Barmbrack is an Irish fruit bread that’s served for Halloween and for Samhain, a similar holiday celebrated on November 1st. Barmbrack has traditionally been cooked with objects inside that are used for “fortune-telling”.  Below are some objects used.  Whoever receives the slice with that object is supposed to have the corresponding fortune in the upcoming...

My friend Maria Hayda, who has family from Ukraine, wrote: “Lisa, pussy willow is what we use for our Easters :) since Eastern Europe is unable to grow palm trees… My Grandmother had a huge bouquet she saved thru the decades. Now I’ve started my own bouquet.” According to Wikipedia, “The flowering shoots of pussy willow...

Maryam wrote from Iran explaining about the Persian tradition of “divination” by consulting the Oracle of Shiraz Hafiz for guidance.  Divination is a way to find out an answer to a question you have about your future (will you marry the one you love, will you get that job, etc.) To understand about the “Oracle of...

There are traditional Filipino Catholic wedding customs that involve candles, coins, a veil and cord.  Here’s what each means… The Candles – The lighting of the candles usually takes place at the beginning of the ceremony.  One person from each side of the family lights a candle symbolizing God’s presence at the union.  Sometimes the couple...

Let happiness the guarded treasure be of the mind’s padlock, and true love be key. -from The Padlock (circa 1788) Love Padlocks can bee seen throughout much of Europe and other places around the world like Taiwan.  Peter wrote, "Couples put their names on a lock and then lock them onto some...

Ayako wrote to me from Japan about some origami cranes she got at when donating at a charity for the tsunami victims in Japan… "This is our traditional crane, made by origami… it’s a symbol of hope for peace in the world.  I got it at the charity show to pray for Japan.  It’s our sign...