December 30, 2005

Hogmanay: Biggest Day of the Year

Scottish culture preserves New Year’s Day as the most important family holiday.

December 29, 2005

Hogmanay

According to Scottish legend, visitors to your door on the night of Hogamanay, will determine your luck for the New Year.

December 28, 2005

Dark 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, 2005

Skating Canal: Winter Beauty

The Rideau Canal in Ottawa offers skating enthusiasts miles to glide while enjoying the beauty of winter.

December 26, 2005

Skating Canal: Winter Tradition

A skating canal in Ontario has become a national symbol of winter in Canada.

December 23, 2005

Christmas: History

Believe it or not, there was a time when the singing of Christmas Carols could land you in jail.

December 22, 2005

Christmas: Trees & Mistletoe

Some of our most enduring Christmas traditions may date back to the days before that holiday even existed.

December 21, 2005

Bee Powerline Habitat – Native Bees

With honeybees endangered, it’s native bees to the rescue!

December 20, 2005

Jonkonnu: Safety Valve

In the early 1800’s, letting off steam at the annual Jonkonnu celebrations may have been a social safety valve.

December 19, 2005

Jonkonnu: Reconstructing

A widely celebrated event during the 1800’s inspired historians and local residents of eastern North Carolina to reconstruct its spectacle.

December 16, 2005

Jonkonnu: 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, 2005

Jonkonnu: Origins

In North Carolina, the festival of Jonkonnu is celebrated with influences from West Africa, England, and the Caribbean.

December 14, 2005

Bee Powerline Habitat – Junk Land

The land beneath powerlines is a prime spot for native bees to thrive.

December 13, 2005

Santa 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, 2005

Santa 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, 2005

Bee Powerline Habitat: Conserving Bugs

Beetles need a place to live, too!

December 8, 2005

Dark Park: Welcome (Underground River)

You are entering a land of talking birds and underground rivers.

December 7, 2005

Bee Powerline Habitat: Parasites

Forget about the hive: some bees are downright anti-social!

December 6, 2005

Virus Hunters: Mice & El Nino

Beware of rodents and bad weather!

December 5, 2005

Virus Hunters: Species Loss

Losing biodiversity may be hazardous to our health.

December 2, 2005

Patagonia Penguins: Raising Chicks

For Patagonian penguins, parenting requires manic intensity to insure survival of their chicks.

December 1, 2005

Patagonia Penguins: Adapting to Survive

Penguins have adapted to the harsh conditions of Patagonia where they flourish as adept ocean dwellers.