What do you do when you have a question? These days most people turn to the Google search bar. But back in the 20th century, knowledgeable people were the search bars and libraries full of books were the internet. If you had a question in 1966, you could call your local librarian and ask them to point you in the direction of the best resource. The New York Public Library hotline was established in 1967, but even before that curious citizens called with queries. Many of these questions were recorded by the librarians, and they include some amusing and random insights into people's quests for information.

The questions are recorded on small cards like those that used to fill card catalogs. Typed on a typewriter or scrawled in loopy handwriting, the questions are sometimes notated alongside their answers. People asked a variety of things. In 1963, someone whose identity has been lost to history asked, “Any statistics on the life span of the abandoned woman?” One can only imagine the story behind the question. Other questions clearly were inspired by recent events. On May 27, 1947, a caller asked, “What does it mean when you dream you’re being chased by an elephant?” No answer is given on that card.

Other questions have a bit of a creepy undertone. On November 30, 1948, someone asked, “Where can I get all available statistics on volume of business, money involved, etc. in the sale of cadavers?” If the librarian asked follow up questions it was not recorded. In 1976, an art lover asked, “Why do 18th century English paintings have so many squirrels in them, and how did they tame them so that they wouldn't bite the painter?” One can only hope the librarian cautioned the caller about domesticating squirrels. Other questions are much more practical, like: “Off-hand, do you happen to know a really good book about having twins?”

Is the squirrel query a stupid question? “There are no stupid questions,” NYPL Librarian Rosa Caballero-Li says. “Everything is a teachable moment. We don't embarrass people; we try to answer any questions they have with honesty and we try to refer them to appropriate resources that they might find useful.” The NYPL still offers their ask-a-librarian call in service, which despite the existence of Google gets 30,000 questions a year. “We don't know everything,” Caballero-Li told NPR, “But we can always point you in the right direction.” To get those burning questions answered, about squirrels or anything else, call 917-275-6975 between 9 am and 6 pm EST on business days.

Before there was Google, people had to rely on their local library to have their questions answered.

If you had a question in 1966, you could call your local librarian and ask them to point you in the direction of the best resource.

The New York Public Library hotline was established in 1967, but even before that curious citizens called with queries.

Many of these questions were recorded by the librarians, and they include some amusing and random insights into people's quests for information.

The questions are recorded on small cards like those that used to fill card catalogs

People asked a variety of things.

“There are no stupid questions,” NYPL Librarian Rosa Caballero-Li says. “Everything is a teachable moment.”

“We don't embarrass people; we try to answer any questions they have with honesty and we try to refer them to appropriate resources that they might find useful.”

h/t: [Amusing Planet]

All images are courtesy of the New York Public Library.

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READ: Before Google, People Asked Public Librarians Their Questions

The time capsule discovered in the statue base. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

West Point is known as a prestigious military academy, producing many of the nation's generals since its founding in 1802. Known officially as the United States Military Academy, it can also count two American presidents among its alumni. Such a long history is sure to come with good and bad moments, and even a few surprises. Recently, renovations uncovered a box hidden in the base of a statue of a Revolutionary War hero. It turned out to be a time capsule that West Point later opened during an assembly with great fanfare. The interior did not yield treasures at first, only silt. However, after some sifting, six historic coins and an Erie Canal commemorative medal were uncovered.

The statue which yielded the time capsule is of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish immigrant. While not a West Point alum, he fought with the Continental Army during the Revolution. He died in 1817, and shortly afterward his statue was erected on the dime of admiring cadets. Its stone base was completed in 1828, although the column and statue atop was added in 1913. It is thought cadets tucked the time capsule into the base of the statue around 1828, and its existence remained unknown for almost 200 years. It is still unclear why the capsule was hidden in the first place.

The find greatly excited the university, which began to hype a ceremonial first opening to be filmed and presented on stage. Current students speculated what might be inside. However, when Paul Hudson, a West Point archaeologist, opened the box the waiting crowd received a disappointing news flash. “We don’t want to think that they went to all of this trouble to put this box in the monument and not put anything in it,” he said. But it required detailed lab work to eventually discover what else the box might held apart from the obvious pile of silt that may have once been something organic, such as paper.

