Ghana is located along the Guinea Gulf and Atlantic Ocean in West Africa. Spanning over 560 kilometers of tropical coastline, Ghana is a place of natural beauty and colorful cultures. The country’s cultural mosaic encompasses over 70 different tribes and six major ethnic groups. Although English is the most common language, Ghanaians also widely speak in native tongues, such as Twi and Ga. There a

Today, we’ll continue to explore the country’s customs in regard to festivities, sports, crafts, agricultural products, and famous residents. Each spring on Whitsunday, the Procession of Queens is performed by young girls from the village of Gorjani in the Slavonia region of northeastern Croatia. Whitsunday is the 7th Sunday after Easter and it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Chri

Croatia is home to approximately 444 protected areas, including eight national parks, two strict nature reserves, and 11 nature parks, totaling an estimated 9% of the country’s land. Among these is the Plitvice Lakes National Park, which is unique for its exceptional beauty and attracts many nature lovers every year. When speaking of Croatia’s natural wonders, another location must be mentioned: t

The Republic of Croatia is a beautiful European country located at the crossroads connecting Central Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. The nation borders Slovenia, Hungary, and several other countries. Croatia features beautiful islands, silver beaches, and blue sea off of its coast. Its mainland has a number of mountain ranges, with Dinara Mountain being the highest peak. Due to its geographic lo

Both Ernst-Louis Arnold and Alfred Arnold were among the few notable bandoneon manufacturers in the early 20th century whose instruments are still highly valued and sought after today. After 1945, Alfred Arnold’s company was expropriated and nationalized to produce diesel engine parts, thus ended the mass production of bandoneons. Consequently, the instrument became a collectors’ item in Argentina

“In ancient times, the spiritual practitioners who are connected to Heaven, at times tried to replicate the mesmerizing, wonderful music of the celestial abode by creating instruments. So, many of the instruments we have – like the harp, the piano, the violin, the flute, the Scottish bagpipes, etc. – they all correlate with the sounds of real Heavenly realms, except the real ones are much more inc

Religion plays a significant role in the lives of many Êzîdî people. Their religion, Yazidism, is considered to be one of the oldest religions from the fertile area of Mesopotamia. According to some manuscripts, it dates back to the third millennium BC. It is an oral tradition whereby one generation passes on religious knowledge to the next. The overarching Êzîdî belief is in one God who ha

There is something magical about flying a kite on a fine day. With each pull and release of the string, the kite soars higher and higher. Watching it drift gracefully in the open space brings such simple happiness, satisfaction and contentment to our hearts. It’s no wonder kite flying has been such an enjoyable pastime for people of all ages and nationalities. Kites can be made from paper,

The resourceful Dani people live in the Baliem Valley, located in the Western New Guinea Highlands of Indonesia. Due to the remoteness of this location, the Dani were largely unknown to the rest of the world until 1938. For this community, spirituality is integral to daily life. The Dani believe that we have a soul inside of us, which they call “edai-egen.” Traditionally, the Dani are animi

Located in the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula, Lao People's Democratic Republic is famous for its beautiful culture, unique traditions, and pristine landscape. The only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, Laos is bordered by Myanmar, China, Âu Lạc or Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. About 66% of the population are Theravada Buddhists while the rest belong to at least 48 distinct ethnic minori

The fourth Mughal Emperor, His Majesty Jahangir, had said this about Kashmir, “If there’s a paradise on Earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.” Kashmir is widely known for its natural beauty and rich culture. Inhabitants of diverse religious backgrounds including Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Christianity coexist amicably and form their own distinct and harmonious community. This mel

The kantele, a plucked string instrument belonging to the zither family, is the Finnish version of the psaltery played by peoples living in the eastern Baltic countries. Kanteles are grouped into two categories: the small kantele and the concert kantele. Small kanteles have 15 or fewer strings with a range of around two octaves and generally have a shape similar to that of traditional instruments.

The Lumad people encompass a collection of indigenous people from the Mindanao region. This area is the second-largest island in the Philippines and also includes smaller islands surrounding the main landmass. The Lumad people or Lumadnon, consist of approximately 18 major groups. The island of Mindanao contains a significant portion of forested and protected areas, many of which are ancestral lan

Today, we’ll examine Denmark’s unique architecture, handicrafts, visual arts, and literature. Kronborg Castle has been standing above a narrow cape between the coasts of Denmark and Sweden for six centuries. It is well known as the home of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Castle, widely recognized as one of Europe’s most outstanding Renaissance castles, was adopted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000

“Out in the meadows the grain has been cradled; rye and wheat are stacked, and hay will soon be in the barn. Trees have been shaken and fruit has been gathered, and homeward now we wend our way with the final load. We plow the field lightly; it’s an old custom, as the birds and the poor must also be satiated…” We just heard one of Denmark’s most famous folk songs, “Marken er mejet,” or “Harvest So

Today we are delighted to share the rich and vibrant culture of the Garifuna. The community has traditionally been a matrilineal society, where women make decisions and safeguard the members. These lively people are of West African and Amerindian descent, with many living along the Caribbean coast of Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala. To quote the late Andy Palacio, also known as the “Bard

Japan, the “Land of the Rising Sun,” is an island country in East Asia. Although it is a nation with rapid modern development, it has never lost touch with its traditional culture and heritage. The island is blessed with more than 3,000 mineral-rich onsens, fed directly from the 25,000 thermal springs bubbling beneath its unique geothermal archipelago. Furthermore, the ongoing volcanic activities

The Baháʼí faith is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. Founded in the 19th century by His Holiness Baháʼu'lláh in Persia, it is now estimated to have over five million believers all over the world. Bahá means “glory” or “splendor.” There are three central teachings of the Bahá’i Faith, which are the unity of God, the unity of religion, and unity of humankind. Prayers are important

The Inuit are a remarkable indigenous community who are considered the world’s northernmost culture. Living above the tree line in the Arctic, this nomadic group needed to develop special skills to survive. One of the most famous and iconic structures made by the Inuit is the igloo, which they developed as a temporary shelter for the long, harsh winters. An igloo is typically made of very h

The Saraswati veena is one of India’s oldest musical instruments. It is a large fretted lute that is named after the Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and art. Often referred to as the “Queen of Instruments,” it is a predominant solo instrument in the Carnatic music, the main style of classical music in southern India, and distinct from the Hindustani music of the north. Since anci