Showing titles in Customs & Traditions

Hercules, Zeus, Thor, Gilgamesh - these are the figures that leap to mind when we think of myth. But to David Leeming, myths are more than stories of deities and fantastic beings from non-Christian cultures. Myth is at once the most particular and the most universal feature of civilization, representing common concerns that each society voices in its own idiom.

A fresh cultural analysis of female monsters from Greek mythology, and an invitation for all women to reclaim these stories as inspiration for a more wild, more “monstrous” version of feminism The folklore that has shaped our dominant culture teems with frightening female creatures. In our...

Through the lens of archaeology, history, and comparative mythology, we strive to shed light on the legacy of the Anunnaki. We examine their representation in popular culture, their impact on language, and their place in contemporary beliefs and spiritual movements.

The Sàmi are the indigenous people of Scandinavia. Residing in four countries. Lapland of Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Learn about the connections between Sámi and Scandinavian mythology and Disney's Frozen II, which was made in collaboration with the representatives from Sámi nations. We will also dive into gender roles, motherhood, and ancestral beliefs.

The History of Santa Claus is a book that you will want to listen to again and again before passing it on to your children so that they’ll know the true identity of Saint Nicholas and what he has really been up to for so many centuries. You and your family will learn how Santa Claus has been influenced by dozens of diverse cultural influences in as many countries while nevertheless being embraced as the kindly figure named Saint Nick.

A practical guide to the magical systems of pre-Christian Iceland Reveals spells and workings drawn directly from surviving magical books from the 16th to 20th century preserved at the National Library in Reykjavík Explores the history of magic in Iceland through original translations...

The British have a relationship with their food that is unlike that of any other country. Once something that was never discussed in polite company, it is now something with which the nation is obsessed. But are we at last developing a food culture or are we just going through the motions? Eating for England is an entertaining, detailed, and somewhat tongue-in-cheek observation of the British and their food, their cooking, their eating, and how they behave in restaurants.

In The Stories We Tell: Mythology to Make Sense of Modern Lives, renowned mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik presents 72 tales from India’s rich treasure of myths and legends. These stories, ranging from folk tales in Andhra Pradesh on Lakshmana to Vedic stories on Indra, urge you to reconsider ideas of good, bad, love, faith and culture.

Multiple award-winning author Adam Gopnik has written for the New Yorker since 1986. In this work, Gopnik charts America’s transformation from being simply aware of what they eat to being obsessive about it. This fascinating culinary journey will transport listeners from 18th-century France and the origin of America’s popular modern tastes to the kitchens of the White House and beyond.

From the dark centuries of British prehistory to the ninth century AD, comes tales of giants and fairy-folk of druids and saints. From King Lear and King Arthur, to Fingal, Beowulf, Gwendolen, and Guinevere legendary characters have shaped the making of the nation. But who were they? In Mythology of the British Isles, Geoffrey Ashe explores how each of these stories are inter-connected, and how they have taken on fresh significance and meaning as historical and archaeological research has uncovered the truth behind each legend.

The Mahabharata, one of India's most cherished epics, has fascinated generations. The age-old saga of warring cousins-the valiant Pandavas and the formidable Kauravas-has left an indelible mark on our collective imagination. Yet, beneath the stories of valour and villainy lie complex human...

Explore the realm of North Americas elusive beings, in Monsters and Us; Revealing the Mysteries of Cryptids in North America. This book guides listeners through the woods of the Pacific Northwest and the foggy marshes of the South on a captivating adventure delving into the origins of entities such as Bigfoot, the Skunk Ape and the Wendigo.

المادة الفولكلورية لم تكن يومًا معقدة، ولم تكن غثاءً تذروه الرياح، بل بلغت مكانتها وقيمتها وأهميتها من بساطتها وقربها من طين الأرض والتربة التي أخرجتها، فجذورها أصيلة وثابتة وضاربة في عمق بيئتها، رغم ما قد تبدو عليه من خفة وتحرر وتمرد وعفوية.

المادة الفولكلورية لم تكن يومًا معقدة، ولم تكن غثاءً تذروه الرياح، بل بلغت مكانتها وقيمتها وأهميتها من بساطتها وقربها من طين الأرض والتربة التي أخرجتها، فجذورها أصيلة وثابتة وضاربة في عمق بيئتها، رغم ما قد تبدو عليه من خفة وتحرر وتمرد وعفوية.

The French are "different." You'll often hear this in conversations among the "Anglo-Saxons," as the French like to call English speakers. "Different" means charming, challenging, questioning, stylish, and doing things in their own way and to their own advantage. By looking at the attitudes and values of the French, and explaining how French life and business works, Culture Smart! France shows you how to fit in as a foreigner.

Joseph Campbell ha sido uno de los grandes divulgadores de la sabiduría profunda que atesoran los mitos. En su opinión, una de las funciones básicas del mito (en especial de su dimensión psicológica) consiste en ayudar al individuo a llevar a cabo su viaje vital, proporcionándole una guía para alcanzar la plenitud, un mapa para descubrir la "felicidad". En este libro, Campbell hace gala de su extraordinaria pericia como contador de historias para sumergirnos en las mitologías del mundo y destapar su poderosa capacidad de incidir en nuestra transformación y desarrollo personal.

Weihnachten ist das größte jährliche Ereignis auf dem Planeten, eine Zeit des Fröhlichseins, der Übertreibung, des Friedens, des guten Willens und des gelegentlichen Familienstreits. Dieses Fest ist so bequem und vertraut wie ein altes Paar Schuhe und dabei trotzdem noch immer voller Glitzer und Aufregung. Aber was wissen wir wirklich darüber? Weihnachten ist vollgestopft mit Traditionen und Ritualen, die die meisten von uns schon unser ganzes Leben lang beobachten, ohne die geringste Ahnung zu haben, woher sie kommen.

Often called the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan was secluded for much of its history, its towering mountains and lush green valleys virtually unvisited, evoking a sense of mystery and wonder. A sovereign country throughout the ages, Bhutan is now establishing its place on the world stage. It is determined to maintain its Buddhist culture and unique way of life as it evolves and adapts to political change and economic challenges. Culture Smart! Bhutan will give you a deeper insight into the country's history, values, customs, and age-old traditions.

This fascinating new book reveals the origins of the Vikings—from Thor and Leif Erikson to Loki and the Valkyries—and the tales that have influenced our own lives. For thousands of years, Vikings have held a storied place in our culture—their distinct appearance, their mighty longships...

¿Qué tan chinescos y poblanos son realmente los orígenes de la china poblana, emblema de la feminidadmexicana? ¿Cómo fue posible que la imagen de la Patria, aquella que aparecía en la portada de los libros de texto gratuito, combinara elementos griegos y prehispánicos, con una toga heredada de la Revolución francesa, en una extravagante alegoría del progreso? José Luis Trueba Lara contesta a estas preguntas adentrándose en las historias detrás de ocho símbolos del nacionalismo