Month: December 2005
Pulse of the Planet Daily Audio
Hogmanay: Biggest Day of the Year
Scottish culture preserves New Year’s Day as the most important family holiday.
December 29, 2005Hogmanay
According to Scottish legend, visitors to your door on the night of Hogamanay, will determine your luck for the New Year.
December 28, 2005Dark Park – Swiftlets (Underground River)
These cave-dwelling birds find their way in the dark, and manufacture nests that are considered culinary delights by many cultures.
December 27, 2005Skating Canal: Winter Beauty
The Rideau Canal in Ottawa offers skating enthusiasts miles to glide while enjoying the beauty of winter.
December 26, 2005Skating Canal: Winter Tradition
A skating canal in Ontario has become a national symbol of winter in Canada.
December 23, 2005Christmas: History
Believe it or not, there was a time when the singing of Christmas Carols could land you in jail.
December 22, 2005Christmas: Trees & Mistletoe
Some of our most enduring Christmas traditions may date back to the days before that holiday even existed.
December 21, 2005Bee Powerline Habitat – Native Bees
With honeybees endangered, it’s native bees to the rescue!
December 20, 2005Jonkonnu: Safety Valve
In the early 1800’s, letting off steam at the annual Jonkonnu celebrations may have been a social safety valve.
December 19, 2005Jonkonnu: Reconstructing
A widely celebrated event during the 1800’s inspired historians and local residents of eastern North Carolina to reconstruct its spectacle.
December 16, 2005Jonkonnu: Kome
Revelers of the Jonkonnu masquerade sing and dance through neighborhoods, visiting homes where their pageantry might be favored with a gift of money.
December 15, 2005Jonkonnu: Origins
In North Carolina, the festival of Jonkonnu is celebrated with influences from West Africa, England, and the Caribbean.
December 14, 2005Bee Powerline Habitat – Junk Land
The land beneath powerlines is a prime spot for native bees to thrive.
December 13, 2005Santa Lucia: Waking Up
Serving sweet bread and wearing a crown of candles, young Swedish girls represent Saint Lucia in an early morning ritual.
December 12, 2005Santa Lucia: History
The ancient legends of Santa Lucia are still embraced by the Swedish culture, with rituals of light in the darkness of winter.
December 9, 2005Bee Powerline Habitat: Conserving Bugs
Beetles need a place to live, too!
December 8, 2005Dark Park: Welcome (Underground River)
You are entering a land of talking birds and underground rivers.
December 7, 2005Bee Powerline Habitat: Parasites
Forget about the hive: some bees are downright anti-social!
December 6, 2005Virus Hunters: Mice & El Nino
Beware of rodents and bad weather!
December 5, 2005Virus Hunters: Species Loss
Losing biodiversity may be hazardous to our health.
December 2, 2005Patagonia Penguins: Raising Chicks
For Patagonian penguins, parenting requires manic intensity to insure survival of their chicks.
December 1, 2005Patagonia Penguins: Adapting to Survive
Penguins have adapted to the harsh conditions of Patagonia where they flourish as adept ocean dwellers.