Sifting carefully through the silt with wire, Hudson and his team found six silver early American coins. They date from 1795 to 1828. There was also a small medal from 1826 that commemorated the finishing of the Erie Canal's construction in 1825. A pivotal moment in United States history, the canal connected the great waterways of the northeast to produce thriving industrial centers across upstate New York and fill the bustling ports of New York City, down the Hudson River. The coins and the medals were clearly chosen for the time capsule for their meaning to the historic cadets. Brigadier general Shane Reeves, a dean, said in a statement, “There is no better opportunity to take a moment and be inspired by our Army and academy’s connection through time that is represented by that capsule and one of our nation’s true heroes.”

A 200-year-old time capsule found in a West Point statue turned out to be full of silt and surprises.

A historic coin found in the silt inside the time capsule. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

Eventually, six coins from the late 18th and early 19th centuries emerged, along with a medal.

The statue of Thaddeus Kościuszko. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

The dedication to the Revolutionary War
hero. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

All images via United States Military Academy.

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Over the last few years, we've heard about mind-boggling finds in thrift stores and estate sales. The tale always features someone spotting an unassuming work of art, taking it home, only to then realize it is worth much more than what they originally paid for it. As thrilling as those stories are, none come close to the 14th-century portolan chart that is now under the care of Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. Not only did it turn out to be significantly older and more valuable than originally thought, but it was also a museum-ready piece that can offer revolutionary insight into the history of maps.

“Portolan charts represent the birth of mapmaking as a modern person would understand it; that is, an attempt to visually represent geography with primary attention paid to spatial accuracy,” map dealer Alex Clausen, who spotted the map at an estate sale for Ann and Gordon Getty, tells My Modern Met. Thought to have been created around 1500 and 1525, Clausen and his team paid $239,000 for the map at a Christie's auction.

As for the valuation of the antique, there were some hints that pointed to the map being significantly older than its listing information indicated. “The chart had some obvious idiosyncrasies that made the date ascribed by the auction house very unlikely, if not impossible,” explains Clausen. “The first was the Muslim flag at Granada in southern Spain. This made it very likely that the chart was from before 1493. As we got better images, we saw more and more details that pushed the chart back earlier and earlier.”

To get to the bottom of this, Clausen and the team at Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps devoted hundreds of hours to unravel each element on the map. “The primary challenge was that we ended up in an era (the 14th century) where there is little in the way of cartographic context. There are only three earlier charts of this scope, in the decades after our chart was completed, there were similarly few charts. This makes comparison and contrast more difficult than if we were dealing with dozens or hundreds of maps.”

By the end of the journey, the team concluded that the map actually dated to 1360. “This is the fourth-oldest such chart, and it belongs to a unique and previously unstudied lineage of charts,” Clausen notes. “As such, it provides a revelatory window on the earliest modern mapmaking.” The portolan chart's estimated worth is now $7.5 million.

For all the ancient maps that they have come across, a portolan chart of such antiquity was something out of their wildest dreams. “We had long understood that it was possible that, in our careers, we would handle portolan charts from the 16th century, and, if we were very lucky, we might handle one from the 15th century,” shares Clausen. “Barry and I knew that handling a complete 14th-century chart was out of the question for modern map dealers. Such maps did not even appear in commerce 100-200 years ago when antiquarian treasures were somewhat more common, so, in the 21st century, there was little point in hoping to own such a thing. When we confidently established the chart's age, it was in many ways the culmination of our careers and our lifetime passions.”

But that's not the end of the road. Not only is the map unique, but, according to Clausen, it seems to sit outside of any previously known schools of mapmaking. Any one of the data points might influence future research. As such, their hope is for it to be further studied, and then shared with the world. “We intend to sell the chart to a suitable buyer,” Clausen shares. “We hope it goes to an institution or private collection where it will be available to scholars for further study and to the general public for appreciation.”

Map dealer Alex Clausen spotted an antique map known as a portolan chart during an estate sale. Thought to have been created around 1500 and 1525, Clausen and his team paid $239,000 for the map at a Christie's auction.

However, Clausen explains, “The chart had some obvious idiosyncrasies that made the date ascribed by the auction house very unlikely, if not impossible.”

The Portolan Chart on display at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair. (Photo: Alex Clausen)

After hundreds of hours of research, the team concluded that the map actually dated to 1360. The portolan chart's estimated worth is now $7.5 million.

Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc., except where noted. All images of the Portolan were captured by the BLR Maps Imaging Team through a series of 600 dpi scans, stitched raking-light photography and stitched photo-microscopy.

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READ: Antique Map Acquired at Estate Sale Turns Out to Be an Extremely Rare 14th-Century Portolan Chart

Waterfall in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. (Photo: G.R. Vande weghe via UNESCO (CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO)

This year, UNESCO has added 42 new sites to the UNESCO World Heritage list, bringing the total up to 1,199 landmarks across 168 countries. Selected for their historical or cultural significance, these sites will now benefit from the highest level of cultural protection, as well as access to financial assistance from UNESCO.

2023's selections include 33 cultural sites and nine natural sites. Thanks to five new inscribed sites, Africa has now passed a milestone. The continent is now home to 100 World Heritage Sites, and countries like Rwanda saw themselves added to the list for the first time. With the inclusion of Nyungwe National Park and the genocide memorial sites at Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi, and Bisesero, the East African nation has two sites inscribed on the list.

In addition to adding new during its session, the World Heritage Committee also makes close evaluations of all World Heritage monuments to ensure their preservation. Following an ambitious restoration project, Uganda's Tombs of the Buganda Kings at Kasubi was removed from the World Heritage in Danger list. Unfortunately, two sites in Ukraine—Saint Sophia's Cathedral and complex of monastic and Lavra buildings in Kyiv-Pechersk and the ensemble of the historic center in Lviv—were added to the list due to the risk of shelling. Inclusion in the list will open the doors to critical technical and financial support for these sites at risk.

Check out some of the incredible sites added to this year's list and explore the full list on UNESCO's website.

Here are 6 of the 42 exceptional sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Gaya Tumuli (Republic of Korea)

Gaya Tumuli, Republic of Korea (Photo: Seo Heun Kang via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

This serial property includes archaeological cemetery sites with burial mounds attributed to the Gaya Confederacy, which developed in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula from the 1st to the 6th century CE. Through their geographical distribution and landscape characteristics, types of burials, and grave goods, the cemeteries attest to the distinctive Gaya political system in which polities existed as autonomous political equals while sharing cultural commonalities. The introduction of new forms of tombs and the intensification of the spatial hierarchy in the tumuli sites reflect the structural changes experienced by Gaya society during its history. (Description via UNESCO)

The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments (Thailand)

The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments, Thailand (Photo: The Fine Arts Department via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

This massive complex includes an Inner and Outer Town surrounded by moats, the massive Khao Klang Nok ancient monument, and the Khao Thamorrat Cave ancient monument. Together these sites represent the architecture, artistic traditions and religious diversity of the Dvaravati Empire that thrived in Central Thailand from the 6th to the 10th centuries, demonstrating the influences from India. The local adaptation of these traditions resulted in a distinctive artistic tradition known as the Si Thep School of Art which later influenced other civilizations in Southeast Asia. (Description via UNESCO)

Winter Deserts of Turan (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)

Cold Winter Deserts of Turan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Photo: O. Kugaev via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

This transnational property comprises fourteen component parts found across arid areas of Central Asia’s temperate zone between the Caspian Sea and the Turanian high mountains. The area is subject to extreme climatic conditions with very cold winters and hot summers and boasts an exceptionally diverse flora and fauna that has adapted to the harsh conditions. The property also represents a considerable diversity of desert ecosystems, spanning a distance of more than 1,500 kilometers from East to West. Each of the component parts complements the others in terms of biodiversity, desert types, and ongoing ecological processes.
(Description via UNESCO)

National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj (Guatemala)

National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj, Guatemala (Photo: National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

Tak’alik Ab’aj is an archaeological site located on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Its 1,700-year history spans a period that saw the transition from the Olmec civilization to the emergence of Early Mayan culture. Tak’alik Ab’aj had a primary role in this transition, in part because it was vital to the long-distance trade route that connected the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in today's Mexico to present-day El Salvador. Ideas and customs were shared extensively along this route. Sacred spaces and buildings were laid out according to cosmological principles, and innovative water management systems, ceramics, and lapidary art can be found. Today, Indigenous groups of different affiliations still consider the site a sacred place and visit it to perform rituals.
(Description via UNESCO)

 Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker (Netherlands)

Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker, Netherlands. (Photo: Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

Built between 1774 and 1781, this property is a moving mechanical scale model of the solar system as it was known at the time. Conceived and built by an ordinary citizen—the wool manufacturer Eise Eisinga—the model is built into the ceiling and south wall of the former living room/bedroom of its creator. Powered by one single pendulum clock, it provides a realistic image of the positions of the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, and five other planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The planets revolve around the Sun in real-time, and the distance between the planets is at scale. The model fills the entire ceiling of the room, making it one of the earliest predecessors of the ceiling and projection planetariums of the 20th and 21st centuries.
(Description via UNESCO)

Anticosti (Canada)

Anticosti, Canada (Photo: Pierre Bertrand/© Municipalité (MIA) via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

Situated on the island of Anticosti, the largest island in Quebec, this property is the most complete and best preserved paleontological record of the first mass extinction of animal life, 447-437 million years ago. It contains the best preserved fossil record of marine life, covering 10 million years of Earth's history. The abundance, diversity, and exquisite preservation of the fossils are exceptional and allow for world-class scientific work. Thousands of large bedding surfaces allow the observation and study of shell and sometimes soft-bodied animals that lived on the shallow sea floor of an ancient tropical sea.
(Description via UNESCO)

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Most students study at least one other language in school. While most learn French or Spanish—popular languages that are commonly spoken today—some may choose to study a “dead language” like Latin. Learning an ancient language, however, can be a strange endeavor for many people, since in many cases, it is unclear what the pronunciation was for words. Well, a YouTube channel called Equator AI seeks to demystify history by using AI to bring ancient languages to life.

Their videos feature artificially created portraits of people dressed in the clothing from different eras who recite ancient texts in the most likely pronunciation. While it is hard to be completely certain about how some of these languages were spoken, the clips do help these distant cultures feel much more real. In addition to Latin and Ancient Greek, their videos include Old English, Akkadian, Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian, Phoenician, and Etruscan.

One of their videos displays the written text that the AI characters are reading on one side of the screen, so those who are familiar with the written version (or people who are curious about the written text) can follow along. People in the comments were quick to point out the familiarity between some ancient languages and their modern descendant. “The [ancient] Greek at the end is actually quite easy to understand. He speaks to us from almost two thousand years ago, and still sounds like someone we met today,” comments one person. Another writes, “Latin sounds really cool the way it is pronounced here as a Proto-Italic language. At school we learned and spoke it not so rhythmically, stiffer.”

However, not all of the ancient languages sound so familiar. Old English—which some might expect to be easier to understand—sounds dramatically different to what is spoken today. One of the reasons for this startling change is the Great Vowel Shift, which took place between 1400 and 1700. During this time, English speakers altered the pronunciation of their long vowels as well as some consonant sounds.

Scroll down to see more educational videos, and be sure to subscribe to Equator AI's YouTube channel for more.

YouTube channel Equator AI brings ancient languages to life using artificial intelligence.

Latin, Ancient Greek, Old English, and many other languages are spoken in these fascinating videos.

Equator AI: YouTube
h/t: [IFL Science]

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Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

When photography was still in its infancy, an Italian recorded what some of Iran's most spectacular sights in rare daguerreotypes. Luigi Pesce, a colonel from Italy, traveled to Iran to train infantry units in 1848. While there, his enthusiasm for photography led him to travel across the country and capture what he saw.

There are a total of 75 photographs in this rare collection, most of which were taken in the 1850s. These images depict everything from architecture and monuments in Iran, including Persepolis, Pasargadae, and Naqshe-e Rustam, as well as everyday life and people during this period. Although there was another photographer who traveled to Iran beforehand to do the same thing, those images didn't survive, so Pesce's collection remains the earliest photographic example of Iran.

Pesce compiled all of his photos into a book and gave one copy to the Shah Qajar Naser al-Din—who was himself, a fan of the new medium—on April 29, 1858. Later, a second copy of the collection was presented to Prince William I, King of Prussia, which would later be donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In addition to providing unique glimpses of 19th-century life in Iran, there are also portraits of the Shah himself during the early years of his reign.

