Celebrating the Vernal Equinox
Francine Barone The vernal equinox marks the beginning of Spring, representing the moment when the sun passes directly over the equator. This time of year is known for its many cultural and religious celebrations. For…
Category Archives: Feature
HRAF Internship in Honor of Melvin Ember 2026-2027
The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) at Yale University is pleased to announce a one-year internship in honor of Melvin Ember. Melvin Ember was President of HRAF from 1987 until his passing in 2009. The…
HRAF 2024 in Review & 2025 Preview
Francine Barone It’s time for our annual Year in Review. 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…
Luck of the Irish: Folklore and fairies in Rural Ireland
By Francine Barone If the month of March has you seeing shamrocks, it might be a good time to brush up on your knowledge of Irish culture. The Rural Irish collection in eHRAF World Cultures…
Welcome to our newest HRAF members 2024
As we reflect on 2024 and look forward to a new year, HRAF would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to our newest member institutions. We are especially pleased by the diversity and global reach…
HRAF to host Anthropology Day 2025 celebration
The American Anthropological Association is officially celebrating Anthropology Day on February 20, 2025. Anthropology Day is a day for anthropologists to celebrate our discipline while sharing it with the world around us. On Friday, February 21, the Human…
Winter Solstice Celebrations Around the World
The Winter Solstice is upon us in the Northern Hemisphere. Marking the longest night and shortest day of the year, the hibernal solstice is an astronomical event that takes place when the Earth reaches its…
New and Forthcoming Cultures and Traditions in eHRAF World Cultures & Archaeology (2024-2025)
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…
Announcing HRAF Global Scholars for 2025
HRAF is pleased to announce the recipients of the HRAF Global Scholars Program for 2025. This program provides scholars around the world with one year of complimentary access to our research databases, eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF…
Craving comfort: bonding with food across cultures
By Francine Barone 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…