Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA

A newly-built outhouse that is for sale! They are made right here on Mt. Airy Road in northern York County. The structure's orifice is for light and ventilation. Today, we think of them as crescent moons, but the crescent shape did not show up as a part of outhouse lore until the mid-20th century. [2021]

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Here is an example of acculturation without assimilation. The Amish came to America in the early 1700s. Three centuries later, they are still visually identifiable as "plain people." Yet, they have borrowed from "English" culture. See the cell phones? What unites them with the muscular dude on the end? The American flag overhead. [2021]

Marksville, Louisiana, USA

The "Cajun cottage" is one of the most distinguishing features of Acadiana's vernacular landscape. Note the porches (unusual for there to be two!) and roof lines. In the 1970s, Marksville had the foresight to rescue a really old one for the sake of generations to come. Below is what the structure looked like when it was first moved to town. [2022]

Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curaçao

"The handsome devil pictured here may not look like much of a meal to you, but it is indeed a Delicacy and an important part of Curacao's culinary tradition! A MUST TRY!" What more can be said? [2017]

Cairo, Egypt

Middle Eastern suqs regale aliens with an array of unrecognizable curiosities for sale. In the 1990s, before the Internet, it took many conversations with locals to unravel the story behind these 'twigs' (really roots). Now, just pop miswak into a search bar and you will get a surfeit of information on what is usually called a traditional Islamic toothbrush. [2001]

Baxter, Tennessee, USA

Blooming flower or multihued octagram? Actually, it's a home-made quilt and the quilter who made it. When you are driving the blue highways of America, be on the lookout for roadside placards announcing quilts for sale out of somebody's home. Cash only! [2019]

Novosibirsk, Russia

Until Communism came to power, the city of Novosibirsk was built largely of wood, and many of the housing units were traditional Siberian cottages. Few are left. Those that are continue to reflect the chroma of Siberia: rich blues and greens, just like the colors chosen for the city's Ascension Cathedral. As for Communist-era buildings: no chroma. [1999]

Tallinn, Estonia

 

Dominating Estonia's palette of place is the color blue. The Estonian flag is dominated by blue. The national flower is the blue cornflower. (See any on this traditional cloak?) And, the national bird is the barn swallow, which is blue. By the way, don't confuse the palette of place (a place's signature colors) with the palate of place (a place's signature tastes). [2003]

Seurasaari Island, Finland

 

What is it? Too small to live in. Solidly built. Dry. Elevated above the ground. It's a storehouse for food and dried fish. Why do you think it is built atop an old tree trunk? The tree storehouse is one of many structures on display at the open-air folk museum on Seurasaari Island, right off the coast of Helsinki. [2005]

Seoul, South Korea

People of Seoul: Koreans have many ways to keep their traditional culture alive. One is by making it chic for women (and children) to wear hanbok for special occasions. Men have their own hanbok. [2012]

Bran, Romania

It doesn't have to be Halloween to wear a mask. It doesn't have to be a costume ball or Carnavale, either. Nor a spaghetti western. Nor a bank robbery. It simply has to be coronavirus times. But, have you seen any masks that look like this? Or, do you think this is the horned coronavirus itself? See the horns on both? [2014]

Camp Verde, Arizona, USA

What is your superpower? For Kokopelli, with his Hopi pedigree, it's fertility, and he is also a flute-player, a mischief-maker, and, now, a pop culture icon. As a meme, he may even preside over burials (as on this headstone from Cottonwood), particularly if the departed shared Kokopelli's superpowers. [2019]

Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, USA

Velkommen to the troll capital of America, Mt. Horeb, where Main Street is called the Trollway. With two dozen trolls around town, visitors quickly get the idea that the folks here are proud of their Norwegian heritage. [2019]

Nzala, Morocco

These storks had a busy time yesterday. They delivered a little boy to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, far to the north of their home in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. You see where storks like to build their nests. In this case it's a minaret, but in Europe it's often the tops of chimneys. How convenient for baby delivery!  [2017]

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

In New Orleans, the biggest fête of all takes place the day before Ash Wednesday. That's today: Fat Tuesday, a.k.a., Mardi Gras. It's the last chance to make merry, get rid of all your naughtiness, and consort with one last fortuneteller. Tomorrow begins the most somber season of the Christian year: Lent. [2014]

Edam, Netherlands

Real Human Characters: He is wearing wooden shoes to be oh-so Dutch. Don't you think they look a lot like the cheese for which his hometown, Edam, is famous? [1996]

Las Palmas, Jalisco, Mexico

Give up screens for a week and you'll be making things like this, too. Screens? Flat surfaces on which images appear electronically. They have become ubiquitous. Ubiquitous? Occurring everywhere. How addicted are you? [2008]

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Quebec's own Bonhomme made a friendly appearance in the middle of summer earlier in the year. Now, on this first day of winter, he welcomes his season: the season of short days, long shadows, deep snows, bobsled races, and, of course, the Winter Carnival, where he will serve as Master of Ceremonies. It starts on February 8, 2019. [2018]

Concord, New Hampshire, USA

"Ring around the rosy; pocket full of posies; ashes, ashes; we all fall down." How many cultures around the world celebrate by dancing around in circles and chanting rhymes? But, the origins of this particular folk practice could be darker. Here on the statehouse lawn, though, it seems to offer a lot of harmless family fun. [2018]

Amarillo, Texas, USA

Roadside giants used to dominate the landscape of Route 66. Now, most are gone. But, the Big Texan remains. He is proud to anchor the best little steak house in Texas, where the hearty can wolf down a 4.5 pound steak and get it for free. [2018]