culture
Get the authentic cultural experience on your next foreign jaunt. Wander like a local; here, there, and everywhere.
How Harlem because a Black Cultural Mecca
The Black Renaissance was a cultural movement with the Harlem Renaissance being a centerpiece of that movement. The Harlem Renaissance was the development of the Harlem neighborhood in New York City as a black cultural mecca in the early 20th Century and as a result of this social and artistic explosion that lasted roughly from the 1910s through the mid-1930s, the period is considered a golden age in African American culture, manifesting itself thought literature, music, theater and art.
By One Mic: Black History Podcast5 years ago in Wander
Expansion of Christianity in the Korean Peninsula from the late 19th – 20th Century
When considering the history of Christianity in Korea, it is impossible to remove nationalism from the equation. Because Korea is surrounded by the powerful nations of Russia, China, and Japan, nationalism and Christianity have inevitably converged. Furthermore, separating church and state is a notion born of the Western world, where the survival of Christianity in its purist form required this disunion, as corruption dominated the Western church, leading to the Reformation. Separating nationalism and Christianity is an indeed an unrealistic feat, illustrated by Ephesians 6:12, which states that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Seemingly contrary to Paul’s description of tension between Christianity and earthly governments, Peter instructs the Christians of the early church to submit to authorities. In the case of Korea, the constant threat of war and domination from neighboring powers, and the crumbling of political and social institutions, led people to turn to God and the church in desperation, seeking God’s word for answers, and decisively trusting Him wholeheartedly. The church became the only place to find solace and peace of mind. The brotherly love of missionaries vanquished the suspicion of foreigners and merged with the hope of Korea’s independence, as the gospel transcended ancient customs, religions, and monarchies. Was the merging of nationalism and Christianity ambiguous in nature? Or did the expansion of Christianity in the Hermit Kingdom reveal the hand of God at work? To answer these questions, it is necessary to begin by examining how Christianity managed to infiltrate a nation fiercely resistant to outsiders.
By Antonette Correa5 years ago in Wander
Japanese christmas gift & decorations
If you are visiting before the New Year in Japan, you will find many things traditionally associated with Christmas: decorations, Christmas markets, and magnificent lights. You can also discover a few unique Japanese traditions with numerous charms that can and should be appreciated in their own right. So while it may be a little different from what you might be used to, Christmas is still felt and celebrated in the land of the rising sun. Here is list of how different christmas is in Japan.
By Zenko Magatsu5 years ago in Wander
My Dream Destination: The Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. Top Story - December 2020.
For the last seven years of my life, I had one dream that I refused to let go of: to visit Russia. Although my brother and I plan to go when the pandemic has calmed down, I may not be able to see all of the republics during my first visit to Russia. Due to its level of hospitality, cultural enrichment, spirituality and uniqueness, there are several republics that I want to visit more than others, like Tatarstan.
By Talia Devora5 years ago in Wander
Larmer Tree Festival - one of England's best kept secrets.
One of England’s best kept secrets, Larmer Tree Festival is the event of the year for me. A great opportunity to meet friends hang out listening to good music, eat delicious food from all over the world and drink great cider and beers. Held at the Larmer Tree Gardens in England, at Tollard Royal in the Cranborne Chase on the Wiltshire / Dorset border. An area of outstanding natural beauty between Salisbury and Blandford Forum. Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Earthwise, Endorse-it-in-Dorset and many other festivals have been held in this small but historically packed area of England, where the affluent and busy South East changes to a lush green land of fields, hedgerows and woodland, undulating low hills and plains with long barrows (Neolithic burial mounds), barrows (bronze age burial mounds), standing stones, thatched cottages and Inns, ancient oak trees and farmland. My own family history has been traced back to nearby Shrewton, a small village where the local Parish churchyard has many Vallis graves. An unusual name with only two or three in any phone directory. There is even a grave for John Vallis, who lived in the late 18h / early 19th century and was a an agricultural labourer, pre-mechanisation. He would have scythed the wheat at harvest time on the open fields of the Salisbury Plain, baled the straw by hand for thatching and no doubt swilled the local scrumpy, a cloudy cider of unknown strength that this corner of England is famous for, made from the plentiful apples from the many orchards in the area. England has over 3000 varieties of apples, some sweet, some only good for cooking and some perfect for making scrumpy.
By John Vallis5 years ago in Wander
The curious ways of the French
Even after 10 years of visiting France, I was still ill prepared to spend the better part of 3 weeks in a tiny town of the North called Saint-Omer, about 70kms away from the more well-known city of Lille, part of the Pas-de-Calais region. I strongly felt that I was possibly the only Australian to ever pass through, never mind stay here.
By Lauren Baldwin5 years ago in Wander
Christmas Traditions From Around The World
The rich traditions that are enjoyed during Christmas come from places all over the globe. Some of them are observed worldwide while others remain active only in their native land. The following are eight, holiday customs that are quite interesting.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Wander
A Wisconsin Native American Retreat
Ancestry is an important part of all of our lives. Tracing family roots not only provides ethnic background but a deeper understanding of the challenges our forefather’s faced in society. Information such as predisposition to different medical conditions can be attained aiding in making better lifestyle choices. To learn our family history can be most beneficial in feeling complete as a human being. Connecting the lineal dots we feel whole knowing exactly where we came from.
By Marilyn Glover5 years ago in Wander
Solo Act 1
The air is full of excitement and anticipation… it’s the night I’m leaving to Budapest, Hungary. The crown jewel of Eastern Europe. I grip my passport tightly in my hand, pulling my coffee and cream colored trunk suitcase behind me. I arrive at the airport, look up at the board listing destinations everywhere from Cairo to Paris to Tokyo. I spot the gate number for Budapest and hurry along to board my flight to a destination full of mystery and romantic allure.
By Hadassah Cordoba5 years ago in Wander
Oh, The Places I'd Go...
Years ago, when I was preparing to celebrate my 25th birthday, my best friend and I began planning a trip to a place I had always wanted to visit: Greece. I was fascinated with mythology from a young age; Clash of the Titans and snippets of other Greco-Roman stories fueled an interest that became a lifelong journey of studying Celtic, Norse, Germanic, Indigenous, Aboriginal, and Middle Eastern/Mediterranean (as well as many other) belief systems and the mythological foundational tales that helped to shape them. While I have no ethnic roots in Greece or Italy (at least none deep enough to have reached my awareness) I have a deep emotional connection to those stories that sparked my desire for knowledge. I wanted to see the places I had read about, even to stand where those places existed and feel the power of that space knowing the impact it had on humanity: the Parthenon, The Oracle at Delphi, the Theater of Dionysus, the Temple of Artemis. To touch the waters of the Aegean Sea, the leaves of sacred olive and oak trees, the rubble of what was once the greatness of Sparta, to walk where the battle of Thermopylae took place. Greece was the first place I had ever dreamt of visiting, exploring, experiencing. I was so excited to be planning to fulfill a dream.
By Rebecca Tkacs5 years ago in Wander
Ode to Newfoundland
Have you heard the one about the Newfie?" How many times I've heard jokes that start that way. I've never given much thought to the jokes other than, they were funny...or not. I've never given much thought to the place, or even the people for that matter. I have known a number of Newfies throughout my life and have liked everyone of them because they seemed so much like me, always up, you know optimistic, "Life is what ye make it, by!" and that sort of thing. I still never gave much thought to where that optimism or their vibrancy came from.
By Merle Roberts5 years ago in Wander
