November 23, 2021

Revitalizing a Lost Language Pre-dating Shakespeare by some 200 years, the Ordinalia is an epic cycle of three, 14th-century religious mystery plays originally written in Cornish—or Kernewek, as it is known in Cornish—the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall. Branded heretical and banned by the English-speaking monarchy in the 1500s, the Ordinalia disappeared from stages as the Cornish language slowly died out. But the 20th century saw a resurging interest in Cornish, and since 2009, UNESCO has categorized Cornish as “endangered,” rather than “extinct.” The 2021 production of the Ordinalia was the third full performance of the plays since 1969, more evidence of the revival of a marginalized Celtic culture and the once-dead language of Cornwall.  READ MORE → OUTER HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND West Berneray Beach When picturing the landscape of Scotland, most people probably think of the rolling green hills of the Highlands. But Scotland also has plenty of beaches, boasting fine, white sand and clear blue or turquoise waters that draw comparisons to tropical destinations. Nowhere is this clearer than on the island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides, where one of its beaches once mistakenly featured on one of Thailand’s tourism board websites. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Monster of the Month: Swamp Ape Join author Colin Dickey as he uncovers the mysteries of Florida's most famous resident. The strange Swamp Ape has lurked for years in a landscape already known for its fearsome and strange creatures. As the weather gets cold up north, let's head over to the Sunshine State and try to shed some light on this swampy denizen. GET TICKETS → GASTRO OBSCURA Hell Banquets In March 1519, guests arrived at Lorenzo di Filippo Strozzi’s home in Rome to attend the banker’s lavish Carnival feast. It’s safe to say that they expected decadent spreads of wine, meat, and sweets. Instead, the table held a giant skull surrounded by bones. It was eventually revealed that the skull and bones were filled with roast pheasant and sausages, but it’s safe to say that Strozzi’s guests were terrified. While alarming, this scene wasn’t the only banquet of its kind—it was a kind of “black or hell banquet”, where the settings were “designed to evoke funeral services at the least or afflictions of Hell itself at worst.” Nailed it. READ MORE → PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA Armstrong Tunnel Running underneath the bluff in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a twin-bore tunnel with an unusual feature: a 45-degree bend near the northern portal. It was designed with a bend halfway through it to line up at a 90-degree angle with streets that run parallel, but are positioned diagonally. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Explore Chile's Atacama Desert Join us on a thrilling exploration of Chile’s famed Atacama Desert. Discover a unique land built from violent geologic processes and meet the local people who carve out a living in this unforgiving environment. We will venture deep into the heart of the desert to experience the silence and incredible night skies found far from civilization. VIEW FULL ITINERARY → SEATTLE, WASHINGTON Museum of Museums This contemporary art museum is filled with other, smaller museums, which feature work from artists primarily in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to its main shows, Museum of Museums houses a miniature museum called SMCA, a model apartment that houses the collection of a local artist, a children’s exhibition, a four-seat theater, and more. READ MORE → Clothing History In the crystalline waters of the Caribbean is a tiny, 365-island archipelago known as Guna Yala, or the San Blas Islands. In Guna Yala, a politically independent territory, it’s the women who run the show. They inherit land and possessions. Grooms move into the brides’ home and take their names. And it’s the women who create, wear, and sell elaborate, colorful molas—hand-sewn cotton textiles traditionally fashioned into blouses—that function as an enduring symbol of Guna independence, sporting vibrant, geometric designs that range from abstract patterns to intricate renderings of legends. READ MORE → IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IGOURMET Flavor Trip with Gastro Obscura Bring the tastes of Gastro Obscura home with you in our new A Taste of Gastro Obscura snack box! Inside, you’ll find 13 culinary wonders from around the world, hand-picked by our team. Discover everything from New England’s canned bread to flavor-tripping miracle berries of Burkina Faso to the transformative butterfly pea flower from Southeast Asia. This is a limited edition box, so snag yours while supplies last! ORDER NOW → FROM THE ARCHIVES Decoding Knots There are many ways a college student might spend a holiday break. Making an archaeological breakthrough is not usually one of them. But back in 2017, during his first year at Harvard, Manny Medrano did just that, interpreting a set of six khipus, knotted cords used for record keeping in the Inca Empire. By matching the khipus to a colonial-era Spanish census document, the pair uncovered the meaning of the cords in greater detail than ever before, which could contribute to a better understanding of daily life in the Andean civilization. READ MORE → GERMANY Springerle If you can get your hands on these cookies, you’re guaranteed to be the star of the show at your next holiday party. Few cookies are more fetching than Germany’s mold-pressed springerle, which have been a part of the Bavarian holiday spirit since the 14th century, possibly even earlier. In the early days, bakers would use powdered, cooked deer antlers as a leavening agent. Thankfully, these days, baking powder is used instead. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY THE EXPERIMENT North American Maps for Curious Minds Fascinating insight meets whimsical discovery in 100 infographic maps of North America’s many wonders. Trace the unexpected contours of geography, nature, politics, and culture to see anew the continent—and those who call it home. LEARN MORE →