Human Relations Area Files

HRAF 2022 in Review & 2023 Preview

For our annual recap and preview, this article will summarize HRAF’s activities from the previous year as well as describe what you can expect to see from us over the next 12 months. eHRAF Updates…

Marking the New Year around the world

As people throughout much of the Western world mark the end of another year by finalizing their New Year’s resolutions, it is a good time to reflect anthropologically on how others around the globe observe the…

New and Forthcoming Cultures and Traditions in eHRAF World Cultures & Archaeology (2022-2023)

Culture collections in the eHRAF databases are updated up to several times a year. Below is a brief summary of what cultures and traditions we have added or updated in eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF…

Thanks, but no thanks: Expressions of gratitude in eHRAF World Cultures

During the end-of-year “holiday season” throughout much of the Western world, we are often reminded to be grateful for the things that we have, and even to go out of our way to be gracious…

Craving comfort: bonding with food across cultures

Food is a universal human experience. People everywhere must eat to survive, yet what foods are eaten and how they are enjoyed can vary widely across cultures and time. “Comfort foods” made a comeback in…