242 Items Tagged

Holidays

Young women, with blinis, and Lady Maslenitsa burning in the background.

Maslenitsa

Russian Mardi Gras features blinis, fistfights, and burning effigies.

Tejocote

On Day of the Dead, garlands of the tiny, apple-flavored fruit serve as offerings to the deceased.

Barmbrack from Imen Mcdonnell's 'The Farmette Cookbook'

Barmbrack

The Irish bread comes with raisins and omens.

Huesos de Santo

These “holy bones” taste like heaven.

Some wassail ready to be sipped.

Wassail

This spiced, warming drink may have helped broker peace between warring tribes.

Pet de Soeur

French Canadians find “nun’s farts” addictively delicious.

No one knows how to lie like a mom.

The Ultimate Guide to Bizarre Lies Your Mom Told You

Turns out mothers all over the world are telling a lot of the same outrageous fibs.

Eric Grundhauser May 11, 2018

Pista Burfi

The pistachio fudge makes a vibrant accompaniment to celebrations in Northern India.

Saint Agatha's Breasts

This ricotta and marzipan pastry honors the Sicilian saint's most noteworthy body part.

Moms have the best advice.

What Harmless Lies Did Your Mother Convince You to Believe?

In honor of Mother's Day, we're collecting the best false wisdom of moms everywhere.

Eric Grundhauser May 2, 2018

A perfect doggo at the UC San Diego Bookstore, a powerful mural outside Ken Sanders Books, and love at Housing Works.

62 of the World's Best Independent Bookstores

As recommended by Atlas Obscura readers.

Eric Grundhauser April 27, 2018

A 16th-century painting shows a family enjoying pancakes and waffles.

Remembering the Tansy, the Forgotten Easter Pancake of Centuries Past

Green, herbal, and slightly toxic.

Natasha Frost March 30, 2018

Medieval clergy played ball in labyrinths, such as the one at Chartres Cathedral.

The Lost Tradition of Playing Ball in Church to Celebrate Easter

Priests danced around a labyrinth and played a symbolic, ritual game of catch.

Sarah Laskow March 29, 2018

In 2015, this effigy of the Pagan goddess Marzanna met a fiery end.

Welcoming Spring by Burning the Goddess of Winter

Sarah Laskow March 20, 2018

Pepperpot made with cassareep.

Cassareep

Sauce that can preserve stew for days—no fridge needed.

Guatemalan Fiambre

This 50-ingredient salad is for both the living and the dead.

Kanji

This fermented purple carrot elixir practically makes itself.

Amidst colored smoke bombs, a mock soldier prepares to throw eggs.

Els Enfarinats

In Ibi, “the Floured Ones” use food, face paint, and firecrackers to stage a commemorative coup.