Modern imprisonment was created in London, England on the ideas of a philosopher named Jeremy Bentham. Before his ideas, prison was just a place to hold a prisoner until their actual punishment could be carried out. Punishment for crimes before … Continue reading Anthropology: The History of Mass Incarceration in the United States and Its Connection to Racism
In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday. What is known as the first Thanksgiving celebration in the colonies occurred in 1621 between the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans who were sharing an autumn harvest feast. For … Continue reading Anthropology: The History and Cultural Meaning of Thanksgiving Day
The holiday of Christmas is celebrated on December 25th every year. Not only is it a sacred religious holiday, but it is also a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. People all around the world have been observing the holiday with both … Continue reading Anthropology: The Yuletide Evolution of Christmas and Santa Claus
English folklore consists of all the myths and legends of England. This includes everything from mythical creatures, urban legends, and folktales originating from the English region. English folklore is heavily influenced by Pagan tradition. A significant number of figures, legends, … Continue reading Myths and Legends in English Folklore
Body modifications are intentional alterations to the human body to affect physical appearances. Many outsiders to the body modification community can be quick to malign the participants, but a person taking part in the practice of body modification is willfully … Continue reading Anthropology: Body Modifications in Different Cultures
The Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased loved ones. The union may be brief, but it is filled with a lot of celebration. It … Continue reading The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Country music, just like any music, has its own culture. The country music following in the United States has had its ups and downs in the mainstream culture, but has its own constant subcultural following. Music in general is a … Continue reading Anthropology: The Evolution of Country Music
Folklore consists of things like legends, stories, and fairy tales that are passed through generations of a community or culture through word of mouth. The word folklore highlights an enormous and significant part of culture. The tradition of oral history … Continue reading Tall Tales and Folklore History in America
Something that is shared throughout all of the human race is death. It does not discriminate between cultures and races. The thing that does differ is the way people respond to death and how it is celebrated. Burial practices are … Continue reading Anthropology: The Death Rituals Across Different Cultures of the World