Scroll down to browse more of these fantastic snapshots of history.

In 1848, Italian colonel Luigi Pesce traveled to Iran to train infantry units.

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

While he was there, he took photos of local Iranian monuments.

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Pesce is believed to be the first photographer to successfully capture Persepolis, Pasargadae, and Naqsh-e Rustam.

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Pesce took 75 photos altogether and gave them to the Shah Qajar Naser al-Din Shah on April 29, 1858.

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Pesce gave another copy to Prince William I, King of Prussia.

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

These photos now have a historical value of what Iran looked like during the 19th century.

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

Luigi Pesce, Photo of Iran, 1850s-1860s (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via Google Arts & Culture, Public domain)

The full collection of photographs is compiled in this video:

h/t: [Open Culture]

All images via Google Arts & Culture.

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Throughout history, cultures across the globe have adopted creative ways to deal with death. In ancient China, they crafted funerary sculptures to fill complex mausoleums. During the Dutch Golden Age, artists touched on mortality in their memento mori still life paintings. And, in modern Mexico, people celebrate Día de los Muertos, a colorful holiday dedicated to the dearly departed.

Though this festival has evolved over centuries, it remains one of Mexico's most historically and culturally important events. Here, we explore the vibrant history and distinctive traditions of the Day of the Dead in order to understand its enduring significance.

What is Día de los Muertos?

Photo: Stock Photos from Jose de Jesus Churion Del/Shutterstock)

Día de los Muertos (also known as Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday. The celebration occurs annually on October 31, November 1, and November 2, and is held to honor those who have died.

Specifically, the term Día de los Muertos traditionally refers to November 2, when deceased adults are commemorated. November 1—a day known as Día de los Inocentes (“Day of the Innocents”) or Día de los Angelitos (“Day of the Little Angels”)—is reserved for infants and children who have passed away, while October 31 is a day of preparation. However, “Día de los Muertos” is also commonly used to denote the entire three-day fete.

Though the specific traditions and rituals involved with the Day of the Dead vary from region to region, the celebration generally revolves around the creation of an altar, which participants fill with stylized skeletons, food, and other offerings. These altars are dedicated to deceased loved ones and are created to aid them in the afterlife—a concept that has always been central to the holiday.

History of the Holiday

Pre-Columbian Roots

Photo: Stock Photos from Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock

Like many modern holidays, The Day of the Dead has been shaped over the course of hundreds of years. Rites and rituals reminiscent of The Day of the Dead can be traced back to the Post-Classic period (1300 to 1521) in Pre-Columbian Mexico. During this time, the Aztec Empire flourished, bringing with it a treasure trove of traditions.

Like many Mesoamerican peoples, the Aztecs viewed grief as disrespectful to the dead. Rather than mourn the loss of loved ones, they opted to celebrate their spirits, culminating in the earliest edition of the Day of the Dead.

During this month-long festival, the Aztecs welcomed visits from beyond the grave and worshipped Mictēcacihuātl, the goddess of the underworld. Fittingly, this mythological figure has historically been known as “The Lady of the Dead.”

Mictēcacihuātl depicted on the Codex Borgia manuscript (Photo: Wiki Art, Public domain)

Originally, this celebration occurred in August, the ninth month of the Aztec calendar. However, Catholic influences brought by conquistadors in the 16th century prompted a shift to its present date.

Catholic Influences

Jakub Schikaneder, “All Souls' Day,” 1888 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Following Spanish colonization, the Day of the Dead was gradually influenced by another holiday honoring those who have died: Allhallowtide. Inspired by Pagan harvest festivities, this three-day fete comprises All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween, on October 31, All Saints' Day on November 1, and All Souls' Day on November 2.

This Catholic influence altered the religious aspect of the festival, though it remains rooted in Aztec mythology. For example, La Calavera Catrina—a secular female skeleton character that has come to symbolize Día de los Muertos—was inspired by Mictēcacihuātl.

José Guadalupe Posada, “Calavera de la Catrina (Skull of the Female Dandy),” 1913 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Ultimately, a blend of Catholic and Pre-Columbian influences is evident in the festival and is made most prominent by the ofrenda.

The Ofrenda

On the Day of the Dead, an ofrenda, or offering, is placed on a ritual altar. Central to the celebration, these altars are found in private homes, cemeteries, and churches and welcome the dead back to earth for the three-day event.

