FROM THE ARCHIVES New Year Traditions Another 12 months have come and gone, and it’s time to look forward to what a new year has in store for us. While in the United States, a dropping ball and the kiss of a loved one mark the passing of the year for most, there are all sorts of other traditions that are both festive and fascinating. To learn more, we asked our readers to tell us about their local rituals. Here are 27 traditions, which include small rituals of domestic cleansing, ushering out the old year and welcoming in the new; various symbolic wishes for prosperity, like jumping over their wallet or getting their hair cut; and a whole slew of food-related traditions that sound both delicious and pretty lucky. See you next year!  READ MORE → SPONSORED BY GRADUATE HOTELS Pretentious Beer Co. Meet the makers at this glass studio-turned-brewery in Knoxville’s historic Old City neighborhood. Artist Matthew Cummings, who specialized in high-end pieces of art, started making beer glasses, shaped to maximize the taste and aroma experience for different kinds of brews. He decided to open a brewery in the adjacent storefront in 2018, and it’s now one of 19 Knoxville-area breweries on the “Ale Trail”. Read about this and more in our Study Guide to Knoxville. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA The Treasonous Wine Glasses of England You may be raising a glass to the end of the year, but at least you don’t have to worry about your choice of glass tipping off your enemies about potential treason. That was a real fear for the Jacobites in England, circa 1745. This glass is inscribed with otherwise innocuous symbols of a blazing star, an oak leaf, a rose blossom, and two delicate buds sprouting from a thorny stem—taken together, these symbols tell a story of loyalty to a banished king, James II of England. READ MORE → RENFREWSHIRE, SCOTLAND Clochoderick Stone The first documented account of the stone dates back to 1204, where it was believed to be the final resting place of Rhydderch Hael, ruler of the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde who brought Christianity to the area. But the stone’s history goes back even further; it was originally a logan stone, or clach bràth, which could be rocked back and forth without much pressure. Stones like these were used as open-air courts by druids to determine innocence or guilt. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES New Year, Ancient Foods We’re delving into traditions around the globe that celebrate the dawn of a new year. Over the course of four sessions, we’ll explore how folks celebrate the new year through the lens of food and festivities. We’ll discuss wild and staple foods, craft seasonal cocktails, and perhaps cast the occasional spell. ENROLL NOW → FROM THE ARCHIVES Confetti’s Edible History While we know confetti today as the bits of coloured paper fired off at celebrations, confetti was once actual candy like sugared almonds. These innocent-looking, snow-white sweets had long been the ammo of choice when it came to hurling edibles at festive celebrations. So why do we know confetti today as something floaty and harmless? Because society got fed up with the candied version: the mess, the bruises, the tears, the eye patches. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES A Shimmering, Splendid Mineral Somewhere inside the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, D.C., a piece of gypsum appears to have sprouted a snake. Gypsum is a common mineral, found around the world in places that are sufficiently rich in calcium, sulfur, and water. But though it’s often enlisted for mundane work, for example in fertilizer or plaster, the mineral looks striking in its natural state. As to why this specimen is so sinuous, however—that remains a bit of a mystery. READ MORE → LÍTLA DÍMUN, FAROE ISLANDS Lítla Dímun This is the smallest of the Faroe Islands’ 18 main islands. But though it may be tiny, the islet still has the power to influence the atmosphere. It’s also the only island that remains uninhabited by humans, though for centuries, Faroese farmers have made the precarious journey to Lítla Dímun to tend to the creatures who rule the islet: its sheep. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Bhutan’s Festivals and Mountaintop Temples Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a tiny country home to pristine forests, extraordinary architecture, and rich cultural traditions. Join us as we journey from bustling Thimphu to the lush Phobjikha Valley, meeting artisans, monks, and farmers along the way. Our adventure will culminate with an ascent to the Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”—the striking cliffside Buddhist temple where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for four months. READ MORE →