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

Latin America is a place with many culturally enriched dances. Stemming from Mexico, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Latin American dances infuse cultural flavour with technical skill to bring exciting performances to audiences worldwide. Modern Latin American dance consists of a wide variety of styles that were formed in separate cities and countries. Some of the dances have been standardised with internationally agreed techniques, rhythms and tempos. The dances generally fall into two categories - the International and American Style. The International Latin Style dances are often performed competitively due to its highly disciplined and technical traits. The dance styles in this category include the Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive. The Cha Cha, originally known as Cha Cha Cha, is one of the staples of international Latin dance competitions. The dance is characterized by three quick steps forward and two slower steps backwards - “one, two, cha-cha-cha, three, four, cha-cha-cha.” While maintaining minimal upper-torso movement, dancers sway their hips and straighten their knees on half beats. The slowest of the Latin dances is the Rumba. Considered to be the most romantic of the Latin dances, the Rumba emphasizes movement of the body rather than the feet and is full of emotion and interaction between partners. Each dancer tries to entice the other with side-to-side hip movements and twisted steps. Danced to a basic pattern of two quick side steps and a slow forward step, the Rumba is adaptable to many musical forms that accommodate a quick-quick-slow rhythm. In Brazil, Samba is a popular Latin dance at street festivals and celebrations like the Brazilian Carnival. Set to music with African rhythms, this joyful and lively dance is characterized by rapidly moving hips and quick transfers of weight. Although it is usually performed solo in the Brazilian culture, ballroom versions have been developed where partners dance with bounce and hip rolling motions. The fastest of the Latin dances is the Jive. This happy and extremely energetic dance incorporates plenty of knee-lifting, bending, kicking, flicking and rocking of the hips. Latin American dances are taught in academies all around the world. Through dancing, people of different ages and backgrounds can stay physically fit while building new friendships. Consistent dance practice brings numerous health and social benefits.

The cimbalom, an elaborate stringed instrument found mainly in the Central and Eastern European nations, belongs to the dulcimer family and is played by striking metal strings mounted over a trapezoidal soundboard. Associated with the music of the Hungarian Gypsies, the cimbalom is a symbol of Hungary as well as its national instrument. Cimbaloms come in varying sizes, tone groupings, and string a

Located in the Mediterranean Sea, about 160 kilometers south of the Greek mainland, Crete is endowed with mild temperatures, beautiful natural attractions, and an ancient history and culture. Its land mass is made up of varied terrain, ranging from fine-sand beaches at Elafonisi to the White Mountains. Mount Ida is the tallest peak in this range, and is home to the Ideon Cave, the birthplace of Zeus, according to Greek mythology. Crete consists of four regional units: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, and Lasithi. Two key landmarks in the capital city of Heraklion are the important Cretan monuments, the Knossos Palace built around 2,000 BC, home of King Minos and his mythical Labyrinth and the Phaistos Palace, built around 1,700 BC above the ruins of an older palace. The Old Town is known for its fairytale atmosphere, featuring the Koules Fortress and ancient defensive wall. The region of Chania on the western side of Crete, which contains the impressive White Mountains (“Lefka Ori” in Greek), has Samariá Gorge National Park occupying the largest part of its area and is home to the precious Cretan Wild Goat. Located between the White Mountains and Mount Psiloritis (also called “Ida”) is Crete’s smallest prefecture, Rethymno, which features gorgeous mountainscape, marvelous beaches, legendary caves, historic monasteries and monuments, traditional mountain villages, and mesmerizing Cretan lyra music. The Lasithi region is less mountainous and is located in the easternmost section of Crete. Key features of the region are the fabled palm tree forest of Vaï, the Gulf of Mirabello, the windmills on the Plateau of Lassithi, beaches with crystalline water, and beautiful cities. Cretans are nature lovers, so the island has many areas that are environmentally protected to preserve habitats and landscape diversity. Due to its amazing scenery, history, legends, local art and culture, Crete will impress you with its endless charms. We pray that the island will continue to develop and prosper in peace and harmony in God’s loving grace.

The Basque Country is a region covering southwest France and northwest Spain that the locals call Euskal Herria, or “Basque speaker.” It is believed that the Basques are descendants of Neolithic farmers who became separated from other European communities due to their geographical isolation. Their land features mountainous terrain, rocky landscapes, coastal lookouts and an abundance of beauty! The

Among the Austronesian peoples of the world, the Bunun aboriginal group of Taiwan (Formosa) lives at the northernmost and highest point on Earth. They are known as the patron saints of Yushan Mountain, the island's tallest mountain. They have an orally-based culture with no written language, and they are also the ethnic group with the most ceremonies among Taiwan (Formosa)'s aborigines. Today, we explore the Bunun’s legends and rituals. The Bunun’s grandest festival is the harvest celebration. The pasibubut (eight-part polyphony) sung at the festival is a world-renowned traditional musical art form. While expressing the group’s best wishes and gratefulness to Heaven, the key point is the singers’ harmony and the sincerity in their hearts, rather than the prayer’s lyrics. The statues at the gate of Tao-yuan Primary School in Taitung County’s Yanping Township are unique. They are of a red-billed black bulbul and toad. These humble animals are the superheroes of a Bunun legend. The Bunun believe that the red-billed black bulbul originally did not have a red beak, red feet, or a black body, and the toad did not exist. The bird's appearance changed, and the toad was created because of saving the Bunun people. All ceremonies are regarded as important events by the Bunun people. For any ceremony, there will be group singing and dancing, just as pasibutbut (eight-part polyphony) is sung to Heaven during the harvest festival. The Bunun plant a staple food called millet. When millet is harvested, they hold a Homeyaya (Millet Offering) and sing to express their gratitude to Heaven. This is a Homeyaya song that the Bunun elders performed for us. Next is a song by the children from the Bunun Tao-yuan Primary School Choir, and is sung especially for our viewers! The meaning of the song is to thank and pray to Heaven and the ancestral spirits for a healthy environment and giving the Bunun people peaceful days!

Today, we present some highlights of the Sámi culture, an indigenous culture present in the northernmost Nordic countries and the Kola Peninsula within the Murmansk Oblast of Russia. Traditionally, the bond between the Sámi and the natural land has been profound and sacred. They have historically lived their lives in accordance with nature. Deeply grounded in the understanding that from the earth comes life, the Sámi hold the view that all beings are threads in the same great fabric. Over history, they looked to nature for guidance and keenly observed symbols in everyday life such as cloud formations, changes in wind patterns and weather, and movements of animals. They watched for and learned from the rhythms of nature. To this day, the Sámi truly respect and cherish Mother Earth. The yoik also played an important role in shamanism. As a historically nomadic people, the Sámi preferred connection to the land over land ownership. Their kinship with nature was pure in the sense that they did not view land as something that could be divided and owned. They didn't erect fences or boundaries. Instead, their lifestyles focused on living in harmony with the natural spaces, using nature’s resources as wisely as possible, and respecting the earth's cycles. This deep respect continues to this day, and committed people of the Sámi culture have spoken out to remind humanity of the necessity to preserve our environment. We wish that the Sámi people continue to propagate their language and their cultural contributions like the yoik for the world to enjoy and celebrate. May we also take to heart their philosophy of treading lightly on our only planetary home.