Though often compared to Halloween, the Day of the Dead does not revolve around mischief or morbidity. Instead, it focuses on celebrating the dead—an aesthetic illustrated by its festive decorations, spirited food and drink, respectful photographs, symbolic candles, and thoughtful trinkets.

Decorations

Photo: Stock Photos from Fer Gregory/Shutterstock

Decorations are intended to honor those who have passed in a jubilant way. To achieve this, they often dazzle with bright colors and incorporate playful skull motifs.

Papel Picado

Made out of Technicolor tissue paper, papel picado (or “chiseled paper“) is a flag-like folk art that evolved from a Pre-Columbian version made out of tree bark, which was used by the Aztecs to compile codices and adorn religious sites.

Cempasúchil

Ofrendas also often feature freshly cut Cempasúchil, bright orange and yellow marigolds intended to cheer up the dead with their brilliant colors and sweet scent.

Sugar skulls

Colorful skulls made of molded sugar paste (known as calaveras) are another staple of Day of the Dead decor. These small skulls are exquisitely decorated with motifs like flowers and spiderwebs and often feature names of the dead written in foil or icing on their foreheads. Some calaveras feature inedible adornments, like beads, sequins, and feathers, while others are made to be eaten.

Calaverita

Another celebratory event that transpires on Day of the Dead is the hunt for a calaverita. On November 1, Children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door, asking strangers for a calaverita, which can come in the form of sweets or money. Though compared to Halloween, this tradition does not come with the element of mischief if no treat is exchanged.

Food and Drink

A Day of the Dead altar is typically covered in edible offerings, including the favorite foods enjoyed by the deceased person in their previous life. Additionally, most ofrendas will also include pan de muerto and spirited drinks.

Pan de Muerto

This “bread of the dead” is a type of sweet roll. It is adorned with bone-like decorations and is typically flavored with anise seeds and orange zest. Like other offerings of food, it is believed that the visiting spirits absorb and enjoy the essence of the Pan de Muerto, though it is the living who physically consume it.

Spirited Drinks

To help the spirits relax and enjoy the festivities, people will often offer alcoholic beverages like Tequila, Mezcal, and Pulque, a drink made out of fermented agave sap.

Pulque (Photo: Stock Photos from Natalia Gurieva/Shutterstock)

Photographs

Most altars feature photographs that identify who each ofrenda is dedicated to. Though often a family member, the subject can be a friend, celebrity, or even a beloved pet.

Candles

Candles are used to memorialize the dead and, symbolically, to help them find their way to the altar. Sometimes, they are placed in a cross formation, both to evoke the crucifix and to serve as a compass rose so they can orient themselves. Other times, however, their arrangement is ambiguous.

Trinkets, Toys, and Other Objects

Day of the Dead in Michoacan, Mexico (Photo: Stock Photos from DAVID PANIAGUA GUERRA/Shutterstock)

To add a personal touch to the altar, participants may add objects owned or previously enjoyed by the dead, including clothing, cigarettes, and toys. Statuettes of saints and other religious figures are popular, as are papier–mâché and clay figurines of skeletons.

Literary Calaveras

During the festivities, death is regarded with humor by Mexicans, and literary calaveras are the prime example of this. These mocking epitaphs are written in verse, and it's common for children to compose them or to find them in the press. But rather than honor a deceased person, they tell the story of a live person encountering the grim reaper. In the end, the protagonist always meets their demise in a farcical fashion, which usually has to do with something specific to their lifestyle.

Día de los Muertos Today

The Day of the Dead remains prevalent in contemporary culture—both in Mexico and beyond. In addition to making alters and attending city-wide festivals, people today often celebrate Día de los Muertos by making themselves up to look like Calaveras, a look that has also inspired countless Halloween costumes.

In 2008, the holiday was even added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, ensuring its enchanting legacy for years to come and drawing attention to its native roots. “This encounter between the living and the dead,” UNESCO explains, “affirms the role of the individual within society and contributes to reinforcing the political and social status of Mexico’s Indigenous communities.”

