, can see none of it. Her eyes must remain tightly closed until a Muslim priest blesses the couple.

10 January 2022

Cult

Traditional Azerbaijani dance lies at the heart of the Azeri culture

In partnership with The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Performing around the world the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble displays traditional athletic and intricate dance moves, dancing on toes and balancing glasses of syrup on their palms

10 January 2022

Culture news

Annual Greek cold water plunge causes a splash on day of Epiphany

Orthodox Christians across Greece came together for Epiphany Day with a dive into cold sea water in the name of retrieving a wooden cross.

7 January 2022

Culture news

Serbia's Orthodox Christians gather for January's Christmas traditions

Though Serbia's COVID-19 figures are at new highs, hundreds attended the traditional Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy in the St. Sava temple in Belgrade, Serbia.

7 January 2022

Culture news

France welcomes the New Year with more costly 'Galette des Rois'

The traditional sharing of the "Galette des Rois" in France has been slightly tarnished with bakers and chefs having to increase prices due to butter costs doubling in two years.

6 January 2022

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Tokyo firemen perform traditional firefighting acrobatics at New Year drills

Members of the Edo Firemen Preservation Association perform Japanese traditional firefighting techniques during the New Year's fire brigades exercise.

6 January 2022