Arts & Culture

Juniper berries

Ask Smithsonian 2017

What the Heck Do I Do With Juniper Berries?

Botanically speaking, they are female seed cones. But culinarily, the dark violet orbs look and taste enough like berries to deserve the name

Articles about beer and web memes are featured in our top 10 but which article is the most popular?

Our Top 10 Stories of 2011

From Civil War mustaches to Mayan lost cities to myths about the brain, here are the most-read stories of the year

Roti, a Trinidad specialty

Inviting Writing: Trinidadian Roti

For an expatriate, there's no such thing as going too far to procure a specialty from home

A "pooping log"

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Pooping Log, and Other World Christmas Traditions

Santa can't do it all. Many places have their own traditions about who—or what—is responsible for bringing Christmas candies and toys

Asa Butterfield in Martin Scorsese's Hugo

A Spoiler Alert Guide to Year-End Releases

Three trends in big-budget movies coming out this holiday season

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Q and A with Cake Wrecks Blogger Jen Yates

"I'm not out to vilify bakers; I'm just trying to find a little funny in unexpected places"

Greta Garbo in Flesh and the Devil

Silent Films After The Artist and Hugo

Warning viewers about silent films is like warning Elmore Leonard fans that Henry James is a "slower" writer

Christmas pudding

The Wonderful English Pudding

Pour flaming brandy over the hot pudding - the blue flames dance and sparkle around the traditional sprig of holly stuck into the top of the pudding

Back in the day, according to Ivan Day, one of England's most esteemed food historians, selection was surprisingly great.

How to Eat Like a King for Christmas

Using antique technology and vintage cookbooks, food historian Ivan Day recreates such Tudor and Victorian specialties as puddings and roast goose

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Why Did Jewish Communities Take to Chinese Food?

The historical and sociological reasons why the Jewish community and Chinese restaurants pair so well on Christmas

In his illustrated books, Patel distills the gods and goddesses down to their essentials as shown in this illustration from Ramayana: Divine Loophole (2010).

Sanjay Patel: A Hipster’s Guide to Hinduism

The 36-year-old pop artist and Pixar veteran brings a modern twist to the gods and demons of Hindu mythology

Don’t Stop Believin’ (in Santa Claus)

Shirley Temple drops some knowledge on a Christmas tradition

Miracle berries

Hanukkah Parties With a Twist

Latkes are delicious, but I've been thinking it's time to throw some new food traditions into the Hanukkah mix

Photos: The Scariest Santas You'll Ever See

Browse our selected illustrations of some of the strangest and creepiest Santa Clauses ever put down on paper

Mashed potatoes for your holiday meal

Inviting Writing: Must-Have Potatoes

The ultimate holiday treat

Bluto (in the role of Sindbad) and Popeye face off

Holiday Gift Guide for Film Buffs

Movies every fan should have

Raisins are a food that picky eaters won't touch.

Can a Picky Eater Change Her Ways?

Most expand their culinary horizons as they get older, but a few people hold fast to limited diets of familiar things like macaroni and cheese

Joel McCrea, Dean Stockwell, and Ellen Drew in Stars in My Crown

Five Films About Faith

Movies that question your beliefs, from Steve Martin to Bengalese film to a nostalgic look at the old West

Consider food—and food-themed gifts—this holiday season.

Last Minute Food-Themed Gift Ideas

Food, jewelry, toys and books for those hard-to-shop-for people on your gift list

Three great picture books from 2011

A Trio of Outstanding Picture Books

Three more books to add to the Best of Childrens Books 2011 list

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