Disney Pixar's Coco

In 2017, Disney Pixar released an animated feature titled Coco that celebrates the Day of the Dead. Rolling Stone‘s Peter Travers called the film a “loving tribute to Mexican culture.” This vibrant feature-length film includes various traditions, drawing from different practices of the festival. Some recognizable cultural and artistic elements include calaveras, ofrendas, and alebrijes.

This animated film provided a platform for Día de Muertos to a global audience. This, alone, has had an immeasurable impact on the world. The film was positively received by critics and audiences alike. In fact, Coco became the highest-grossing film of all time in the Mexican market.

Day of the Dead Parade

Every year, in the last weekend of October, Mexico City hosts a large parade to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Thousands of performers dress up as catrinas and catrines, who dance and carry cheerful papier-mâché skeletons. The colorful parade also pays tribute to the many facets of Mexican culture, from its Pre-Columbian legacy to artists such as Frida Kahlo.

While this cavalcade certainly honors a centuries-old tradition, its inception is quite recent—its origins lie in a Hollywood film. The James Bond movie Spectre (2015) shows the famed agent saving the day at a big Dia de Muertos festival in Mexico City. Although it only existed in the film, the local government was drawn to the idea of having parades like the one shown in the movie, leading to what has now become a holiday staple in the Mexican capital.

Photo: diegograndi/Depositphotos

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Day of the Dead?

The Day of the Dead is spread across three days—October 31, November 1, and November 2. Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) traditionally refers to November 2, when deceased adults are commemorated. November 1 is a day known as Día de los Inocentes (“Day of the Innocents”) or Día de los Angelitos (“Day of the Little Angels”), which is reserved for infants or children who have passed away, whereas October 31 is a day of preparation.

What is the Day of the Dead?

The Day of the Dead (or Día de Muertos in Spanish) is a Mexican holiday dedicated to those who have died.

How is the Day of the Dead celebrated?

The Day of the Dead does not revolve around mischief or morbidity. Instead, it focuses on celebrating the dead—an aesthetic illustrated by its festive decorations, spirited food and drink, respectful photographs, symbolic candles, and thoughtful trinkets.

This article has been edited and updated.

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Photo: stoyanh/Depositphotos

Many of the dishes we enjoy today are the result of age-old recipes being passed down from generation to generation. But there’s one place in Spain where you can sit and enjoy traditional plates in the same locale that has been serving patrons for nearly 300 years. Sobrino de Botín, in Madrid, is considered the oldest restaurant in the world by the Guinness World Records.

Not only has it been continually in service since the 18th century, but its oven has been kept hot even during the Spanish Civil War and the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, the building that houses Sobrino de Botín is even older—dating back to 1590. Today, the restaurant occupies four stories and can only be accessed through one wooden door. It employs 70 people and can seat up to 200 patrons.

This famed inn was founded by a French chef named Jean Botin in 1725 under the name Casa Botín. Since he and his wife didn't have children, the restaurant was inherited by one of his nephews in 1753. That was when it was renamed to Sobrino de Botín, referencing the new management—and has kept that name ever since. The restaurant changed owners once again in the 20th century when it was purchased by the González family, who continue to operate it to this day.

On top of its long history, Sobrino de Botín is also known for serving delicious Castilian cuisine, especially its world-famous roast suckling pigs with potatoes and Spanish ham on the side.

With so many years in the business, it has borne witness to many historical events and many figures have walked through its doors. For example, Francisco de Goya worked in its kitchen before becoming a painter. During the 20th century, Ernest Hemingway visited the restaurant frequently, and even mentioned it in his book The Sun Also Rises (1926). Of course, its delicacies continue to conquer modern palates—making Botín, as it is known by the locals, a Madrid staple.

If you find yourself in the Spanish capital, you can reserve a table here. To learn more about their menu and history, visit their website.

Sobrino de Botín, in Madrid, is considered the oldest restaurant in the world by the Guinness World Records.

(Photo: ©PromoMadrid, author Max Alexander via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Not only has it been continually in service since 1725, but its oven has been kept hot ever since, even during the Spanish Civil War and the Coronavirus Pandemic.

(Photo: DIMSFIKAS via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Sobrino de Botín: Website
h/t: [Mental Floss]

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One of two photographs in existence of the US Supreme Court in session. Cameras are forbidden in the Supreme Court, but this photograph was taken by a young woman who concealed her small camera in her handbag, cutting a hole through which the lens peeped, 1937.
byu/broomshed inDamnthatsinteresting

As a rule, cameras are not allowed in the courtroom when the U.S. Supreme Court is in session. One would think that this has become harder to enforce over time, considering that everyone has a camera on their phone these days. However, amazingly, there are only three publicly known photographs. Even more baffling is that the few people who have managed to get away with a forbidden photograph of the Supreme Court in session did so in the 1930s—and the stories of how they got those images speak to the creativity and ability of the photographers.

In 1937, an anonymous woman concealed a small camera in her handbag. To do so, she cut a hole through the fabric, allowing the lens to pop out like an ornament. Then, to get the perfect shot without using the camera finder—after all, it was inside the purse—she practiced shooting at hip level. The result was the first picture of all nine members of the Court in session. The image went on to be published on Time. Since photography was banned, the magazine did not identify the daring photographer by name.

There was, however, an earlier photograph of the Court in session, which also required some cleverness from the photographer. The first known image of the Supreme Court in session was taken by Erich Salomon, a German photojournalist. He first requested to photograph the session, but was denied permission. Afterward, Salomon took matters into his own hands and used an arm sling to hide his camera when he visited the court in 1932. His daring action prompted an official ban on images taken during court sessions.

According to Judicature, published by the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School, there is a third image, also taken in 1937 at the start of the term. It was published on the front page of the New York’s Daily News, but there is no information on the photographer or how they were able to avoid being caught.

Although the Supreme Court has maintained a ban on photography, it does make audiotapes of oral arguments and opinions available to the public. While some countries broadcast the sessions of their Supreme Courts— Brazil and Mexico are two such examples—others have much more limited access, like the UK, where court drawings are not allowed in session and are done based on notes and memory afterward. Ultimately, the daring photographers who have snuck their way into the U.S. Supreme Court show how interested people are in what happens during these sessions.

As a rule, cameras are not allowed in the courtroom when the U.S. Supreme Court is in session. However, there are three publicly known photographs taken by sneaky photographers in the 1930s.

Dr. Erich Salomon faked a broken arm so he could hide a camera in his cast to photograph the US Supreme Court – 1932 [1170×809]
byu/rockystl inHistoryPorn

h/t: [Reddit]

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Photo: Legacy Center Archives, Drexel College of Medicine.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, about 36.3% of active physicians in the U.S. are women. And while this number is far from ideal parity, it still means that we’ve come a long way—and all thanks to trailblazers who defied social roles and pursued a medical degree in the early days of modern medicine. Drexel University College of Medicine recently uncovered a historical 19th-century picture featuring the first licensed women doctors of India, Japan, and Syria, seated together.

The picture, taken in October 1885, includes Anandibai Joshee, from India, Kei Okami, from Japan, and Sabat Islambooly, from Syria. They were the first women in their respective countries to get a medical degree in Western medicine. Each of them is wearing traditional dresses from their respective countries as they pose for a picture together—an image that almost feels ahead of its time.

They attended Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP), one of the world’s first medical schools for women, which was founded by Elizabeth Blackwell, who was also the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. The school was known for welcoming African-American women when slavery was still legal in America as well as foreign students, something that wasn’t common at the time.

Their individual stories are as fascinating as their shared ones. Joshee, who would graduate in 1886, decided to pursue a medical degree after losing her infant child when she was just 14. When she completed schooling, Queen Victoria herself sent Joshee a letter to congratulate her on the accomplishment. Unfortunately, she didn’t get a chance to practice medicine as she died of tuberculosis at age 22, only a year after graduation.

As for Okami, class of 1889, she went on to work at a Tokyo hospital, eventually becoming the head of gynecology. However, following a fallout with the emperor, who refused to meet with her due to her gender, she went to work as a private practitioner for about 20 years. Later in life, she served as the vice-principal of Shoei Girl’s school, where she established a school of nursing, before retiring due to breast cancer.

While not much is known about Islambooly aside from her graduation date in 1890 the shared goals of these trailblazers speak to a legacy of equality and inclusion; especially given their diverse backgrounds. It’s because of pioneers like them that we see modern women thriving in the field of medicine, and we can dream of a more equitable future.

h/t: [Peta Pixel]

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